Appetite for success
Whether you want to continue travelling around the world or settle back in Ireland, the opportunities with Irish Distillers are endless
“Irish whiskey has built a reputation of unrivalled quality and relentless innovation globally,” says Sinéad D’Arcy, Head of the Jameson International Graduate Programme. “Exports are due to double by 2020, and double again by 2030. The Jameson brand has had 28 years of consecutive growth and we’re currently selling 6.5 million cases globally in over 130 markets. It’s a very exciting time to work with Irish Distillers.”
Irish Distillers is Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines, and producers of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskey, Jameson. For D’Arcy, innovation is at the forefront of Jameson’s growth.
“There is no doubt that sales keep us growing, and we are now seeing the impact of innovation to support our continued growth. An example of this is Jameson Caskmates which started in 2014 as a partnership with Franciscan Well Brewery. What started off as a 3,500-bottle trial is now a key product within our portfolio and has been launched in 30 markets around the world. Innovation has become our lifeblood now in terms of evolving the brand to the next level, and it’s an innovative mindset we look for in candidates.”
D’Arcy heads the three-year Jameson International Graduate Programme, which sees graduates promoting the brand to 46 markets around the world. This includes new locations such as Chile, Mexico, Malaysia and Zambia.
D’Arcy says, “Our graduates, known as Brand Ambassadors, are breaking new frontiers for the brand. Through their role they bring the strategy they develop on our programme here in Dublin, and adapt it into a new market. We had 75 Brand Ambassadors last year and this has grown to 90 graduates this year. We are excited about the growth of the programme into 2018 and beyond.
“After the programme, graduates have the option of building their career in areas such as sales and marketing, and begin to specialise in areas such as digital or events. They also have the option of looking at these opportunities in Ireland or in another international market where Pernod Ricard are based,” says D’Arcy.
“As the Irish whiskey category is growing, there are so many opportunities beyond the graduate programme working with our wider whiskey portfolio, not just Jameson.”
D’Arcy also states that applications are accepted from all degree disciplines, “We open our arms to anyone who wants to apply because we’re looking for more than just a qualification. We are looking for candidates with a passion for brand marketing and sales but they don’t necessarily have to have a background in this area. We can then teach them everything they need to know about the brand. This is why we ask candidates to apply with a two-minute video application for our International Graduate Programme. With a traditional written CV, we wouldn’t be able to see their passion, attitude and potential coming through.”
“We want people with an entrepreneurial spirit. This means they have to be creative, innovative and a real self-starter. If you have already travelled or worked internationally, it shows that you are a self-starter. You’ve taken a step to carve your own path in a global context.”
D’Arcy adds that people with global experience, be that through travelling or working abroad, is always an asset on anyone’s application.
“It means that you have a greater appreciation of global cultures, which can help you understand marketing in various locations, and this should be up front in a CV. There is also huge competition in the market in Ireland, and globally, for people who have an international language, especially on our graduate programme.”
D’Arcy says that one of the great things about the programme is the multi-award-winning training and development aspect.
“Graduates learn the professional competencies to build a career, such as relationship building and project management, but their personal development is huge. Our past graduates have said the experience has not only made them grow professionally, but personally, and this means a lot to us as an organisation. We have continuous development throughout the programme and a nine-month transition strategy in the final year of the programme, which supports graduates with their next career move post programme.”
The future is no doubt very bright for the Irish whiskey industry, but how do you know if now is the right time to make a career move?
“There’s no magic formula when it comes to what time of the year is best to look for a new job,” says D’Arcy. “The best time to look for a new job is when you’re ready to move to a new job. However, with the new year, it can mean out with the old, in with the new, but do make sure you’re in the right mindset and take the time to choose what’s the next best move for you.”
Applications are open for the Jameson International Graduate Programme until 17 th January 2018. For more information on a career with Irish Distillers, visit www.irishdistillers.ie