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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage key accounts and build relationships with buying groups in the plumbing sector.
- Company: Join a respected brand in the plumbing and bathroom industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and the chance to make an impact.
- Why this job: Drive growth and innovation in a dynamic national role.
- Qualifications: Experience in account management and understanding of buying groups is essential.
- Other info: Opportunity for professional development and working with senior stakeholders.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
An exciting opportunity to join a well-renowned and highly respected brand within the plumbing and bathroom sector. We are looking to appoint a National Account Manager with proven buying group experience to take ownership of developing and growing relationships across key UK buying groups and national accounts.
This role is specifically focused on the independent merchant buying-group landscape, and experience working with groups such as NBG, IPG, PHG, H&B or UKPS is essential.
The Role
Reporting directly to the Head of Sales, you will be responsible for building and maintaining long-term, strategic relationships with buying groups and their member businesses. You will drive growth through structured account management, promotional planning, and collaborative development, while managing commercial performance across volume, value, margin and profitability.
This is a highly visible, national role that requires strong commercial judgement, excellent stakeholder management and a deep understanding of how buying groups and independent merchant networks operate.
Key Responsibilities
- Account Management
- Deliver agreed sales targets across volume, value, margin and EBIT
- Maintain strong, regular contact with buying groups and relevant departments
- Visit accounts and member branches to understand operations and identify growth opportunities
- Maintain accurate account records and internal reporting
- Business Development
- Identify and develop new business opportunities, including branded and own-label ranges
- Introduce new products aligned with business strategy and manage account expectations
- Recommend POS, merchandising and display solutions to improve conversion and visibility
- Marketing & Promotions
- Communicate marketing and PR activity clearly to accounts
- Plan, execute and evaluate promotional activity and advertising spend
- Work closely with marketing to ensure campaigns are effective, targeted and ROI-driven
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Build strong relationships with key stakeholders across buying groups and accounts
- Lead quarterly performance reviews with customers and internal teams
- Agree, monitor and deliver against annual KPIs
- Operational Excellence
- Ensure timely execution of promotions, pricing, invoicing and queries
- Identify cost-saving opportunities and operational efficiencies
- Manage and track approved promotional and advertising budgets
The Person
- Proven experience in a National or Key Account Manager role, ideally within plumbing, bathrooms or building materials
- Demonstrable buying group experience and understanding of independent merchant networks
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to analyse data and drive strategic decisions
- Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills
- Comfortable operating nationally and managing multiple senior stakeholders
National Account Manager - Buying Groups in Maidstone employer: ASR International
Contact Detail:
ASR International Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land National Account Manager - Buying Groups in Maidstone
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the plumbing and bathroom sector. Attend industry events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts. You never know who might help you land that National Account Manager role!
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your buying group experience! When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or during interviews, make sure to highlight your past successes with buying groups like NBG or IPG. Share specific examples of how you’ve driven growth and built relationships – it’ll set you apart from the competition.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its position in the market. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their goals, especially around account management and promotional planning. We want you to walk in feeling confident and ready to impress!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. So, go ahead and submit your application – we’re rooting for you!
We think you need these skills to ace National Account Manager - Buying Groups in Maidstone
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of National Account Manager. Highlight your experience with buying groups and any relevant achievements in account management. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about the plumbing and bathroom sector and how your skills align with our needs. Keep it engaging and personal – we love a good story!
Showcase Your Commercial Acumen: In your application, don’t forget to demonstrate your strong commercial judgement. Share examples of how you've driven growth or improved profitability in previous roles. We’re looking for someone who can think strategically!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at ASR International
✨Know Your Buying Groups
Make sure you do your homework on the specific buying groups mentioned in the job description, like NBG, IPG, and PHG. Understanding their structure and how they operate will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're the right fit for the role.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
Prepare to discuss your previous experiences where you've successfully driven sales growth and managed accounts. Use specific examples that highlight your ability to analyse data and make strategic decisions that positively impacted your previous employers.
✨Build Rapport with Stakeholders
Since this role involves managing multiple senior stakeholders, practice how you'll build relationships. Think of ways to engage them during the interview, perhaps by discussing how you’ve successfully collaborated with different teams in the past.
✨Prepare for Performance Metrics
Be ready to talk about how you've met or exceeded sales targets in your previous roles. Bring along any relevant metrics or KPIs that showcase your success in account management and business development, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
