At a Glance
- Tasks: Build influential relationships and shape high-security projects across the UK and internationally.
- Company: Join a leading specialist in high-security entrance and access control solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus scheme, EV car options, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Opportunity for professional growth in a dynamic and supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on significant projects from their inception and develop your career.
- Qualifications: 3-5 years in specification sales with strong relationship-building skills.
Location: London | South East | UK Wide Projects
PLEASE NOTE: The ideal candidate will be based within London or the South East. The role will have a strong London specification focus, developing influential relationships and helping shape projects that may ultimately be delivered across the UK and internationally. Location can remain flexible for an exceptional candidate with the right specification network, technical capability and sector experience.
Are you an accomplished specification sales professional with the credibility, technical understanding and commercial awareness to influence some of the UK’s most demanding security, infrastructure and built environment projects? This is a strategically important Specification Manager opportunity with one of the UK’s most established specialists in high security entrance and access control solutions.
The business designs and delivers technically advanced entrance solutions including security doors, revolving doors, turnstiles, speed gates and intelligent access control systems across commercial buildings, data centres, critical national infrastructure, government environments, corporate headquarters and other highly secure locations.
The Specification Manager will be responsible for developing and strengthening relationships with architects, security consultants, specifiers, end users and other influential project stakeholders, positioning the business and its solutions at the earliest possible stage of the project lifecycle. This is an influence led specification role, not a transactional product sales position. The successful individual will act as a trusted specification partner, understanding project requirements, helping shape technically appropriate solutions, influencing specifications and maintaining engagement as opportunities progress from initial concept through design, tender, procurement and ultimately commercial delivery.
Why This Role Stands Out:
- Represent an established and highly regarded specialist with more than 100 years of experience within high security entrance and access control solutions.
- Take ownership of strategically important relationships across the architectural, specification and consultancy community.
- Influence technically complex projects from the earliest design and specification stages.
- Work across major commercial, infrastructure, data centre, government, critical national infrastructure and specialist security environments.
- Develop specifications and relationships that can influence projects delivered across London, the UK and internationally.
- Work closely with commercial, technical, design and project teams to turn early stage specification activity into deliverable and commercially valuable project opportunities.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and maintain influential relationships with architects, security consultants, specifiers, end users and other key project stakeholders.
- Promote the company’s complete portfolio of high security entrance and access control products, systems and service solutions.
- Identify projects at the earliest possible stage and establish where the business can add technical and commercial value.
- Understand design intent, security requirements, operational considerations and wider project constraints before recommending appropriate solutions.
- Influence and secure product specifications by providing credible technical guidance and commercially appropriate solutions.
- Deliver professional presentations, technical meetings, product demonstrations and specification discussions.
- Develop new relationships while strengthening established specification relationships and strategic partnerships.
- Track projects systematically from initial specification and design engagement through tender, procurement, order and delivery, maintaining visibility and protecting the specification wherever commercially possible.
- Work closely with sales, estimating, technical, design and project delivery teams to ensure proposed solutions are technically achievable, commercially viable and properly supported.
- Support pricing, proposal and tender activity where required, maintaining continuity between specification influence and commercial conversion.
- Maintain accurate CRM records, project tracking, specification pipeline visibility and forecasting.
- Monitor competitor activity, changing specification requirements, product developments and wider market opportunities.
- Represent the company professionally across architectural practices, consultant meetings, industry events and other relevant market facing activity.
What we’re looking for:
- An accomplished specification sales professional with a demonstrable track record of influencing architects, consultants, specifiers and other professional project stakeholders.
- Ideally 3 to 5+ years of experience within a specification led technical construction, security, M&E, architectural products or aligned built environment sector.
- Experience within security products, entrance systems, access control, automatic doors, aluminium systems, building envelope products, architectural products, lifts, escalators, M&E, construction products or another technically aligned sector would be highly relevant.
- Strong understanding of specification led project sales and the different stakeholders involved from concept and design through tender, procurement and delivery.
- Experience identifying project requirements and developing technically appropriate product or system solutions.
- Strong commercial awareness with an understanding of how specification activity ultimately converts into profitable project revenue.
- Confidence presenting to architects, consultants, end users and senior project decision makers.
- Strong relationship development and new business capability, with the confidence to create new opportunities rather than rely solely on established relationships.
- The ability to understand technical information, drawings, specifications and project documentation and translate requirements into practical solutions.
- Knowledge of commercial buildings, infrastructure, data centres, government, critical national infrastructure or specialist security environments would be advantageous.
- A stable and successful career history within relevant specification, project or technical sales environments.
Attributes & Mindset:
- Professional, credible and technically curious.
- Commercially aware without being transactionally sales led.
- Confident communicating with influential senior stakeholders and capable of representing the business professionally.
- Able to listen, understand complex requirements and translate them into practical solutions.
- Proactive, structured and disciplined in identifying and managing long cycle specification opportunities.
- Comfortable operating autonomously while collaborating closely with internal commercial and technical teams.
- Persistent and resilient, with the ability to maintain influence and protect specifications throughout extended project cycles.
- Motivated by technical influence, relationship development, project progression and turning specification activity into measurable commercial outcomes.
This is an opportunity to take ownership of a strategically important specification function for an established specialist business operating within technically demanding and security-sensitive environments. For the right person, the position offers the opportunity to build influential relationships across the architectural and consultancy community, become involved in significant projects from their earliest stages and play a direct role in strengthening the company’s specification pipeline across London, the UK and wider international opportunities.
SALARY & BENEFITS:
- Salary: Up to £70,000 with flexibility for exceptional experience.
- Bonus: Up to 15% Bonus Scheme
- Car: EV company car or car allowance
- Benefits: 5% pension, life cover at 3x salary, 25 days holiday, mobile, laptop, Perkbox, retail discounts and cycle to work scheme
- Career: Genuine opportunity to develop and make a measurable impact within an established specialist business
Specification Manager employer: SRS Recruitment Solutions
As a leading supplier of high-quality timber products for over 50 years, our company offers a dynamic work environment in Suffolk where teamwork and safety are paramount. We prioritise employee growth through ongoing training and development opportunities, ensuring that our Stock Controllers not only manage inventory effectively but also thrive in their careers. With a competitive remuneration package and a commitment to maintaining a positive workplace culture, we are dedicated to fostering a rewarding experience for all our employees.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Specification Manager
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like SRS Recruitment Solutions, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Specification Manager at SRS Recruitment Solutions.
We think you need these skills to ace Specification Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at SRS Recruitment Solutions
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
