Sales Manager – North East (Plumbing & Heating Distribution)
Location
North East England (field-based)
Regular travel across the region required
Salary:
Competitive basic salary + commission/bonus (DOE)
Benefits:
Company car
Fuel card
Company pension
Mobile phone + laptop
20 days holiday + bank holidays
Staff discount (where applicable)
Role Overview:
We are looking for a driven and commercially minded Sales Manager to develop and grow sales across the North East, focusing primarily on plumbing and heating merchants.
This is a field-based role requiring strong relationship-building, excellent product knowledge, and a consistent approach to planning, reporting, and pipeline management using our CRM system.
You'll be responsible for maintaining and growing an existing customer base, while also identifying and converting new merchant opportunities across the region.
Key Responsibilities
Manage and grow an established portfolio of merchant accounts
Build strong relationships with branch managers, buyers, and decision-makers
Increase sales through product ranging, promotions, and account development
Identify and win new merchant business across the territory
Maintain strong product and competitor knowledge within plumbing & heating
Territory planning
Plan and manage a structured weekly journey plan
Maximise time in front of customers through effective route planning
Prioritise key accounts and focus effort where the biggest opportunity exists
CRM & Reporting
Accurately record all customer visits, opportunities, quotes, and activity in the CRM system
Keep pipeline and forecast data up to date
Provide weekly updates on performance, opportunities, and merchant feedback
Track promotions, pricing activity, and account development plans
Customer Service and Internal Communication
Work closely with internal sales, customer service, and warehouse teams to ensure smooth order fulfilment
Resolve issues quickly and professionally, protecting long-term customer relationships
Support product launches and promotions in the region
Attend sales meetings and training as required
Key Relationships
Plumbing & heating merchants (branches, regional managers, buyers)
Internal sales and customer service teams
Senior management / sales leadership
Suppliers and brand representatives (where applicable)
Key Skills and Experience
Proven experience in field sales in distribution or manufacturing
Strong understanding of how plumbing & heating merchants operate
Confident selling and negotiating at branch and regional level
Good IT skills and experience using a CRM System
Full UK driving licence
Personal Attributes
Self-motivated and highly organised
Commercially sharp with a strong drive to win
Confident communicator with a professional approach
Reliable, consistent, and able to work independently
Strong attention to detail (especially with CRM and quoting)
A relationship-builder who can be both friendly and firm
Performance Measures
Sales growth vs target (monthly and quarterly)
New account wins
Margin and product mix
CRM activity and data quality
Customer retention and account development
Quote conversion and pipeline value