Job Overview
As National Business Development Manager, you will drive growth across the PBSA (Purpose-Built Student Accommodation), Build to Rent, Aged Living, and Main Contractor sectors - developing strategic partnerships and unlocking new opportunities in these high-value markets.
Your core objective will be to deliver sustainable sales growth, strengthen Karndean's market position, and build trusted relationships with developers, architects, designers, main contractors, and other key influencers. You will align Karndean's value proposition with major project frameworks - emphasizing design flexibility, durability, ESG compliance, and cost performance.
The ideal candidate for this opportunity will be commercially astute, strategically minded, and skilled in managing complex, long-cycle project environments involving specifications, procurement, and phased delivery. As a sector specialist, you'll develop market insight, map opportunities, and align internal teams to ensure exceptional service, specification conversion, and strategic engagement. This is a unique opportunity to shape how Karndean partners with leading stakeholders and contribute directly to the long-term growth of our commercial business.
Key responsibilities
* Own and develop strategic relationships with national and regional stakeholders across PBSA, BTR, Aged Living, and Main Contractor - including commercial directors, technical teams, procurement leads, and regional build managers - ensuring Karndean is positioned as a trusted specification partner.
* Lead the strategic account planning process, aligning Karndean's value proposition to the priorities and build programmes of key end user groups groups, supporting both national framework agreements and regional adoption.
* Deliver long-term framework growth, driving specification through to order conversion by connecting national specifications with local site execution and maintaining visibility across the full project lifecycle.
* Develop and implement a sector-specific sales strategy that contributes directly to Karndean's overall business objectives, strengthening our reputation and share of voice within the PBSA, BTR, Aged Living, and Main Contractor markets.
* Collaborate cross-functionally with Regional Specification Managers, Customer Experience, Marketing, and Operations teams to ensure a seamless and consistent customer journey from end user to flooring contractor.
* Leverage data and insight to identify growth opportunities, track market trends, and proactively address risks across the new build and social/affordable housing segments.
* Represent Karndean at national industry forums and events (e.g.,UKRIF UKAA, Love to Rent, ARCO), using these platforms to enhance brand visibility and promote technical expertise.
* Provide expert guidance on technical and sustainability credentials, aligning product recommendations to building regulations, ESG commitments, and the evolving standards of modern construction methods.
* Report regularly on account performance and project pipeline, providing data-driven updates that support forecasting, strategic decision-making, and executive visibility.
* Act as a sector ambassador, supporting internal teams with training and insight to improve confidence and consistency in the NHB market approach.
* Maintain disciplined use of CRM and project tracking tools, ensuring all interactions, frameworks, and project milestones are accurately captured to enable cross-regional collaboration and accountability.
* Achieve and exceed annual sales and margin targets, delivering measurable value across both framework and regional site activity.
Competencies
* National PBSA, BTR, Aged Living, Main Contractor - demonstrates a deep understanding of the multi-residential construction landscape - including the nuances of PBSA, Build to Rent, Aged Living schemes, and main contractor-led delivery models. Experienced in navigating complex project ecosystems involving developers, operators, contractors, fit-out partners, and professional teams.
* Specification & Framework Management - experienced in leading specification-driven sales within structured frameworks. Capable of influencing early-stage design, product selection, and value engineering discussions to secure Karndean as a preferred partner.
* CRM & Pipeline Governance - highly proficient in using CRM systems (Dynamic 365) to manage framework agreements, site pipelines, and account hierarchies. Drives disciplined, data-led account management - ensuring visibility of all active developments, accurate forecasting, and accountability for progression from specification to order.
* Product & Technical Knowledge - demonstrates advanced understanding of flooring solutions in the context of volume multi-residential construction - including subfloor conditions, performance classifications, installation methods, and acoustic and sustainability requirements. Capable of positioning Karndean's portfolio as both a design and technical solution within the constraints of procurement, sustainability, and build efficiency.
* Cross-Functional Collaboration - works effectively across commercial, operations, and marketing teams to ensure seamless execution of framework agreements. Understands the technical-to-commercial bridge - able to communicate confidently between specification, procurement, and site delivery stakeholders to achieve aligned outcomes.