Branch Manager

Independent Builders Merchant Group; Playden; Remote; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discount

Pension

Holiday allowance

Progression

Employee Assistance Programme

Team ethos

Job summary

Sussex Plumbing Supplies, part of IBMG, is seeking a Branch Manager in Rye, Sussex. You will run the branch on a day‑to‑day basis, owning the P&L, leading the counter, yard and office teams, and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers and customers to drive growth.

The role is full‑time and permanent, with a field‑based remit to grow trades and key accounts while ensuring stock accuracy and pricing discipline.

Qualifications

• A track record of running a branch or a sales operation — ideally in plumbing, heating, bathrooms or builders' merchanting.
• Commercial instinct — you read a P&L, spot the leak, and fix it.
• Genuine leadership — people want to work for you, not just under you.
• Trade credibility — you can talk fittings, boilers and bathrooms with the best of them (or you'll learn fast)
• Drive — you treat the branch like it's your own business

Responsibilities

• Own the branch P&L — sales, margin, rebates and EBITDA.
• Lead from the front — recruit, coach and back your team so the counter, yard and office pull together.
• Win and keep trade — grow key accounts and pursue new business down the road.
• Run a tight ship — stock accuracy, pricing discipline and credit control.
• Work with suppliers — joint visits, deals and getting the right gear at the right price.
• Keep everyone safe — H&S, housekeeping and compliance.

Skills

Branch leadership

Profit & loss

People management

Trade credibility

Drive & ambition

Job description

Brand:

Sussex Plumbing Supplies (SPS) — part of IBMG

Location:

RYE — Sussex

Hours:

Full-time, permanent — typically Mon–Fri with Alternate Saturday 08:00-12:00

Reports to:

Area General Manager

Who we are

Sussex Plumbing Supplies is a proper independent merchant — local roots, strong stock, and counter teams who actually know their trade. We're part of IBMG, which means national buying power behind a branch that still runs on relationships and reputation. Plumbers come back to us because we sort them out. Simple as that.

The role

We're looking for a Branch Manager to run the show — own the numbers, lead the team, and keep the trade coming back. This isn't a desk job. You'll be on the floor, on the phone to suppliers, and out seeing customers. You'll carry the P&L and you'll have the freedom to grow it your way.

What you'll actually be doing

• Own the branch P&L — sales, screen margin, rebates and EBITDA. You'll know your numbers cold and you'll know what's driving them.
• Lead from the front — recruit, coach and back your team so the counter, yard and office all pull together.
• Win and keep trade — grow your key accounts, chase the lapsed ones, and go after the business down the road that isn't buying from us yet.
• Run a tight ship — stock accuracy, availability, pricing discipline and credit control, so the branch is profitable and the shelves are right.
• Work your suppliers — joint visits, deals, promotions and getting the right gear in at the right price.
• Keep everyone safe — H&S, housekeeping and compliance done properly, not as a box-tick.

What you’ll bring

• A track record of running a branch or a sales operation — ideally in plumbing, heating, bathrooms or builders' merchanting
• Commercial instinct — you read a P&L, spot the leak, and fix it
• Genuine leadership — people want to work for you, not just under you
• Trade credibility — you can talk fittings, boilers and bathrooms with the best of them (or you'll learn fast)
• Drive — you treat the branch like it's your own business

What's in it for you

• Competitive salary that reflects what you bring to the counter
• Generous staff discount across every IBMG brand — kit out your own jobs for less
• Company pension and a proper holiday allowance that grows with service
• Real progression — most of our managers started on the trade counter or in the yard
• Employee Assistance Programme — confidential support whenever you need it
• A tight-knit branch team that has your back and a laugh while they're at it
• The autonomy to run your branch your way — we hire managers, not box-tickers

Sussex Plumbing Supplies — part of the Independent Builders Merchant Group (IBMG).

Manage Branch Staff, Budgets, Customer Base for growth and development