Specification Manager

Topps Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus up to 25%

Company car

Pension & life assurance

Holiday allowance

Flexible working

Free on-site parking

Staff discounts

Training & development

Job summary

Topps Group is seeking a field-based Specification Manager for the London region to develop relationships with architects, designers, contractors and key stakeholders, turning specifications into sales opportunities on high-profile projects.

You will drive a national M40 specification pipeline, broaden Parkside’s exposure within the Architecture & Design community, and manage early engagement and project workflow within SPARK (Microsoft Dynamics).

Qualifications

• Specification sales experience within construction or interior products.
• Understanding of commercial project cycles, including RIBA stages and build sequences.
• Experience using CRM systems, ideally Microsoft Dynamics.
• Strong presentation and stakeholder management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain a national M40 specification pipeline across commercial projects to deliver annual sales targets year-on-year.
• Establish Parkside as the specification partner of choice, achieving specification coverage across key sectors (transport, sports, workplace, healthcare, education, hospitality, residential and others).
• Increase active A&D practice engagement and drive ROI on A&D activity.
• Build relationships with architects, designers, developers, contractors and end users.
• Identify opportunities to introduce the wider Parkside portfolio beyond tiles, including accessories, shower trays and raised access flooring.
• Represent Parkside at industry events, exhibitions and networking opportunities.

Skills

Specification sales

CRM systems

Presentation skills

Stakeholder management

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics

Job description

About The Role

*As a field based Specification Manager, you will cover the London region, developing relationships with architects, designers, contractors and key stakeholders to secure specifications on high profile projects and convert them into sales opportunities.*

There’s plenty about Topps Tiles that might surprise you. Like the scale of our Support Office in Leicester. We have Finance, Marketing, Buying, Central Operations, HR, Property, Customer Service and IT all under one roof. Tight-knit teams of talented people working together and working hard to get things done and drive results. But then, would you expect anything less from an ambitious, dynamic, market-leading, multi-million-pound retail business? After delivering our 20% market share goal of “one in five” in 2023, we have launched our new goal – Mission 365 – targeting £365 million of sales.

A key member of the Commercial team, reporting into the Director of Commercial Sales, this role is responsible for developing a pipeline of M40 specifications for commercial projects across the UK, maximising Parkside Architectural Tiles' exposure within the Architecture & Design community and driving growth through a substantial specified project pipeline. The role owns early engagement and project management within Microsoft Dynamics (SPARK), develops and delivers CPD seminars alongside the Brand Manager, develops and delivers technical training, and promotes the complete Parkside proposition including tiles, accessories, shower trays, raised access flooring and associated value added solutions.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

CUSTOMER / STRATEGY / PLAN:

• Build and maintain a national M40 specification pipeline across commercial projects to deliver annual sales targets year-on-year
• Establish Parkside as the specification partner of choice, achieving specification coverage across key sectors (transport, sports, workplace, healthcare, education, hospitality, residential and others)
• Increase active A&D practice engagement and drive ROI on A&D activity
• Build relationships with architects, designers, developers, contractors and end users
• Identify opportunities to introduce the wider Parkside portfolio beyond tiles, including accessories, shower trays and raised access flooring
• Represent Parkside at industry events, exhibitions and networking opportunities

PEOPLE / LEADERSHIP:

• Support the commercial team with maximising specification conversion and building a high-performing culture
• Deliver CPD seminars and technical training in partnership with the Brand Manager and Key Accounts, building specification capability across the business

FINANCIAL / COMMERCIALS:

• Maintain 100% project and contact compliance within Microsoft Dynamics (SPARK)
• Work with the Director of Commercial to develop and maintain the M40 specification bank and associated training materials
• Provide technical specification guidance and support on commercial projects

RISK / PROCESS

• Maintain accurate opportunity and pipeline management within Microsoft Dynamics (SPARK)
• Develop and deliver accurate sales forecasts, reports and market intelligence
• Increase qualified project pipeline value year-on-year and improve project conversion rates from opportunity to secured revenue

DECISION MAKING/FREEDOM TO ACT

• Freedom to act day to day within a broad framework
• Able to develop a category plan that supports the overall company goals
• Financial sign off as per the business expenses policy

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Specification sales experience within construction or interior products
• Understanding of commercial project cycles, including RIBA stages and build sequences
• Experience using CRM systems, ideally Microsoft Dynamics
• Strong presentation and stakeholder management capabilities

What we’ll do for you

In a culture where hard work is recognised and great results are rewarded; you can look forward to a company bonus that will give you a share of our success (up to 25% of your base salary). Then there’s acompany car and agenerous staff discount, pension and life assurance, a holiday allowance that increases with length of service and a wide range of other benefits. Plus, flexible working, free on-site parking, generous discounts on products and services and more. A lot more. We’re committed to promoting talent from within too, which means you’ll be well-supported to build a rewarding career with an individual development plan and lots of training on offer.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At Topps Group we believe that diversity isn’t just a box to tick. We are committed to creating an authentic ‘One Topps’ culture, where our colleagues feel included and supported regardless of who they are or where they are from

We actively welcome applications from individuals of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, ages, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know—we’re here to support you.

Join us in shaping a culture where inclusion is more than a policy—it’s a daily practice.

A career with Topps Group

Think you know Topps Group? Think again.

There's plenty about Topps Group that might surprise you. Like the fact that you don't need to be a DIY or tile expert to work in one of our stores or our Leicester based Support Centre.

Or the fact that that we're Britain's largest specialist tile retailer, with more than 1,600 in-store specialists providing world class customer service to homeowners and tradespeople in over 300 stores nationwide.