Advocacy and Engagement Manager - Italian Specialties

Disaronno International USA is the US subsidiary of ILLVA Saronno s.P.a., and currently imports and markets Disaronno Amaretto, Disaronno Velvet Liqueur, Sagamore Spirit Rye, The Busker Irish Whiskey, Engine Gin, Tia Maria Coffee Liqueur, and Rabarbaro Zucca Amaro. The Role The Italian Specialties Advocacy & Engagement Manager, part of the Marketing team with a strong focus on the U.S. market, will serve as the face and voice of our Italian Specialty brands among key industry stakeholders, including trade partners, bartenders, influencers, and media. This role reports to the Marketing Director and is responsible for developing the strategy and driving brand advocacy, education, and engagement across priority markets. Key Responsibilities Build and maintain strong relationships with key distributor partners, on-premise accounts (bars/restaurants), and select retail accounts within the assigned territory Drive brand growth by identifying and influencing new business opportunities; generate leads and partner closely with Sales to convert opportunities Lead educational initiatives including trainings, masterclasses, and seminars for distributors, accounts, consumers, and internal sales teams—primarily in major metro markets Develop and execute immersive “Italian experience” activations across bars, restaurants, festivals, and industry events (e.g., Tales of the Cocktail) to increase brand awareness and visibility Represent the brand at key industry events, serving as a credible and influential ambassador within the hospitality community Direct oversight of individual T&E and regional activation budgets, requiring an entrepreneurial approach to resource allocation for events, travel, and brand-building initiatives. Serve as the "eyes and ears" in the field by monitoring and reporting on competitor advocacy programs, emerging industry trends, and market shifts, ensuring the brands remains a leader in the Italian specialty category Qualifications & Experience Minimum of 5 years of experience in the spirits on-premise (on-trade) environment Strong passion for Italian specialty brands and the broader spirits category Established industry network (e.g., USBG) with a demonstrated ability to build new relationships Active and credible presence on social media (primarily Instagram), with the ability to create engaging content; an existing following within the industry is strongly preferred Background as a high-level bartender or industry professional, with a deep understanding of products and hospitality culture Confident and engaging presenter, comfortable leading trainings and speaking to diverse audiences (bartenders, trade, media) Strong project and event management skills Self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset and ability to work both independently and cross-functionally Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) Additional Requirements Based in a major U.S. metro area (New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas) Willingness to travel extensively, including evenings and weekends #J-18808-Ljbffr Disaronno International USA