Access Control Category Manager

**Position Summary

SS&Si Dealer Network is seeking an experienced and highly motivated Access Control Category Manager to lead the growth and development of our access control business.

This position will serve as SS&Si’s internal and external access control expert, responsible for building the category through dealer engagement, vendor partnerships, product strategy, training, and sales development.

The ideal candidate understands the access control market, has strong relationships within the security integration community, and is comfortable working directly with dealers to identify opportunities, recommend solutions, and help move projects from concept to purchase.

This is a growth-focused role with significant opportunity to shape how SS&Si approaches the access control market.

Key Responsibilities

Drive Category Growth

• Develop and execute a strategy to grow access control sales across SS&Si’s national dealer base.

• Proactively identify opportunities within existing SS&Si accounts that are purchasing intrusion, fire, video, or other security products but not access control.

• Recruit new access control-focused integrators and dealers to SS&Si.

• Work alongside SS&Si Regional Sales Managers to develop opportunities and expand share of wallet within their territories.

• Maintain an active pipeline of access control opportunities and provide visibility into category performance.

• Establish measurable sales objectives and initiatives designed to grow the category.

Dealer & Project Support

• Serve as a trusted access control resource for SS&Si dealers.

• Assist dealers with product selection, system design, quoting, and project requirements.

• Help dealers expand into access control or strengthen their existing access control offering.

• Participate in customer calls and project discussions when additional technical or product expertise is needed.

• Provide practical guidance on controllers, readers, credentials, locks, power supplies, request-to-exit devices, and related system components.

• Identify opportunities to cross-sell complementary products across SS&Si’s portfolio.

Vendor & Product Management

• Develop strong relationships with SS&Si’s access control manufacturing partners.

• Evaluate new manufacturers, technologies, and product opportunities.

• Work with Purchasing to establish appropriate inventory levels and product mix.

• Monitor product performance, inventory movement, competitive positioning, and market demand.

• Coordinate vendor promotions, product launches, training programs, and dealer incentives.

• Advocate internally and externally for the manufacturers and solutions that best support SS&Si’s access control strategy.

Training & Education

• Develop access control training opportunities for SS&Si employees and customers.

• Conduct webinars, product demonstrations, and dealer training sessions.

• Educate the SS&Si sales team so they can confidently identify access control opportunities.

• Develop sales tools, reference materials, system packages, and other resources that simplify access control for dealers.

• Support industry events, trade shows, dealer meetings, and SS&Si educational programs.

Market Development

• Monitor competitive distributors, emerging technologies, manufacturer strategies, and industry trends.

• Identify gaps in SS&Si’s product offering and recommend additions to the line card.

• Develop programs that make SS&Si easier to do business with for access control integrators.

• Work with Marketing to develop campaigns, promotions, educational content, and lead-generation initiatives.

• Represent SS&Si within the access control community and help strengthen the company’s reputation as a knowledgeable distribution partner.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of electronic access control systems and the security integration industry.

• Experience working with access control manufacturers, distributors, integrators, or security dealers.

• Working knowledge of access control system architecture, readers, credentials, locking hardware, power, and related products.

• Strong sales and relationship-building skills.

• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Comfortable conducting customer presentations, training sessions, webinars, and product demonstrations.

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple dealer and vendor opportunities simultaneously.

• Self-motivated and comfortable taking ownership of a growing product category.

• Ability to travel as needed for dealer visits, vendor meetings, trade shows, and industry events.

What Success Looks Like

The Access Control Category Manager will ultimately be measured by the growth and health of SS&Si’s access control business. Success includes:

• Consistent year-over-year access control revenue and gross profit growth.

• Increased access control penetration within existing SS&Si accounts.

• Acquisition of new access control-focused dealers.

• Development of a healthy pipeline of dealer projects and opportunities.

• Strong manufacturer relationships and effective vendor programs.

• Appropriate inventory levels and healthy inventory turns.

• Increased access control knowledge throughout the SS&Si sales organization.

• Recognition among dealers that SS&Si is a valuable resource for access control—not simply a source for products.

About SS&Si Dealer Network

SS&Si Dealer Network is an independent wholesale distributor serving security and low-voltage integrators throughout the United States. We focus on helping independent dealers compete and grow by combining strong manufacturer partnerships, knowledgeable people, responsive service, and programs designed specifically around the needs of the dealer community.**