Warwick has been making exceptional wine in Stellenbosch for decades. Our portfolio ranges from the ultra-premium Estate range to Professor Black and The First Lady, with wines that celebrate what really matters.
The Opportunity
Warwick Wine Estate is appointing a Head of Sales & Marketing to take full commercial accountability for its South African trade performance, its marketing direction, and a smaller international portfolio. This is a senior appointment, reporting directly to the CEO, with full accountability for the sales and marketing P&L.
The substance of this role is to set and drive Warwick's commercial strategy in the South African trade: shaping trade investment, promotional structure and account priorities, and delivering the agreed standard of performance in the market. The same principle extends to the marketing function this role directs, and to the brand consistency of the guest experience delivered through Warwick's hospitality operation.
What You'll Do
- Commercial P&L
- Full accountability for the sales and marketing P&L: managing the budget, allocating trade and promotional funds, and reporting results at executive level.
- South African Trade Strategy
- Setting the commercial strategy for South Africa's on- and off-consumption trade, executed through Warwick's distribution partner.
- Trade Investment & Promotions
- Structuring trade investment and promotional mechanics that measurably improve sell-through and shelf or trade presence.
- International & Export
- Managing Warwick's international distribution partner relationships and a smaller, deliberately resourced export contribution.
- Marketing & Brand Direction
- Directing Warwick's marketing strategy – brand, digital and direct-to-consumer – and ensuring its consistency carries through into the guest experience delivered by the estate's hospitality operation.
- Executive Reporting
- Reporting sales, marketing and budget performance to the CEO and CFO on a regular cycle.
Who You Are & What You’ll Need
- Commercial and financial command built through personal, hands-on accountability for a P&L or trade budget, defended under scrutiny.
- A demonstrated record of influencing commercial outcomes without direct management authority over the people executing them.
- At least eight years of senior commercial experience, ideally within a wine business specifically: understanding how production and sales have to align matters more here than formal wine knowledge. Experience in another premium FMCG category operating through a similar distribution-partner model is also relevant.
- Sound brand and marketing judgement, sufficient to direct and evaluate a marketing function on commercial terms, including experience directing brand or marketing work delivered through an external creative or digital agency.
- A data-driven approach to commercial decisions, working fluency in a Microsoft Office 365 environment, and substantive, demonstrated use of AI tools in analytical or commercial work.
Apply
Submit a CV together with a short cover letter addressing two things: why this role, at this stage of your career, at Warwick specifically; and a reflection on a time you drove sell-through through a distribution partner, including the challenge you ran into and how you worked through it. Send your application to hr@warwickwine.com
Closing Date: 04 September 2026
If you have not heard from us by 18 September 2026, please consider your application unsuccessful.
We are dedicated to advancing Employment Equity by attracting and retaining skilled individuals to support our equity goals. We encourage applications from members of designated groups, including persons with disabilities. Preference will be given to candidates whose appointment will aid in achieving demographic representation when there are two or more equally suitable candidates.