Licensing Specialist

Job Title : Licensing Specialist

About us:

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, we're the world's leading premium drinks company. Bring your passion and use your curiosity as you explore, collaborate, and innovate to build brands consumers love. Together with passionate people from all over the world, you'll test new ideas, learn and grow, and unlock a brighter, more exciting future.

Join us to create a career worth celebrating.

About the Function:

Our Supply Chain and Manufacturing team are problem-solvers, sourcing, producing, and delivering our much-loved brands to delight customers around the globe. Over half of Diageo's 30,000+ people work in Supply Chain and Manufacturing. It's an intricate and sophisticated operation that's the product of logistical, manufacturing, and technical collaborations!

• License Management:
  • Act decisively to ensure compliance with state business licensing regulations through timely application, renewal, and accurate recording.
  • Maintain up-to-date license schedule with no lapses in coverage.
• Regulatory Compliance:
  • Conduct evaluations and examinations of records to verify information for complex cases.
  • Expert in interpreting state and local regulations and contrasting them with federal requirements.
  • Continuously monitor and advise on new regulatory requirements due to changes in law or business operations, anticipate trends, and adapt quickly.
• Communication:
  • Primary contact for licensing communications from state authorities.
  • Main point-of-contact for tax-related or other official communications from states and promptly involving the appropriate internal stakeholders.
  • Professional interaction with government officials as well as key internal stakeholders.
  • Expertise in preparing documentation and paperwork with clear communication.
  • Collaboration with Regulatory and Legal teams, brand registration specialists, logistics and sales managers, and state excise analysts.
• Compliance Advisory:
  • Provide interpretation of applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures regarding licensing and permit issues.
  • Manage impacts on licenses due to changes in state laws and raise accordingly.
  • Execute Officer and Director updates as required while maintaining the highest levels of confidentiality with personal information.
  • Advise sites on posting licenses in compliance with regulations.
  • Provide guidance on standard methodologies for maintaining regulatory compliance across all states.
  • Handling a wide range of agency activities ensuring accuracy, reliability, or acceptability.
• Bond and Tradename Maintenance:
  • Manage and renew bonds as required by state regulations.
  • Maintain and update tradenames in compliance with state requirements.
• Documentation Management:
  • Maintain organized files with updated licensing information for various licenses and permits.
  • Review applications and supporting documentation, including financial information, for adherence to regulatory requirements.
• Process Improvement:
  • Challenge existing processes continuously to ensure consistency and compliance despite changing regulations.
  • Establishment of best practices and standards in collaboration with team members. Share and champion what works.
• Professional Development:
  • Grow professionally through regular updates/training ensuring knowledge remains current within industry standards.

• Must have at least 5+ years of licensing experience.
• Thorough understanding of beverage alcohol laws, procedures, and documentation requirements, including familiarity with Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
• Knowledge regarding interrelationship of licenses with brand registration and state excise taxes.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to balance priorities and work under pressure.
• Comfortable working with executives to acquire necessary documentation and ensure timely processing.
• Trained paralegal preferred.
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written, for interacting with internal partners, government agencies, and third-party vendors.
• Proficiency in MS Office and comfort with variety of online licensing systems.
• Bachelor's degree in legal studies, finance, business compliance or a related field.
• The ideal candidate should have meticulous attention to detail, excellent interpersonal skills for collaborative work, the ability to work independently while managing multiple tasks simultaneously, flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and be proactive.