Role purpose: Lead and grow the building materials category by driving sales both from the branch and in the field, developing existing and new customer relationships, and delivering strong margin, stock performance, customer service and supplier relationships across trade and retail customers.
About EEC Hardware
EEC Hardware Ltd is a Homevalue hardware and home improvement store based in Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. We serve both trade and retail customers across building materials, DIY, home improvement and related product categories. We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Building Materials Manager to lead and grow this important area of the business, combining strong in-store management with proactive field sales and key-account development.
The Person
The successful candidate will ideally have:
· At least 3 years’ relevant experience in a builders’ merchant, hardware, DIY or construction materials environment, with a strong track record of performance.
· Strong product knowledge across building materials and the confidence to advise trade and retail customers.
· Commercial awareness, with a clear understanding of sales, gross margin, pricing, purchasing and stock control.
· A proactive, ambitious and results-driven approach, with the resilience to operate in a fast-paced retail and trade environment.
· Excellent communication and relationship-management skills, with the confidence to build strong, long-term relationships with contractors, builders, developers and other key trade customers.
· Strong IT literacy and the ability to use stock, sales and reporting systems effectively.
· The ability to work independently, lead by example and contribute positively as part of the wider management team.
· A full clean driving licence and a willingness to spend a meaningful part of the working week on the road visiting customers, prospects and construction sites.
Key Responsibilities
· Take ownership of the day-to-day performance and development of the building materials category.
· Maintain and strengthen existing customer relationships while actively developing new trade and commercial business, both from the branch and through regular face-to-face customer contact.
· Drive sales growth and gross margin through effective pricing, quoting, product mix, upselling and market awareness.
· Spend a planned portion of the working week on the road calling to construction sites, customer premises and prospective accounts to identify opportunities, provide product advice and grow sales.
· Develop and manage a structured call cycle for existing key accounts and targeted prospects, ensuring regular contact, strong follow-up and clear ownership of opportunities.
· Build relationships with builders, contractors, developers, tradespeople and other commercial customers, becoming a trusted point of contact for their building-material requirements.
· Prepare, price and follow up quotations and larger project enquiries, using site and customer visits to understand requirements and improve quotation conversion.
· Maintain an active pipeline of new business opportunities and report on customer visits, quotations, follow-ups, wins and next actions.
· Work closely with the internal sales and yard teams so that commitments made on the road are followed through accurately on pricing, stock availability, delivery and customer service.
· Monitor competitor activity, local construction activity, market conditions and customer demand to identify opportunities for growth.
Performance Measures
· Sales and gross margin performance.
· Growth and retention of key trade and commercial accounts.
· New-account acquisition, field-sales activity, active sales pipeline and quotation conversion.
· Frequency and quality of key-account contact, site visits and follow-up activity.
· Customer service standards and departmental operational performance.
Remuneration & Benefits
This is a full-time position based at EEC Hardware Ltd, Stephenstown Industrial Estate, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin.
The role will include regular travel to customer premises and construction sites across the surrounding region.
The remuneration package will be competitive and will reflect the successful candidate’s experience, capabilities and agreed performance objectives.
The role will include a base salary plus commission. This package will be discussed during the interview and hiring process.
EEC Hardware also offers employee benefits including on-site parking, staff discount and pension scheme.
How to Apply
If you are interested in this opportunity, please click apply or submit your CV and a short covering letter to [email protected], quoting “Building Materials Manager” in the subject line.
Pay: €35,000.00-€90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Balbriggan, County Dublin: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Licence/Certification:
- full clean driving license (required)
Work authorisation:
Work Location: In person
