Business Development – Category Lead (General Building Materials)
Role Summary
This role leads the commercial growth and strategic development of the General Building Products division. This is a broad, high‑volume category supporting multiple phases of construction, from structural works through to internal fit‑out and finishing.
The ideal candidate combines strong knowledge of general building materials with well‑established relationships across merchants, contractors, and manufacturers, and can build a competitive range that delivers both commercial value and reliability of supply.
Required Sector Experience (Essential)
- Bricks, blocks, and masonry units
- Mortars, renders, and plaster
- Plasterboard, drywall, and partition systems
- Fixings, fasteners, and building sundries
- Thermal and acoustic insulation materials
- Timber, sheet materials (plywood, MDF, OSB), and structural ancillaries
- Fire protection boards and associated products
Experience working with
- Housebuilders, main contractors, or fit‑out contractors
- Manufacturers of building materials or structural components
Key Responsibilities
Commercial Growth & New Business
- Identify and win new customer accounts across builders, developers, main contractors, interior fit‑out specialists, and general construction firms.
- Develop a robust pipeline across housebuilding, refurbishment, commercial construction, and public‑sector projects.
- Build strong relationships with manufacturers and distributors of cementitious products, masonry materials, plasterboard systems, insulation, timber, and structural products.
- Conduct supplier site visits to review production capability, quality standards, stockholding, and logistics reliability.
- Negotiate pricing structures, rebates, terms, and exclusivity opportunities.
Category Development
- Develop a scalable and commercially competitive product range aligned to demand across structural works, internal partitions, drylining, insulation, timber, and general building essentials.
- Identify missing ranges and recommend new products based on margin potential, compliance gaps, and customer demand.
- Monitor trends such as off‑site construction, new insulation technologies, and fire safety regulation changes.
- Gather insights on availability issues (e.g., cement shortages, plasterboard supply), competitor pricing, seasonal peaks, and emerging building regulations.
- Provide structured data and feedback to inform purchasing, pricing, and category expansion.
Field Representation
- Represent the General Building Products category at trade shows, supplier open days, merchant events, and contractor visits.
- Engage directly with installers and site managers to understand usage patterns, challenges, and opportunities to simplify procurement.
Attributes & Skills
- Deep credibility in general building materials and construction supply chains.
- Strong hunter mindset with a track record of securing significant new business.
- Able to interpret building product specifications, fire ratings, insulation values, fixings requirements, and installation methods.
- Commercially sharp, negotiation‑focused, and margin‑aware.
- Comfortable managing a wide product portfolio covering both heavy and light building materials.
- Field‑driven, proactive, and confident travelling UK‑wide to develop supplier and customer relationships.
Sound interesting? Apply today.
Seniority level
Mid‑Senior level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Construction
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