Senior Associate Buyer, Spirits

About the Role

Total Wine & More is seeking a Senior Associate Buyer, Spirits to join our Merchandising team onsite in Bethesda, MD. In this role, you will manage supplier relationships, lead product development initiatives, and support the execution of sourcing strategies to drive sales and margin performance within the Spirits Direct portfolio. You'll act as a category expert and a key cross-functional partner, contributing to the success of our strategic supplier programs and helping shape the future of our direct label spirit offerings. This is a high-impact individual contributor role with visibility across the business, offering the opportunity to influence brand strategy, innovation pipelines, and supplier collaboration. In this position, you will report to the Sr. Director, Spirits.

You will

• Develop and maintain strategic supplier partnerships across key global spirit categories, supporting over $150M in sales.
• Lead end-to-end development and execution of new items, from concept through launch, across a range of spirit segments, including entry-level to ultra-premium tiers.
• Partner with compliance and legal teams to ensure timely federal approvals and adherence to all regulatory standards.
• Build and execute brand launch and promotional plans in partnership with Marketing, Digital, and Store Operations teams to support product performance and in-store execution.
• Drive assortment planning decisions based on trend analysis, market dynamics, and portfolio optimization strategies in collaboration with Category Management.
• Work closely with the Supply Chain team to manage inventory planning, replenishment accuracy, and timely order execution.
• Act as a subject matter expert for internal stakeholders by delivering insights, analysis, and recommendations tied to margin, sales, and market opportunities.
• Mentor junior associates on the Spirits Direct team, providing guidance and helping build functional and product expertise across the team.

You will come with

• Bachelor's Degree Business, Merchandising, or a related field preferred
• 1-4 years experience in buying, sourcing, or merchandising, preferably within the alcoholic beverage industry. preferred
• Strong analytical and Excel skills with experience analyzing assortment, sales, and margin data.
• Demonstrated experience working with suppliers and cross-functional teams, including marketing, compliance, and supply chain.
• Proven project management skills and the ability to manage multiple timelines across a high-volume category.
• Passion for spirits and staying current with consumer trends, competitive products, and new brand opportunities.

We offer

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Generous store discounts
• Health care plans (medical, prescription, dental, vision)
• 401(k), HSA, FSA, Pre-tax commuter benefits
• Disability & life insurance coverage
• Paid parental leave
• Pet insurance
• Critical illness and accident insurance
• Discounted home and auto insurance
• College tuition assistance
• Career development & product training
• Consumer classes
• & More!

Grow with us

Total Wine & More is the country's largest independent retailer of fine wine, beer and spirits, and we continue to grow our footprint year over year. Total Wine offers exciting and unique career opportunities across the country and in our corporate office. Our strength is our people. We have a commitment to training and career growth, all in an environment that values new ideas and teamwork. If you share our entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for providing best-in-class customer experience, take a moment to apply or learn more at https://careers.totalwine.com/!

Total Wine & More considers several factors when establishing compensation. Estimated salaries determined by third parties have not been validated by Total Wine & More. Compensation may vary based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, market location, job-related knowledge, skills and/or experience.

Total Wine & More is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Total Wine & More makes reasonable accommodations during all aspects of the employment process, including during the interview process. Total Wine & More is a Drug Free Workplace.

The information provided above indicates the general nature and level of work required of the position and is not a comprehensive list of all responsibilities or qualifications. Benefits list is only a highlight of some of the benefits offered to team members; eligibility for certain benefits apply.