A&D Trade Development Lead — Designer Relationships

Mai Placement; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Mai Placement is seeking an A&D Trade Development Manager to expand our footprint in the interior design and architectural community in Newark, NJ. The role focuses on building relationships with designers, architects, and design firms, turning early conversations into long-term brand advocacy.

Travel will be regular across the East Coast, with the aim of creating a growing pipeline of designer-driven opportunities and cued engagements such as showroom visits, CEUs, and industry events.

Qualifications

• Experience working with or selling into the interior design, architecture, or broader A&D community
• Proven ability to develop new relationships and open doors, not just manage existing accounts
• Strong understanding of how designers evaluate products, brands, and trade partners
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and consultative selling skills
• Comfort engaging cold prospects and representing a premium brand in design environments
• Strong presentation skills with experience leading product education sessions, lunch-and-learns, or industry presentations
• Ability to quickly learn product categories and speak credibly with design professionals
• Self-directed, organized, and disciplined in managing a long-cycle relationship pipeline
• Willingness to travel regularly throughout the assigned market

Responsibilities

• Build and develop relationships with interior designers, architects, design firms, and other key influencers within the A&D community
• Proactively identify, prospect, and secure meetings with new design professionals and firms
• Develop designers from initial awareness into engaged advocates who recommend and specify the brand over time
• Represent the company through designer meetings, showroom visits, lunch-and-learns, CEUs, industry events, and association engagement
• Build and maintain relationships with key industry organizations such as NKBA, ASID, AIA, and other relevant design groups
• Educate designers on product positioning, applications, and value- without needing to function as a technical designer
• Partner with the dealer and distribution network to ensure smooth handoff and continuity of designer-driven opportunities
• Maintain accurate tracking of relationship development, meetings, engagement activity, and specification pipeline
• Share market insights, competitive intelligence, and design trend feedback with Sales, Marketing, and Product teams
• Specification and revenue conversion may occur over a long cycle. The ability to build trust and consistently advance relationships is critical

Job description

Mai Placement is seeking an A&D Trade Development Manager to expand our footprint in the interior design and architectural community in Newark, NJ. The role focuses on building relationships with designers, architects, and design firms, turning early conversations into long-term brand advocacy.

Travel will be regular across the East Coast, with the aim of creating a growing pipeline of designer-driven opportunities and cued engagements such as showroom visits, CEUs, and industry events.