Job Title: Sales Representative & Account Manager
Industry: Hardware / Building Materials Distribution
Territory: Carlow, South Dublin, Midlands Region
Job Type: Permanent
Working Hours: Full time, Monday to Friday
Working Model: Hybrid of on the road (3 days) and office 2 (days) – Flexibility required
Reporting to: Branch Manager and Directors
The Client
Our client, is a leading Builders Merchant with a strong regional presence and a reputation for strong product range, customer service, and reliability.
This is a brand-new position as they seek to grow their presence across Carlow and surrounding counties. The role will require the person to be flexible in their approach to their working week as the approach to the position is fine tuned to have maximum impact.
You’ll work closely with the Branch Manager and Directors who are looking for someone who can bring energy, fresh ideas, and a methodical approach.
Job Purpose
This is a newly created position designed to support the continued growth of the business across Carlow and the surrounding region.
Working closely with the Branch Manager and Directors, the successful candidate will play a key role in both developing new business opportunities and strengthening relationships with existing customers. This is a varied commercial position that combines external sales activity with office-based account management, quotation preparation, and customer support.
The role is intentionally designed as a hybrid between field-based business development and head-office collaboration. Approximately three days per week will be spent meeting customers, identifying opportunities and growing the territory, with the remaining time spent working alongside the Branch Manager to prepare quotations, manage customer accounts, coordinate projects and ensure an excellent customer experience.
This position would suit someone who enjoys building relationships, solving customer problems and taking ownership of opportunities from initial enquiry through to successful delivery.
Duties & Responsibilities
Customer Account Management
· Work closely with the Branch Manager to manage and develop key customer accounts.
· Build strong relationships with existing trade and contractor customers.
· Act as a key point of contact for customers, ensuring a high level of service and responsiveness.
· Identify opportunities to increase customer spend and strengthen long-term relationships.
· Support customers with pricing, product selection and project requirements.
Quotations & Commercial Support
· Prepare professional and competitive quotations for customers.
· Follow up on quotations and convert opportunities into sales.
· Collaborate with internal teams to ensure customer requirements are delivered efficiently.
· Assist in coordinating larger projects and customer orders from enquiry through to completion.
· Monitor pipeline activity and maintain accurate customer records.
Business Development
· Identify and secure new business opportunities across the territory.
· Develop relationships with contractors, developers, builders and trade professionals.
· Conduct regular customer visits and site meetings.
· Generate leads through networking, referrals and proactive prospecting.
· Increase market share and promote the company's full product offering.
Territory Management
· Maintain strong awareness of local market conditions and competitor activity.
· Develop and execute a structured territory growth plan.
· Work collaboratively with branch colleagues to maximise opportunities and customer retention.
Ideal Candidate
This role will suit someone who enjoys the relationship-building side of sales but also appreciates being involved in the commercial and operational aspects of serving customers.
You may currently be working as a Sales Representative, Account Manager, Trade Counter Manager, Branch Supervisor or Internal Sales professional within builders' merchants, construction products or a related trade environment.
You'll be equally comfortable meeting customers on-site, developing new opportunities and spending time in the office preparing quotations, supporting accounts and working closely with colleagues to deliver excellent service.
Most importantly, you'll be commercially minded, customer-focused and motivated by building long-term relationships that contribute to the continued growth of the business.
Key Competencies & Skills
· Experience in builders' merchants, construction products, hardware, building materials or a related trade environment.
· Proven ability to build and maintain strong customer relationships across a range of trade and commercial customers.
· Commercially minded with the ability to identify opportunities, grow accounts and contribute to business development activities.
· Comfortable managing both existing customer accounts and developing new business opportunities.
· Strong quotation, pricing and negotiation skills.
· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build credibility and trust at all levels.
· Organised and methodical approach to managing customer enquiries, quotations and follow-up activity.
· Ability to work collaboratively with Branch Managers, Internal Sales teams and operational colleagues to deliver an excellent customer experience.
· Self-motivated and capable of managing a varied workload across office-based and field-based activities.
· Strong planning and territory management skills.
· Good IT skills, including experience using CRM, quotation or merchanting systems.
· Customer-focused with a proactive and solutions-driven approach.
· Ability to balance relationship management, commercial decision-making and business growth objectives.
· Full clean driving licence.
Package & Benefits
· Basic salary – Up to €60k DOE
· Bonus / Commission structure – To be discussed at interview stage
· Company vehicle or car allowance
· Pension
· Health Insurance
· Phone and Laptop
Tactical Talent is Ireland’s only specialist recruiter to the Hardware and Building Materials Industry