Pacific Northwest Area Sales Leader — Launch & Grow Cider

Area Sales Manager – Pacific Northwest

Location: Field Territory:
Oregon / Washington (greater Seattle & greater Portland focus)
Schedule: Monday–Friday
Compensation: $80,000–$100,000 Base + Uncapped Variable Compensation (20% target / 40% stretch benchmark)

Why Join Downeast?

Building a world-class brand takes a world-class team. We front-load our sales roles with clear upside, high autonomy, and direct rewards for growth:

Uncapped Earning Potential: Quarterly variable compensation with a 20% target and 40% stretch benchmark — actual earnings may exceed benchmarks based on performance.

Work/Life Balance & Perks: Unlimited PTO, paid holidays, and a monthly phone stipend (up to $100/month).

Travel & Expenses: Full mileage and expense reimbursement.

Health & Financial Security: 401(k) with 4% company match, health & dental insurance, plus company-paid short-term disability.

Culture & Rewards: Sales training retreats, regular team contests with additional financial incentives, company-wide holiday party, eligibility for our annual Elite Slinger's Club trip (last year: Puerto Rico), and a cider allowance. Hope your fridge is big.

The Mission

As the Area Sales Manager for the Pacific Northwest, you will build Downeast's business in Oregon and Washington from the ground up. You are the primary owner of the market — wholesaler management, account execution, and local sales strategy all run through you. Your mission is to successfully launch the market and deliver sustainable distribution, volume, and brand presence in the country's largest cider market, moving Downeast toward becoming the #1 hard cider in America.

There is no playbook to inherit here, because there is no market to inherit. You build both.

What a Week Looks Like

You set the week's priorities with your wholesaler partners — goals, incentives, and where their reps should be pointing. Then you're in the field across greater Seattle and greater Portland: prospecting new accounts, pitching buyers, riding along with distributor reps, and locking in displays and promotional opportunities. Between account visits, you're managing the business end — budgets, point-of-sale, tastings, events — and reading the sales data to decide where next week's effort goes.

You are Downeast's entire presence in the Pacific Northwest, which means the wins are yours, and so is the accountability.

What You'll Do

Launch the Market: Own the successful launch and ongoing development of Downeast across Oregon and Washington, with clear accountability for volume, distribution, and execution goals. Build the market's account universe from the ground up — identify the highest-potential opportunities, secure new placements, and develop early accounts into productive, long-term customers. Serve as Downeast's primary representative in the Pacific Northwest.

Sell, Sell, Sell: Conduct in-person sales and prospecting activity across on- and off-premise accounts. Prospect, pitch, and close new accounts across greater Seattle and greater Portland. Seek out and secure merchandising, display, and promotional opportunities.

Own the Wholesaler Relationship: Own all day-to-day communication, planning, and execution with assigned wholesaler partners. Build strong relationships with wholesaler leadership, sales managers, field representatives, chain teams, and key decision-makers, establishing Downeast as a preferred supplier partner. Establish clear goals and priorities for wholesaler sales teams and ensure consistent communication, training, incentives, tracking, and follow-up.

Run the Business End: Manage local wholesaler programming, budgets, incentives, point-of-sale materials, tastings, events, and other market investments. Ensure spending is aligned with commercial priorities.

Who You…