Manager: Building Material X1
Job Details
Job Title: Manager: Building Material
Company: VKB Retail (VKB Group)
Location: Head Office, Reitz, Free State, South Africa
Department: Other / Operations
Job Type: Permanent
Post Date: 02 February 2026
Closing Date: 08 February 2026
Job Overview
The Manager: Building Material is responsible for driving the growth and performance of the Building Material core product group across VKB Retail’s network. This is a specialised category leadership role requiring deep industry knowledge and strong commercial acumen.
The role involves full ownership of the Building Material product group, including supplier negotiations, stock management, sales enablement, and strategic growth initiatives. The successful candidate will lead contractor-focused strategies, financial product integration, and the expansion of the wholesale electrical range across branches.
This position requires strong leadership, excellent stakeholder management, and the ability to align product, marketing, and operational strategies to meet regional market needs.
Purpose of the Role
To drive sales growth, category performance, and operational excellence for the Building Material product group across all branches, ensuring strategic alignment, strong supplier relationships, and effective implementation of marketing, training, and stock strategies.
Key Responsibilities
1. Sales Growth & Commercial Performance
Drive revenue growth and achieve sales targets for the Building Material core group
Work closely with Product Management on supplier negotiations and range optimisation
Monitor category performance and implement strategies to improve sales
2. Stock Management & Regional Optimisation
Manage stock holding per branch to ensure the right product mix and quantity
Maintain optimal stock levels while reducing slow-moving and ageing inventory
Align stock strategies with branch market demand and regional dynamics
3. Training & Branch Support
Train and develop branch marketers responsible for the Building Material range
Ensure consistent product knowledge and sales capability across regions
Provide ongoing support and coaching to branch teams
4. Purpose Loans & Financial Solutions
Drive and promote “Purpose Loans” to support customer purchases
Integrate financing solutions into sales strategies with branches and marketing teams
Support customer access to financing for building material purchases
5. Contractor Strategy & Marketing
Develop and execute a contractor-focused marketing and engagement strategy
Build long-term relationships with contractors and professional customers
Increase customer loyalty and repeat business
6. Wholesale Electrical Range Expansion
Lead the acquisition and rollout of a wholesale electrical product range
Ensure successful integration into branch operations and sales channels
Manage ongoing performance and growth of the electrical range
Requirements
Minimum qualification: Grade 12
Tertiary qualification in a relevant field advantageous
Extensive experience in the building and construction industry
Proven experience in building materials retail, wholesale, or supply chains
Strong commercial and negotiation skills
Ability to travel extensively across regions
Experience working with contractors, suppliers, and financial products
Bilingual communication skills (written and verbal) with strong presentation ability
Strong understanding of branch operations, stock management, and market dynamics
Skills Required
Proven ability to drive sales growth in a specialised product category
Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to train and influence branch teams
In-depth understanding of inventory management and category performance metrics
Ability to work independently and collaboratively with stakeholders