Sales Manager – Merchant Division

Location: Ireland (including Northern Ireland)

Industry: Hardware / Construction Materials

Reports to: Group Commercial Director

Direct Reports: Multiple Area Sales Managers

Type: Full-Time, Permanent

About the Role

Our client, a leading supplier to the Irish hardware and construction materials sector, is seeking a Sales Manager to lead their Merchant Division. This is a senior commercial role with responsibility for driving sales growth, building customer relationships, and managing a team of Area Sales Managers across Ireland and Northern Ireland.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced sales leader to play a key part in shaping the future of the business and strengthening its position within the hardware and builders’ merchant channel.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement regional sales strategies to deliver growth in revenue, margin, and market share.
• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of Area Sales Managers to achieve targets and maintain high performance standards.
• Build and sustain strong relationships with builders’ merchants, hardware buying groups, and industry stakeholders across Ireland and Northern Ireland.
• Identify and secure new business opportunities, staying ahead of industry and market trends.
• Drive adoption and improvement of CRM systems for accurate pipeline management and reporting.
• Collaborate with purchasing, logistics, marketing, and customer service to ensure seamless customer experience.
• Monitor sales data, analyse performance, and prepare concise reports for senior leadership.
• Represent the business at trade shows, industry events, and product launches.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Business, Sales, or related discipline.
• 5+ years’ sales management experience, ideally within the Irish Hardware or Construction sector.
• Proven track record of managing and developing high-performing teams.
• CRM expertise with evidence of driving results through data and reporting.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Confident in MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen.
• Advanced negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Data-driven decision-maker with strong reporting skills.
• Motivational team leader with coaching ability.
• Organised, adaptable, and resilient in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Attributes

• Established network within Irish and Northern Irish builders’ merchants.
• Experience launching new products or implementing digital sales tools.
• Track record of driving successful new product adoption.

Benefits:

• Basic Salary €70,000
• Performance related bonus
• Lunch Allowance
• Company Car
• Company Pension
• 21 days Annual leave which increases to a max of 26days with service
• Phone
• Laptop / iPad
• Fuel card
• Toll Tag

This role offers the chance to contribute at a strategic level while leading a key division within a growing business.