Description
🚀 Join Us in building a legacy brand! 🚀
Welcome to AU Vodka, where ambition and drive meets passion, and every idea has the power to transform the way we are disrupting and mixing up the drinks and spirits industry.
Are you ready for the challenge and to be part of something extraordinary? Here at Au Vodka, we're not just content with being the number one flavoured vodka brand in the UK, but we're spirit-ed in building & crafting a revolution. We're on a mission to redefine Vodka and inspire a new generation, disrupt, and build a truly global brand. Come talk to us and understand what's going down in Swansea.
In our fast-paced environment, creativity thrives, and challenges are seen as opportunities for growth. We believe in pushing boundaries, thinking outside the box, and challenging the status quo. If you're someone who thrives on innovation, collaboration, and making a real impact, then you've come to the right place.
At AU Vodka, we're not just offering you a job; we're inviting you to create, inspire, with other visionaries, grafters, and doers. Together, we'll shape the future and leave a legacy that transcends boundaries.
Are you ready to unleash your potential and be part of something bigger than yourself? Join us at AU Vodka, where every day there's any opportunity to #showyourmetal
Why Join Our Team?
We believe in creating a workplace where passion meets purpose, and where every individual feels valued and rewarded. Here’s what makes us stand out:
🌟 Early Finish Fridays: Wrap up your week early and jumpstart your weekend because work-life balance matters.
🍳 Freshly Made Meals: Enjoy the perks of an in-house chef crafting delicious, fresh breakfasts and lunches daily. Nourish your body while you focus on fuelling your career.
🏢 State-of-the-Art Office: Work in a modern, thoughtfully designed workspace with convenient onsite parking—because your environment should inspire your best work.
🤝 All Win Together, Lose Together Bonus: Celebrate our shared successes with a companywide bonus. We're in this together, through every triumph and challenge.
🎉 Your Birthday, Your Day: Take your birthday off to relax, recharge, or celebrate however you want—because you deserve it.
🎈 Epic Launch Parties & Events: From product launches to unforgettable team celebrations, we love to mix hard work with fun!
👶 Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave: Welcoming a new family member is magical. Our enhanced leave ensures you have the support and time you need during this life-changing moment.
When you join us, you're not just taking a job—you’re stepping into a community that celebrates success, fosters growth, and values every individual. Come be part of something extraordinary.
Key Responsibilities
Role Purpose - The Merchandise & Gifting Manager is responsible for the end-to-end ownership of all branded merchandise and gifting, from concept and creative ideation through to sourcing, production, co-packing, delivery, and post-project review. This role ensures all merchandise and gifting is on-brand, commercially viable, delivered on time and within budget, and supports wider objectives across marketing, sales, activations, customers, partners, and internal teams.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategy, Ideation & Planning
* Own the merchandise and gifting roadmap, aligned to brand, marketing, sales and activation plans
* Proactively generate creative merchandise and gifting concepts (e.g. retail promotions, corporate gifting)
* Translate briefs into clear, costed options with recommendations ( MOQs, lead times, COGS)
* Maintain awareness of market trends, materials, finishes, and innovative formats
2. Sourcing, Supplier Management & Negotiation
* Source, onboard and manage global merchandise and packaging suppliers
* Obtain and compare quotes, ensuring best value, quality, lead time and reliability
* Lead commercial negotiations on unit costs, MOQs, tooling, freight and payment terms
* Build long-term supplier relationships while maintaining competitive tension
* Ensure all suppliers meet brand, ethical, quality and compliance standards
3. Sampling, Product Development & Approval
* Manage the sampling and prototyping process end-to-end
* Review samples against brand standards, functionality and quality
* Coordinate internal approvals with Marketing, Founders, Commercial and Ops
* Track and sign-off points to avoid delays or scope creep
4. Production, Ordering & Logistics
* Place and manage purchase orders for merchandise and gifting items
* Track production timelines and proactively manage risks to delivery
* Support with inbound logistics, freight, customs (where required) and warehousing
* Maintain clear visibility of stock levels, lead times and future demand
5. Co-Packing & Project Delivery
* Plan and manage co-packing activities, including kitting, assembly and presentation
* Brief and coordinate with 3PLs, co-packers and internal operations teams
* Oversee full project delivery from concept to final dispatch
* Ensure gifting arrives on time, complete and presentation-ready
6. Stakeholder & Relationship Management
* Act as the central point of contact for merchandise and gifting across the business
* Work closely with Marketing, Sales, Ops and Finance
* Manage external relationships with suppliers, co-packers, logistics partners
* Communicate progress clearly, flag risks early, and provide regular updates
7. Budget, Reporting & Continuous Improvement
* Own the merchandise and gifting budget, tracking spend vs forecast
* Report on costs, savings, timelines and performance by project
* Identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve lead times or simplify processes
* Build and maintain standardised SOPs, suppliers lists and templates
Key Deliverables
* Merchandise & gifting concepts and options decks
* Costed proposals with recommendations
* Approved samples and production specs
* Purchase orders and delivery schedules
* Co-packing plans and execution
* Budget tracking and post-project reviews
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
* Proven experience in merchandise, promotional products, gifting or brand activations
* Strong supplier sourcing and negotiation capability
* Experience managing multiple projects end-to-end
* Commercially minded with strong attention to detail
* Excellent organisational and stakeholder management skills
* Ability to work at pace in a fast-growing, entrepreneurial environment
Desirable
* Experience working with FMCG, spirits, lifestyle or premium brands
* Knowledge of co-packing, logistics and 3PL operations
* International sourcing experience
* Strong brand and aesthetic judgement
Personal Attributes
* Creative but commercially grounded
* Highly organised and delivery-focused
* Confident communicator
* Proactive problem-solver
* Comfortable owning projects independently
Success Measures (KPIs)
* On-time, in-full delivery of merchandise and gifting projects
* Budget adherence and cost savings achieved
* Quality and brand consistency
* Internal stakeholder satisfaction
* Supplier performance and reliability
Au Vodka: Redefining Spirits with Style & Sparkle! ✨
🔥 One of the fastest-growing spirit brands in the UK, Au Vodka is turning heads with its iconic shiny gold bottles💛 and handcrafted pewter labels 🏷️. We’re here to shake up the traditional alcohol market 🍸, offering a bold, fresh alternative that stands out from the crowd.
💻📱 With a highly engaged social media fam and a standout online presence, we’re not just a brand – we’re a movement. Now, we’re setting our sights even higher 🌍, gearing up to take the world by storm.
💡✨ At Au Vodka, we believe in a workplace culture that fuels creativity and big ideas 💭. We’re on the lookout for open-minded, resourceful individuals who are ready to join our exciting journey 🚀 and help us keep raising the bar!
🍾 Are you ready to be part of something extraordinary? Let’s grow together! 🌟