About Stauning

Twenty years ago, nine friends in Stauning — a small village on Denmark's wild west coast — decided to make whisky. Not because Denmark had a whisky tradition, but because they believed Danish grain, Danish water, and Danish design could create something the world hadn't tasted before. They were right.

Today Stauning is Denmark's largest whisky distillery, co-owned by its founders and Diageo, and a Spirits Business Whisky Brand of the Year. We still floor-malt our own locally grown rye and barley and distil over direct fire in small copper pot stills. Germany is one of our most important markets — home to some of the most knowledgeable whisky drinkers in the world, a strong specialist retail scene, and many of our most loyal distillery visitors. We're now looking for someone to take it further.

The role

This is a sales & trade marketing role with a commercial backbone. You will own the day-to-day commercial marketing for the German market: building the annual customer plan for Germany, working alongside our distribution partner, selling into specialist retail and grocery, and ensuring that wherever Stauning shows up in Germany, it shows up well.

You will build channel playbooks with our central marketing team and turn them into sell-in stories, activations, tastings, and visibility that grow distribution and the rate of sale in Germany. Roughly half your time will be spent in the field with customers and our distributor; the rest on planning, activation, and reporting.

The Sales & Trade Marketing Manager will report direct to our Marketing Director, and work closely together with our Area Manager Central Europe

We expect arround 50% Field based and 50% Home Office, North Germany .

Key responsiblities

• Support and challenge our German distribution partner — joint business planning, sell-in of new releases and limited editions, target setting, and regular field visits together.

• Sell into and grow specialist whisky retail and premium on-trade accounts in major German cities, building lasting relationships with buyers, bartenders, and store owners.

• Deliver measurable growth in distribution and rate of sale for our core range and land limited editions with the retailers who love them.

• Adapt central brand plans and playbooks into a German commercial calendar — promotions, activations, and launches tailored to the German trade.

• Grocery plans and seeding –building seeding and success in targeted independents

• Plan and run tastings, masterclasses, and trade events, and represent Stauning at the German trade fairs and whisky festivals that matter.

• Ensure brand visibility and effective merchandising — point of sale, staff training, and in-store presence that reflect the way Stauning looks and sounds.

• Manage the German trade budget with clear ROI R, and analyse which investments and programmes actually move the needle.

• Be the voice of the German market internally — feeding customer insight, competitor activity, and opportunities back to the team in Denmark.

What success looks like

• An agreed annual commercial plan for Germany, reviewed regularly with our distributor and key accounts.

• Measurable growth in weighted distribution and rate of sale in specialist retail and on-trade.

• Strong, consistent trade execution — the brand visible, correct, and well-merchandised across the market.

• A trade budget spent deliberately, with clear reporting on what worked.

• Feel like part of the distributors team, understanding their business, pain points and working from their office twice per month to create a strong relationship

What are we looking for

• Based in Northern Germany – near Bremen / Hamburg.

• You have a relevant education.

• Experienced in spirits or premium drinks in the North German market — ideally with time on both the sales and trade marketing side.

• Well-networked in German specialist retail, grocery and/or premium on-trade, and comfortable opening doors that aren't yet open.

• A confident host: happy leading a tasting for thirty buyers or a quiet conversation with one.

• Commercially sharp — you read sell-out data, spot what's working, and adjust.

• Fluent in German and English.

• Willing to travel across North Germany regularly, and to the distillery in Stauning.

• Aligned with our values: Passion, Curiosity, Authenticity, Decency, and Financial Responsibility.

What we offer

The chance to build a market for a whisky the world is still discovering, with real ownership and short lines to decision-makers — including the founders. A warm, ambitious team split between Denmark and the markets we serve, competitive terms, and a standing invitation to the west coast of Jutland, where the whisky is made and the wind never quite stops.

Good working conditions.

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for this exciting position, please send your application and CV via the link, in the top right corner: "Apply" for the position.

We process applications on an ongoing basis, so send your application today.

If you have any questions about the position, you are welcome to contact Marianne Holst Larsen (+45) 40837593 or mail: Marianne@holstlarsen.dk