Sales Professional – Architectural Sales

Sales Professional – Architectural Sales

Client: The client is an international market leader in the manufacturing and the sales of sliced hardwood veneers and lumber. The company has expanded into all major hardwood regions of the world, including Europe, North and South America, and Africa, where it has established veneer plants and sawmills for processing the wood locally. This worldwide organization employs more than 4,600 people in more than 30 countries. The group’s North America revenues exceeded $280M in 2007. Location: Pittsburgh, PA area (relocation not mandatory) Position Objective: This newly created sales position will be the primary resource for increasing the customer base of this new veneer surface product start up. The candidate will work closely with interior design firms, architectural companies, contractors and other end-users in order to get the company’s products specified for project-based high value applications such as hotels and casinos, store fitting business, aircraft and boat interior, public and residential building components, office and residential furniture, etc. This sales position will provide market leadership and specific insight into creating strategic sales strategies and establishing business plan objectives to achieve the corporate goals. Reports to: President and CEO of this Division Requirements: Education: A minimum of a vocational certification is required, a Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree would be considered a plus. Studies in wood sciences, business or forestry would be advantageous, as would knowledge of a foreign language, preferably Spanish. Experience and Skills Required: The successful candidate will be a proven sales professional with a minimum of eight years of sales experience with visible success acquiring and maintaining customers. The ability to apply a systematic and disciplined approach to markets and customer segments is required. A strong understanding of analytics is also required to accurately assess and convey the correlation of prices, margins, and profitability and performance metrics. Candidates should have prior sales experience dealing with the architectural and high-end design community. Industry experience from wood/veneer is desired, but could be substituted with experience with other high-end natural surface materials such as reconstituted veneer, foil, leather granite, marble, walls coverings, etc. The sales experience should also include working with distribution channels as well as with direct accounts. This newly created position, in this start up environment, requires an energetic, dynamic, personally motivated, and results driven professional, who is growth oriented, profit driven, and focused. He/she must have strong analytical, problem-solving skills and the ability to decisively manage and drive change to achieve results that directly impact the bottom line. This sales professional will be a naturally hard worker with a roll up your sleeves orientation towards work. The company’s start- up environment requires someone with the qualities of an entrepreneur spirit; however, he/she must also have the ability and willingness to follow direction and take charge, even when a different approach might be preferred. The client’s management culture is one where input is desired, and offering solutions and opinions in a positive manner is welcome. This individual will be constantly driving toward the next customer and should never be satisfied with the status quo. Travel Required: Extensive travel for this position will require 50% or more time.