Architectural Specialties Manager

Position Purpose:

The Architectural Specialties Manager is responsible for driving revenue growth, market expansion, and brand visibility for architectural specialty products (such as acoustical ceilings, walls, cladding, and specialty materials like felt, glass, wood, metal, acrylic, and FSC Lumber products). This role serves as a strategic leader, managing relationships with architects, designers, contractors, and manufacturers while working with the regional sales team to achieve and exceed business goals in commercial sectors including Education, Healthcare, Corporate Workplace, Government, and Hospitality. The Architectural Specialties Manager is a strategic market builder and a hands-on leader who drives specifications, nurtures client relationships, manages manufacturer relationships, and ensures our architectural specialty products and partners are positioned as the go-to solutions across the Northwest commercial architecture market.

Key Responsibilities:

Sales Leadership & Strategy

- Develop and execute a regional sales strategy aligned with corporate objectives and with regional sales managers.
- Work with Sales team and key manufacturer partners and coordinate with purchasing to ensure our costs are optimized.
- Monitor performance and ensure consistent pipeline growth across the division.
- Identify and pursue new business opportunities in target verticals, focusing on specification driven sales.
- Forecast market trends, competitor activity, and regional construction demand to inform strategy.

Market Development

- Build and strengthen relationships with architectural and design firms, influencing product specifications early in the design process.
- Partner with general contractors, subcontractors, and the local GMS sales teams to ensure products are competitively positioned and delivered.
- Promote company presence at design expos, industry networking events, and trade shows.

Team Management & Coaching

- Lead, educate, and motivate a team of Sales Representatives on AS products.
- Coordinate and provide training to internal sales teams on products and procedures for each strategic manufacturer partner.
- Foster a collaborative culture with clear goals, accountability, and recognition.

Client Engagement

- Act as the primary liaison for key accounts and large-scale projects, ensuring client satisfaction from bid request through installation.
- Collaborate with key sub-contractors by providing qualified leads and market intel, as well as regular job tracking.

Business Operations

- Track and report on sales performance using CRM tools.
- Work with local market managers and vendors to develop region-specific campaigns, case studies, and reference projects.
- Collaborate with manufacturer sales reps, relaying regional feedback on design trends, material preferences, and performance needs.
- Ensure smooth coordination with Project Management and Technical Support teams to deliver seamless client experiences.

Direct Manager/Direct Reports:

- Reports to Regional Sales Manager or Regional/General Manager

Travel Requirements:

- Up to 30%

Physical Requirements:

- Must be able to remain in a stationary position in an office environment 70% of the time.
- Will occasionally move about inside the office to access files, office machinery, etc.
- Must be able to operate basic office machinery.
- Must be able to communicate with team and management and be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.

Working Conditions:

- The role primarily works in a professional office environment but may also spend significant time traveling to customer locations, industry events, trade shows, branch locations, and other business-related meetings. This position requires frequent interaction with customers, vendors, and internal stakeholders through in-person meetings, telephone conversations, video conferences, and electronic communications.
- The role may require extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, and working at a computer. Must be able to effectively manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while meeting deadlines and responding to changing business needs. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to accommodate customer schedules, travel requirements, or business demands.
- Additional working conditions may include: Frequent use of computers, phones, and other standard office equipment.
- Regular communication with customers, sales teams, operations, and senior leadership.
- Travel by automobile and/or air as necessary to support sales activities and customer relationships.
- Ability to visit customer facilities, warehouses, manufacturing locations, construction sites, or distribution centers, as applicable.
- May be exposed to varying environmental conditions when visiting customer or operational sites, including changes in temperature, noise levels, and outdoor weather conditions.
- Ability to lift and carry sales materials, product samples, and presentation equipment up to 25 pounds occasionally.

Minimum Qualifications:

- N/A

Preferred Qualifications:

- N/A

Minimum Education:

- N/A

Preferred Education:

- Bachelor's degree

Minimum Years of Work Experience:

- 5-10 Years of related experience

Certifications:

- N/A

Competencies:

- Communication Proficiency: Demonstrate exceptional verbal and written communication skills to effectively collaborate with team members, provide clear direction, and maintain positive client relationships.
- Organizational Skills: Exhibit superior organizational capabilities to manage multiple administrative tasks efficiently, ensuring seamless coordination of quoting, ordering, sourcing, and logistics activities.
- Technical Aptitude: Utilize strong technical skills to proficiently manage and leverage sales and logistics software, enhancing operational efficiency and accuracy in administrative processes.
- Analytical Thinking: Apply critical thinking and analytical skills to interpret sales data, forecast needs, and support decision-making processes that drive sales team success.
- Leadership and Team Support: Provide consistent support and guidance to team members, fostering a collaborative and productive environment that prioritizes achieving collective goals.
- Attention to Detail: Exhibit meticulous attention to detail to ensure precision in all administrative functions, thereby enhancing the quality and reliability of sales operations.
- Adaptability and Problem-Solving: Demonstrate flexibility and resourcefulness in addressing unforeseen challenges, adapting to changing circumstances while maintaining focus on strategic objectives.

Work Location:

- N/A

Job Location: National Structure - Oklahoma City
100 NE 31st Street Oklahoma City, OK 73105
‎
As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer SRS Distribution Inc., including all its subsidiaries, provides job opportunities to qualified individuals without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, citizenship status, uniform service, veteran status, marital status, genetic information, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local EEO laws.

If you are an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require a reasonable accommodation in applying for any posted position, please contact Human Resources at US: 855.556.3221, or by email to: [email protected] with the nature of your accommodation request and include the Business name, location and title of the job opening. Please allow one (1) business day for a reply.

All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of a background check and drug screen, as permitted by law.
‎
Competitive weekly/bi-weekly pay, discretionary bonuses, 401(k) with company match, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, paid time off (vacation, sick, volunteer, holidays, birthday, floating), medical/dental/vision, flexible spending accounts, company-paid life and short-term disability, plus optional long-term disability, and additional life insurance. All benefits subject to eligibility.
‎

‎
Should a Candidate be submitted to fill a position by a recruiting or staffing services agency (“Agency”), the Company has no obligation to pay the Agency any fee for submission, offer, placement or any service without a fully executed contract of service covering the engagement.