Sr. Manager, Compliance (Contracts)

Sr. Manager, Compliance (Contracts)

Mark Anthony Group is an entrepreneurial drinks company, built from the ground up by thinking differently, innovating and doing the unexpected. Our company is rooted in family values, a bold vision and relentless determination to continuously raise the bar and make a positive difference in consumers' lives. Founded in 1972, we've grown organically from a one-person import wine business into an international drinks company whose hallmarks include a portfolio of luxury wineries and iconic beverage brands, including White Claw® Hard Seltzer, Mike's Hard Lemonade, and Cayman Jack.

The Role

Reporting to the Sr. Director, Compliance, the Senior Manager, Compliance (Contracts) is a critical leadership role responsible for overseeing all U.S. commercial contracting activities across Mark Anthony. This position was intentionally elevated to a Senior Manager level to reflect both the scale and complexity of the work and the need for a leader who can operate with confidence at the executive level. The Senior Manager leads the Contracts function and team, acting as the internal authority on distributor, marketing, and large‑scale commercial agreements, while ensuring contracts enable fast‑moving business objectives without compromising compliance or risk standards. This role balances hands‑on contract expertise with long‑term strategic thinking, people leadership, and enterprise‑wide influence.

Accountabilities

• Own and govern all commercial contracts across the U.S. business, including distributor agreements, marketing and agency contracts, and high‑value, multi‑year commercial deals.
• Lead and develop a growing Contracts team (currently three direct reports), ensuring clear delegation, strong judgment, and consistent contract governance.
• Personally handle the most complex, high‑risk, or high‑value agreements, including contracts that are high‑visibility, multi‑year, or exceed standard templates.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for contractual risk assessment, determining when issues can be resolved at the team level versus when they require executive or external legal involvement.
• Act as a trusted advisor to Sales, Marketing, and senior leadership, providing clear, decisive guidance in fast‑paced, often high‑pressure situations.
• Maintain deep expertise across the U.S. including nuanced state‑by‑state regulatory differences that impact contract structure and execution.
• Partner closely with Compliance and Marketing stakeholders to ensure contract terms align with how programs, events, and partnerships are executed in market.
• Continuously assess and evolve contract processes, templates, and team structure to support long‑term growth and operational efficiency.

What You'll Bring

• 10+ years of experience in contracts, compliance, or commercial legal work, including direct people leadership experience.
• Proven expertise in reviewing, negotiating, and managing complex commercial agreements, ideally within regulated industries.
• Exposure to alcohol, beverage, or similarly regulated sectors is strongly preferred, with an understanding of how state‑by‑state regulations impact contract language and risk.
• The ability to balance risk mitigation with business velocity, making clear decisions in grey areas and knowing when escalation is required.
• Strong communication skills—written and verbal—with the ability to translate legal and compliance nuance into clear, business‑friendly guidance.

Who You Are

• A seasoned, confident leader who can hold their own in direct conversations with executives, push back when needed, and navigate complex negotiations without being overly reactive or sensitive to seniority.
• Equally comfortable being hands‑on with contracts and stepping back to think strategically about how a function should scale over time.
• Someone who exercises strong judgment under pressure, knowing when to move quickly and when to slow down, tighten language, or escalate risks appropriately.
• A collaborative people leader who values teamwork over hierarchy and believes titles do not outweigh respect, contribution, or accountability.

Compensation

Compensation offered to prospective Team Members has taken internal equity into consideration and can vary depending on a positions' location. The final agreed upon wage may vary based on the job-related knowledge, skills, and experience of the individual.

• Competitive annual salary $134,000 - $168,000 in Chicago, IL
• Bonus plan designed to recognize company performance and individual contributions
• Comprehensive health and welfare benefits
• Company matching 401(k) contributions
• Paid time off including annual leave, paid sick time and holidays
• Extensive opportunities for training, development, and career growth

At Mark Anthony, we exist to Unearth the Extraordinary:

Our Purpose is not just a statement; it is a call to action that binds us together and ignites our passion for making a difference. It is the driving force behind why we do what we do every single day, connecting our global organization across all business units, roles, and locations. We are:

Best in Our Craft We set the standard with a pursuit of excellence that can be found in everything from our products and processes to our plants and people.

Ambitiously Curious We stay curious, dreaming big and navigating the unknown with an enduring belief in better.

Made With Humility We bring humility, authenticity, fun, and support to every collaboration and celebrate wins as a team.

Daringly Disruptive We disrupt the status quo, moving fast to seize opportunities and acting scrappy to stay ahead of industry giants.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.