At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage relationships with architects, designers, and contractors to deliver flooring projects.
- Company: Join Karndean Designflooring, a leader in innovative flooring solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy a flexible work-life balance with remote options and competitive pay.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team that values creativity and collaboration in a thriving industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in specification sales within construction or flooring is essential.
- Other info: This role offers autonomy and the chance to drive your own strategic sales plan.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 Β£ per year.
About This Opportunity
We have an exciting opportunity for a Commercial Specification Manager East to join our Commercial Sales team. As a Commercial Specification Manager, you will be the driving force behind Karndean\βs growth within the given geographic area (postcodes: AL,RM,SS,EN,SG,CM,CO,CB,IP,NR,PE) with Flooring Contractors, Architects, Designers, Developers & End User communities β a dynamic, design-led and commercially influential market.
You will be responsible for managing and expanding key relationships across flooring contractors, architects, interior designers, fit-out specialists, developers, you will position Karndean as the flooring partner of choice for commercial projects.
You will be expected to deliver specification wins, align our offering to specification community, guiding projects from early RIBA stages through to final installation. With a focus on sectors such as workspace, multi-residential, hospitality, retail and education, this role is pivotal in delivering sustainable, design-led growth in one of the UK\βs most competitive and opportunity-rich regions.
How You Will Contribute
- Develop and grow influential relationships with architects, interior designers, fit-out firms, developers, flooring contractors and main contractors across the area β ensuring Karndean is engaged at early-stage project specification.
- Position Karndean as a trusted specification partner through high-quality CPDs, showroom consultations, design workshops, and technical presentations aligned to client design and performance priorities.
- Manage projects from early RIBA stages through to contractor engagement and final order placement β ensuring specifications are secured, protected and converted.
- Drive specification growth by aligning early design decisions with contractor and sub-contractor engagement, maintaining integrity through procurement and value engineering stages.
- Build and maintain a structured pipeline using CRM, Glenigan and market intelligence β identifying new opportunities and prioritising high-value activity.
- Maintain disciplined CRM hygiene, ensuring all interactions, project updates and next steps are accurately recorded to support forecasting and visibility.
- Champion Karndean\βs design, sustainability and technical credentials β articulating acoustic, ESG, accessibility and performance benefits in a commercially relevant way.
- Represent Karndean within the geographical area\βs design and construction ecosystem, attending relevant industry events and networking opportunities to build brand presence and credibility.
- Deliver against agreed territory sales, specification and margin targets, contributing to sustainable growth and strengthened market positioning across London.
What Will Make You Successful in This Role
- Commercial & A&D Market Understanding β demonstrates a strong working knowledge of their area\βs commercial construction and design market, including workspace, multi-residential, hospitality, retail and education sectors. Confidently engaging architectural and interior design practices, fit-out contractors, developers & flooring contractors across all project touchpoints. Understands project lifecycles and the importance of early-stage RIBA engagement to support specification growth.
- Specification Sales & Stakeholder Engagement β skilled in managing specification-led sales across multiple project stakeholders. Able to build trusted relationships with architects, designers and contractors β supporting alignment between design intent, product selection and site delivery. Works to protect specification integrity through procurement and value engineering phases, escalating strategically when required.
- Pipeline Management & CRM Discipline β proficient in CRM systems (Dynamics 365), maintaining accurate and structured pipeline visibility. Applies a disciplined approach to opportunity management β tracking project stages, recording next steps and supporting forecast accuracy. Uses pipeline insight to prioritise activity and improve conversion rates.
- Product & Technical Knowledge β demonstrates strong knowledge of Karndean\βs product portfolio, performance standards, installation methods, acoustic requirements and sustainability positioning. Confident presenting both design and technical benefits within commercial project constraints. Understands common site challenges and can support contractors with practical, solution-led guidance.
Our Values
Our values shape everything we do β from the floors we design to the experiences we create for our customers and colleagues. If you\βre someone who thrives in a creative, collaborative, and purpose-driven environment, you\βll feel right at home here.
- Deliver the Promise: behaving with integrity, keeping commitments, and being accountable to customers, colleagues, and partners
- People Matter: valuing individuals, recognising achievement, trusting one another, and making sure employees feel empowered
- Pioneering Spirit: encouraging boldness, innovation, creative thinking- traits that are part of the company\βs founding
- Positive Energy: bringing enthusiasm, dynamism and a \βcan-do\β attitude to work every day
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Commercial Specification Manager - East employer: Karndean Designflooring
Contact Detail:
Karndean Designflooring Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice π€«
We think this is how you could land Commercial Specification Manager - East
β¨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the flooring and construction sectors. Attend industry events, trade shows, or local meetups to connect with architects, designers, and contractors. Building these relationships can give you insights into potential job openings and help you stand out.
β¨Tip Number 2
Familiarise yourself with Karndean Designflooring's products and recent projects. Understanding their offerings and how they fit into the market will allow you to speak confidently about how you can contribute to their success during interviews.
β¨Tip Number 3
Leverage social media platforms like LinkedIn to showcase your expertise in specification sales. Share relevant content, engage with industry discussions, and connect with current employees at Karndean to increase your visibility and demonstrate your passion for the role.
β¨Tip Number 4
Prepare for the interview by practising your consultative sales approach. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully managed relationships and delivered projects in the past, as this will be crucial in demonstrating your fit for the Commercial Specification Manager role.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Specification Manager - East
Some tips for your application π«‘
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in specification sales, particularly within the flooring or construction sectors. Emphasise your achievements in managing projects and building relationships with key stakeholders.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for the role and the company. Mention specific examples of how you've successfully influenced and inspired customers in previous positions, and how you plan to bring that energy to Karndean Designflooring.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, focus on your communication, negotiation, and product knowledge skills. Provide examples of how you've used these skills to achieve sales targets and maintain customer satisfaction in past roles.
Showcase Your Understanding of the Industry: Demonstrate your knowledge of the construction sector and its key players. Discuss any experience you have with digital tools and CRM systems, as well as your approach to managing complex projects and relationships.
How to prepare for a job interview at Karndean Designflooring
β¨Showcase Your Sales Experience
Be prepared to discuss your previous experience in specification sales, particularly any major projects you've delivered. Highlight specific examples where your communication and negotiation skills led to successful outcomes.
β¨Demonstrate Industry Knowledge
Familiarise yourself with the flooring and construction sectors, including key stakeholders and current trends. This will show your understanding of the industry and your ability to engage effectively with Architects, Designers, and contractors.
β¨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess how you would handle complex business environments or challenging customer situations. Think of scenarios where you've successfully navigated difficulties and be ready to share these stories.
β¨Emphasise Team Collaboration
Since teamwork is crucial in this role, be ready to discuss how you've worked effectively with others in past positions. Share examples of how you've collaborated with different teams to achieve common goals.