Area Sales Manager - Florida
About ZBiotics
At ZBiotics, we make genetically engineered probiotics that improve daily life. As a group of motivated, yet down-to-earth people, we are fueled by two things: a love for science and a commitment to being people-first. GMO products like ours - built to create benefits for people in their daily lives - are the future. As the first to market, we believe it’s our duty to set a high bar for product quality, safety, and transparency for others to follow.
In 2019, ZBiotics launched Pre-Alcohol™ - the world's first genetically engineered probiotic drink - designed to break down acetaldehyde, an unwanted alcohol byproduct. In 2024, we launched Sugar-to-Fiber™ - a genetically engineered probiotic drink mix - that creates fiber from the sugar you already eat, contributing to microbiome health.
With a full line of genetically engineered probiotics in development, our team is growing. We’re looking for people as excited as we are to build this new category of consumer products. ZBiotics is headquartered in San Francisco and backed by venture investors including Y Combinator and Khosla Ventures, among others.
About the Role
ZBiotics is expanding into Florida - one of our highest-priority new markets - and we're hiring two Area Sales Managers to build our presence on the ground from day one.
Florida represents a significant opportunity for ZBiotics: a large, diverse market with a thriving off-premise liquor and grocery landscape, a premium on-premise scene, and a distributor network we're actively investing in. These roles will be the boots on the ground driving that investment forward - calling on accounts, educating retailers and staff, working alongside distributor partners, and making sure ZBiotics shows up the right way in every account we enter.
One position will cover South Florida (Palm Beach, Broward, and Dade counties) and the other will cover Central Florida (Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Orlando). Both roles report to our National Director of Distributor Sales and will work closely with distributor partners, retail accounts, and internal teams to build sustainable, velocity-focused growth across the state.
This is a field-first role for someone who loves being in the trade, builds relationships that last, and is energized by representing a genuinely differentiated product in a competitive market.
Your Responsibilities
Selling and managing execution in off-premise accounts
- Call on chain liquor stores (e.g., Publix/ABC), independent liquor stores, and chain grocery stores in your designated territory.
- Sell-in multiple ZBiotics SKUs; secure multiple, high-impact, and properly merchandised displays that are correctly priced.
- Manage account inventory levels. Ensure levels are adequate and communicate potential OOS to store managers and distributor partners.
- Secure incremental displays, points of interruption, and shelf placements.
- Conduct staff education and execute in-store demos weekly.
Selling and creating brand awareness in on-premise accounts
- Create and call on targeted on-premise accounts, including high-end hotels, resorts, bars and restaurants.
- Secure product distribution, menu placements, merchandise where possible.
- Build strong relationships with waitstaff and create ZBiotics “ambassadors” by conducting weekly staff education, sampling, and engaging in 1:1 interactions.
- Work with the Retail Marketing Manager to identify opportunities for brand awareness campaigns to help build presence of on-premise accounts.
Distributor engagement and management
- Regularly work with distributor sales managers, supervisors, and account managers (for both on- and off-premise accounts), focusing on product function and brand education.
- Collaboratively sell-in new distribution, menu placements, and displays, while coaching on the ZBiotics brand, product quality, and science.
- Manage distributor product and POS inventories, support forecasting processes to ensure adequate inventory, maintain DOH, and support rapid growth across all channels in the state.
- Partner with the Retail Marketing Manager to execute on delivering consistent retailer onboarding.
- Provide weekly recap to appropriate distributor sales managers, supervisors, and account managers communicating wins, opportunities, needs for follow-up, and praise for success.
- Lead monthly or bi-monthly training with on- and off-premise distributor teams to cultivate product expertise. Drive enthusiasm by delivering high-impact presentations and extensive sampling.
- Conduct merchandising training for distributors, either in-field or in-office, focused on optimizing ZBiotics POS materials and mastering merchandising strategies to maximize velocity in every account.
- Actively engage in quarterly distributor performance reviews to help evaluate strategic progress and alignment, and identify new opportunities for ZBiotics.
About You