Director, Consumer Connections

Suntory Global Spirits (Beam Suntory) Location: Chicago, IL At Suntory Global Spirits, we craft spirits of the highest quality and deliver brilliant experiences to people around the world. Suntory Global Spirits has evolved into the world's third largest leading premium spirits company, where each employee is treated like family and trusted with legacy. With our greatest assets – our premium spirits and our people – we are driving growth through impactful marketing, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. Suntory Global Spirits is a place where you can unleash your spirit by making an impact each and every day. What makes this a great opportunity? Suntory Global Spirits is a world leader in premium spirits with $5.5 billion in annual revenues and an ambition to become the World's Most Admired Premium Spirits Company. We have a strong vision and strategy, an incredible brand portfolio grounded in quality and craftsmanship, an unwavering commitment to sustainability and top talent across the organization. We are focused on driving value across key priorities including American whiskey, Japanese Spirits, Scotch, Tequila, and Ready‑to‑Drink. Headquartered in New York City, Suntory Global Spirits is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings, which is world renowned for delivering quality and excellence across a range of products and categories. Mission of the Role The Director, Consumer Connections is responsible for developing and leading integrated marketing and consumer connection strategies that drive brand growth through culture, creativity, media, and consumer engagement. As a member of the Consumer Connections leadership team, this role partners closely with Brand, Insights, Commercial, and Agency teams to connect paid, owned, earned, and shared channels into cohesive consumer experiences that drive both business results and long‑term brand equity. This role serves as both a strategic business partner and capability leader. They help shape brand growth strategies, establish best practices across the Consumer Connections organization, and help build the capabilities, processes, and ways of working needed to deliver modern, consumer‑first marketing. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable shaping long‑term strategy, leading change, and translating vision into actionable plans that teams can execute with excellence. Role Responsibilities Serve as the Consumer Connections lead for a portfolio of brands, partnering with Brand, Insights, Commercial, and Agency teams to drive business growth and brand equity. Develop integrated consumer connection strategies that connect paid, owned, earned, and shared channels into cohesive consumer experiences. Translate business objectives, consumer insights, audience intelligence, and cultural trends into actionable growth plans and marketing strategies. Act as a strategic thought partner to brand leadership, helping shape priorities, investment decisions, and consumer engagement opportunities. Champion audience‑first planning and ensure marketing programs are rooted in consumer needs, behaviors, and motivations. Identify cultural trends, communities, and emerging opportunities that strengthen brand relevance and consumer connection. Guide the development of creator marketing programs, partnerships, brand experiences, and cultural activations that earn attention and drive impact. Foster a test‑and‑learn culture that encourages innovation, experimentation, and continuous improvement. Lead integrated planning across paid media, social media, creators and influencers, partnerships, content, commerce, CRM, and digital experiences, ensuring every channel plays a clear role within the broader consumer journey. Provide strategic leadership and guidance on paid media investment, audience strategy, channel mix, and performance optimization, ensuring plans balance brand building, cultural relevance, and measurable business outcomes. Ensure programs are connected across channels, supported by strong briefs, and designed to deliver clear consumer and business objectives. Lead cross‑functional orchestration across internal teams and agency partners, ensuring strategies are translated into clear plans, aligned execution, and measurable outcomes. Drive simplification and improved ways of working that enable greater speed, agility, and effectiveness. Establish a culture of performance management and continuous improvement, leveraging learning agendas, testing frameworks, and measurement plans to drive smarter decisions, faster optimization, and stronger business results. Champion modern measurement approaches, including marketing mix modeling, brand lift, testing and experimentation, and performance analytics. Translate data and insights into actionable recommendations that improve marketing effectiveness and business results. Stay current on evolving consumer behaviors, media trends, technology, AI, and emerging marketing capabilities. Lead, coach, and develop a high‑performing team while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning. Establish best practices, frameworks, and benchmarks that strengthen Consumer Connections capabilities across the portfolio. Build strong cross‑functional relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization. Serve as a member of the Consumer Connections leadership team, helping shape the future vision, operating model, and capabilities of the function. Qualifications 10+ years of experience in integrated marketing, media, consumer strategy, brand marketing, consumer engagement, or related disciplines. Experience leading integrated marketing programs across paid, social, creator, partnership, content, and owned channels. Demonstrated success building culturally relevant programs that drive measurable business outcomes. Strong understanding of modern media planning, audience strategy, measurement, and performance optimization. Experience leading cross‑functional teams and influencing senior stakeholders in matrixed organizations. Experience managing agencies and external partners. Key Skills And Attributes Systems thinker with deep experience in one or more media or digital disciplines and a demonstrated track record connecting strategy, media, culture, creators, content, and commerce into integrated marketing programs that drive growth. Change agent with a track record of driving transformation and capability building. Comfortable moving between strategic planning and execution, translating complex strategies into clear priorities, actionable plans, and successful outcomes. Curious learner with strong commercial acumen and passion for emerging consumer behaviors, culture, technology, and AI. Benefits Salary Range: $175,000–$200,000, along with an annual bonus, 401K match, profit sharing, and medical and wellness benefits. The salary range is commensurate with the candidate's location, experience, and skill set. The range will vary if outside of the Chicago location. While relocation, immigration, and/or tax compliance support are not guaranteed, we may offer assistance to successful candidates depending on factors such as role requirements in accordance with company guidelines. People are our number one priority. We believe our people grow together in diverse and inclusive environments where their unique insights, experiences, and backgrounds are valued and respected. Suntory Global Spirits is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, military veteran status and all other characteristics, attributes, or choices protected by law. All recruitment and hiring decisions are based on an applicant's skills and experience. #J-18808-Ljbffr Women of the Vine & Spirits