Export Manager – Maternity Cover Full Time NEW

Company Details

Nc’nean is a Scotch whisky distillery with a difference. The UK’s first net zero whisky distillery, B Corp certified, female-led and with accolades from near and far for the product and our commitment to doing things the right way. Stand-out awards include a double gold from San Francisco World’s Spirits Competition, IWSC 95 points and being ranked 21st in the “World’s Most Admired Whiskies”.

We are looking for an Export Manager on a fixed term 12-month contract as maternity cover to lead our export relationships across EMEA and Asia. You will be responsible for nurturing and growing our existing relationships as well as identifying and bringing on board partners in new countries.

Role Description

Relationship management

• Nurture and grow the relationships with our partners in our export markets to maximise sales across our spirits portfolio: lead quarterly reviews, input to future plans, help with issues, make things happen
• Manage performance against agreed objectives / contracts

Sales Management

• Agree annual sales objectives by product with all distributors
• Obtain sales and stock reporting to optimise performance tracking and quarterly forecasting
• Work with distributor sales and marketing teams to maximise sales opportunities, ensure success of new product launches and address any issues

Supply and demand liaison

• Liaise between distributors and the internal Nc’nean teams to put plans into action, manage stock requirements and allocations and help with order logistics

Develop in-country marketing plans

• Working closely with the Nc’nean global marketing team and our distributor partners, develop a marketing plan for each country to drive growth to meet our ambitions
• Agree total country spend alongside sales targets and activity allocation across marketing levers
• Manage marketing activities where relevant (e.g. key events, respond to press requests, organise distillery trips, turnkey UK / central campaigns)
• Ensure data is received on in-market activity to determine ROI

Be a Nc’nean ambassador

• Manage key in-country relationships (e.g. with bloggers or trade customers)
• Attend consumer or trade fairs in country
• Spend time in trade with export sales teams
• Provide training on Nc’nean to distributors’ sales and marketing teams
• Work closely with our European brand ambassador to make the most of her time across markets

Working with the Head of Commercial, identify potential distributors in new markets, participate in their selection, negotiate the contract and on-board the sales and marketing teams to ensure a successful launch

Key Skills

• Focus on results: have a good understanding of what constitutes success across all commercial disciplines (sales, consumer marketing, trade marketing)
• Excellent commercial acumen with a strong understanding of margins, value chains and how to create win-win commercial outcomes
• Self-starter and experience of making things happen on their own (ideally within a small business)
• Organised, structured, articulate, personable
• Attention to detail, data driven
• Excellent people person: ability to plan and liaise across multiple teams to keep all parties aligned
• The ideal candidate would have experience working in export markets and managing distributors in the premium spirits sector
• Relevant foreign languages are an advantage

Role Details

• Based in the UK but with significant travel required to current and potential markets (focused on Europe and Asia).
• Trips to distillery on west coast of Scotland to liaise with team and host guests
• Working from home when in UK, with one day a week in shared office space in central London
• Start date: Late August or early September 2026
• Fixed term contract for 12-13 months

Perks and Benefits

• Free whisky allocation and staff discount
• Flexibility to work from home with one day a week in shared office space in central London
• Being part of a dynamic, fast-growing business in an exciting category with the opportunity to grow and develop your career
• Supporting a business that is a force for good (highest scoring B Corp distillery globally with a score of 147.6)
• Employee wellness scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
•  3 paid volunteer days per year
• 25 days holiday per year (plus English bank holidays)

For more information about Nc’nean and what we do, please take a look at our website.

How to Apply

• To apply, please email jobs@ncnean.com by 30^th April 2026 including your CV and answers to these three questions:
• What attracts you to the role and Nc’nean?
• What skills and experience will you bring to the role?
• What do you think will be the biggest challenge for you in this role?

We will let you know if you have been selected for an interview by 7^th May with first round interviews taking place in mid-May