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