VP / GM, Southern Living Sweet Tea

Job Title VP / GM, Southern Living Sweet Tea About the Position As the VP, General Manager, Southern Living Sweet Tea, you will serve as the business leader for a new Southern Living‑branded ready‑to‑drink beverage, with full ownership of the P&L and accountability for building and scaling the business. You will define and execute the end‑to‑end strategy, from product development and supply chain buildout to go‑to‑market execution and commercial growth. You will be tasked with ensuring the brand achieves its revenue, margin, and market penetration goals. This role reports to the Group GM & SVP, Home. You will operate as both a strategic architect and hands‑on operator, bringing deep expertise in beverage development alongside strong commercial and operational leadership. Success in this role requires the ability to navigate seamlessly between high‑level strategy and day‑to‑day execution, while leading cross‑functional collaboration across brand, marketing, social, and a network of external partners to bring the product to market and scale its performance. Responsibilities 40% Strategic Leadership – Develop and implement a comprehensive business plan to launch the product on a short timeline, identify market opportunities, and set clear KPIs to measure success. 20% Product Development & Formulation – Lead the translation of the recipe into scalable, production‑ready formulations, resolve formulation challenges (shelf stability, pH, ingredient sourcing, cost constraints), and define key product attributes (flavor profile, sweetness level, packaging format, target price point). 20% Pilot Execution & Cross‑Functional Alignment – Oversee pilot production runs, guide refinement, collaborate with co‑manufacturers to define SOPs, finalize specifications, confirm schedules and MOQs, align internal teams on product direction and launch timing, coordinate with external partners, identify risks, and support launch readiness. 20% Costing & Commercial Viability / Go‑to‑Market Strategy – Develop and manage COGS models, evaluate margin structure, define and execute go‑to‑market strategy (retail, e‑commerce, other channels), develop pricing, promotion, and assortment strategies, lead sales planning, establish relationships with key retail partners, and monitor market performance to refine strategy post‑launch. Minimum Qualifications & Requirements Education: Bachelor’s Degree preferred in Business, Supply Chain, Food Science, or related field or equivalent professional experience. Experience: 10‑15+ years in beverage development, consumer packaged goods operations, and product commercialization, with a proven track record of bringing RTD beverages from concept through production. Experience working with co‑manufacturers and managing external production partners. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Background in supply chain development, logistics planning, and production execution. Entrepreneurial mindset – proven ability to scale a business from inception to maturity, especially within a larger organization. Exceptional strategic thinking, translating vision into actionable goals. Strong operational skills and a record of delivering results in fast‑paced, dynamic environments. Familiarity with beverages, food, or recipes preferred. Leadership – ability to inspire and lead cross‑functional teams, fostering collaboration and accountability. Data‑driven decision‑making experience, including P&L management and growth strategy. Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, capable of articulating complex ideas to diverse audiences. Travel 10‑25% (co‑manufacturer visits, pilot runs, and vendor meetings) EEO Statement It is the policy of People Inc. to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Company will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Accommodation requests can be made by emailing View email address on click.appcast.io. The Company participates in the federal E‑Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E‑Verify program, please refer to Compensation & Benefits Pay Range (New York): $250,000.00 – $265,000.00. The range above represents the anticipated low and high end of the pay range for this position and may change in the future. Actual pay may vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not limited to work location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of People Inc’s total compensation package for employees. Other compensation may include annual bonuses, and short‑ and long‑term incentives. In addition, People Inc. provides a variety of benefits, including: Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage Unlimited paid time off (PTO) Adoption or surrogate assistance Donation matching Tuition reimbursement Basic life insurance, basic accidental death & dismemberment Supplemental life and accident insurance Commuter benefits Short‑term and long‑term disability Health savings and flexible spending accounts Family care benefits Generous 401(k) savings plan with company match program 10‑12 paid holidays annually Generous paid parental leave (birthing and non‑birthing parents) #J-18808-Ljbffr Meredith Corporation