Job opportunities
Why join Alliance Wine?
Alliance Wine is a forward-thinking specialist wine importer and top-rated supplier that has been trading independently since 1984. We have built a diverse and loyal customer-base and we are especially proud of our stellar reputation of building creative wine partnerships with our clients and producers.
We thrive to create a better world of wine. We also believe that whatever we achieve is only through the people we have.
If you love wine, if you are creative, if you like to challenge the status quo and want to join us on our mission, please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
Current opportunities:
Some of the benefits of working with Alliance Wine:
- Employee discount
- Company pension
- Life insurance
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free on-site parking (Head office, Beith)
HEAD OF BUYING
Salary: Competitive, commensurate with experience.
Job type: Full-time; permanent contract
Job location: We have offices in Ayrshire and London but are open minded about your location.
Reporting to: CEO
Alliance has grown to become one of the leading suppliers to the on trade, independent and national off trade in both the UK and internationally. We remain independently owned and run.
We are proud to have a strong team of buyers working not just across different countries but also across all channels, combining an expertise in selecting the best producers in each relevant country with the ability to create individual products for our customers wither via our own wineries (in Australia, Spain and France) or in collaboration with several of our producers. Recent awards include Spanish and Portuguese Specialist at the IWC in 2023 and Classic Regions Merchant of the Year at the Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) in 2024.
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We have a unique opportunity for the right person to join us and lead the team which currently comprises four buyers and two technical/compliance managers team.
The Head of Buying is responsible for developing, driving and managing the Alliance wine portfolio in line with the company’s buying philosophy, vision and positioning ambitions, demonstrating and leveraging the whole team’s expertise to achieve that.
This role requires exceptional commercial, leadership, management, analytical and interpersonal skills with authoritative wine and wine production knowledge as well as entrepreneurship.
As a key member of the senior management team, all activities are directed towards raising Alliance’s profile, upholding Alliance’s values within the team and in the broader market.
Main responsibilities include:
- LEADERSHIP AND TEAM MANAGEMENT - Creates annual business plans for the department, manages and drives all activities to maximise the commercial opportunities in all channels, maintains structure, support and guidance to the team. Works effectively with the rest of the senior management team and the company directors.
- STRATEGY - Works on departmental strategy and execution planning, constantly aligning it to the company vision and ambitions.
- ANALYSIS - Utilises all tools to understand team performance and uses it to improve strategies and forecasting.
- COLLABORATION - Works effectively across all departments.
- ADMINISTRATION - Takes full responsibility for all aspects of admin involved in managing the team as per the company handbook. Clearly communicates any relevant information to the team.
Skills and experience expected:
- A proven track record in team management, an ability to work across departments
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in wine buying
- In depth knowledge of wine production and markets
- Experience working in a range of channels including national accounts
- Ability to work under pressure, travel as appropriate, meet deadlines, effectively lead and work with other key members of staff
- Fluency in French, Spanish or Italian preferable
To apply for this position please send your CV to recruitment@alliancewine.com. This position is open till end of August 2024.
IT SUPPORT
Salary: From £30,000 per year
Job type: Full-time
Job location: In person, Alliance Wine head office, 7 Beechfield Road, Willowyard Estate, Beith KA15 1LN
Reporting to: Head of IT
The IT team is growing, and this is a new role within the function. Our future is full of ambitious goals and exciting projects, and this is the perfect time for someone considering the next step in their career to come on board.
Main responsibilities include:
- Assist with the installation and testing of new hardware and software
- Provide second-level type support for any new or interesting
- Diagnose, troubleshoot, and resolve network, software, and hardware issues
- Perform routine maintenance and upgrades
- Act as the first point of contact for end-user issues
- Eager to learn with a positive, can-do attitude
- Self-starting problem solver who can work with or without direction, and know when to escalate issues
- To be able to train any new or junior members of staff on Windows or our systems
- Document and share knowledge for any software changes, new modules, or resolutions of issues
Skills and experience expected:
- Strong IT skills and basic knowledge of hardware and software
- Windows 10 & 11, or previous versions of Windows with an ability to learn.
- Microsoft Dynamics AX2012 user support. System administration, AOT and X++ knowledge experience a bonus.
- Microsoft server support for internal infrastructure (Active Directory, IIS, DNS, DHCP, File and Storage service, updates, etc.)
- Microsoft 365. Supporting users and knowledge of admin portals for Users, Exchange, and Teams.
- Microsoft SQL server. Admin and T-SQL.
- Networking. An understanding of wired and wireless networking methodologies and protocols.
- Knowledge of HTML, CSS, Classic ASP, ASP.NET is desirable but not essential.
- Scripting such as PowerShell and/or VBScript is also desirable, but not essential.
- Exceptional organisational, and time management skills - the ability to prioritise your workload
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills - the ability to think logically
- Attention to detail
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills - the ability to work well in a team
- GCSE or equivalent (preferred)
- Technical support: 3 years (required)
To apply for this role, please send your CV and covering letter to itrecruitment@alliancewine.com.