_{25th March, 2026}

Job Title: Business Development Manager - Builders Merchants (South of England)
Location: South of England (Field-based)
Reports to: Channel Manager - Merchants
Division: Sales - Merchant Channel
 
Role Purpose
The Business Development Manager (BDM) will play a supporting and enabling role within the builders merchant channel, working alongside existing sales teams to unlock new business opportunities and accelerate channel growth.
Rather than replacing day-to-day sales activity, the BDM will focus on strategic development, helping merchant partners and sales teams identify new opportunities, improve product penetration, and convert untapped demand into sustainable revenue across the South of England.
 
How the Role Works in Practice
The BDM acts as a bridge between merchants and the Sales Teams, adding value by:

• Supporting existing account managers and sales teams with targeted business development activity
• Opening doors at branch, regional, and group level to create new opportunities for follow-up and conversion
• Driving initiatives that individual sales teams may not have the time or scale to deliver consistently
• Ensuring merchant partners are fully equipped, trained, and motivated to generate incremental sales

Key Responsibilities

• Work in partnership with existing sales teams to identify, develop, and introduce new business opportunities within the builders merchant channel.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with builder's merchant branches (independent and group), complementing existing sales coverage rather than duplicating it.
• Support merchant sales teams through product training, joint customer visits, and commercial discussions to help convert new opportunities into sales.
• Engage with group procurement, regional management, and head office teams to unlock wider ranging opportunities and roll out agreed initiatives at branch level.
• Drive increased product visibility and availability through range reviews, promotional activity, and category development.
• Support the rollout of national and regional marketing campaigns, ensuring effective execution at branch level.
• Conduct regular branch visits to maintain presence, build relationships, and reinforce sales messaging with frontline teams.
• Provide feedback, insight, and opportunity intelligence to internal sales teams to support pipeline development and closing activity.
• Track activity and performance, reporting progress and opportunities to the Channel Manager.
• Collaborate with internal teams (marketing, product, operations) to ensure merchant and customer needs are met efficiently.
• Represent the business at trade shows, regional events, and industry forums to generate leads and strengthen brand presence.

Key Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in a field-based sales or business development role within the builders merchant or construction products sector.
• Strong understanding of how merchant sales teams operate and how to support, enable, and influence rather than compete.
• Confident engaging at branch, regional, and group level.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Self-motivated, well organised, and comfortable managing a large geographic territory.
• Commercially minded with a focus on long-term channel growth.
• Confident using data and CRM tools to track activity and outcomes.
• Full UK driving licence required.

Desirable

• Existing relationships within the UK merchant network (e.g. NMBS buying groups, Jewson, Huws Gray, Selco, etc.).
• Experience working for or alongside an electrical, lighting, or building products manufacturer.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and digital reporting tools.

 

Apply For Job