Sales Specification and Business Development Manager

Mundy Veneer

Sales Specification and Business Development Manager

Are you commercially curious, highly organised and enthusiastic about design-led materials?

About Us

Mundy Veneer is looking for a proactive specification-focused individual to represent and grow its presence further within the architecture, design and interiors markets.

Mundy Veneer is widely regarded as a leader in its field, with an exceptional reputation for quality, craftsmanship, technical knowledge and service. This is not a cold-start business development role. The company has a 30-year reputation, an enviable order book and established relationships across the design, architecture and interiors world, some going back several decades.

The successful candidate will be based primarily at Mundy Veneer’s Clerkenwell Studio in London, acting as the company’s eyes and ears in the capital: building relationships, identifying opportunities, understanding what is happening across the design and specification market and feeding that intelligence back into the wider team in Wellington (head office).

As the business grows year on year, we are looking for someone to manage existing client relationships, support the current sales team and turn new opportunities into lasting customer relationships. A structured, process-driven approach is essential, with consistent follow-up and clear ownership of each next step.

The right person will have the autonomy to grow and shape the role, but they must also be highly collaborative. Being based in Clerkenwell requires self-motivation, confidence and independence, but Mundy Veneer is a team-led business and the successful candidate must be willing to support colleagues wherever needed.

The Role

This is first and foremost a specification-led role. We are looking for an enthusiastic, proactive, commercially curious individual with experience of specification management. This person must genuinely enjoy following a thread: picking up on a project, a conversation, a designer, a contractor, a breakfast meeting or an introduction and then pursuing it intelligently until it becomes a meaningful opportunity. They must be a natural networker, comfortable attending industry events, breakfast meetings, showroom visits and design conversations, and driven by the challenge of building relationships that lead to specification and long-term growth.

We are looking for someone who understands how to work with architects, interior designers, contractors, developers and project teams to influence and support product specification from early-stage conversations through to project delivery.

The successful candidate does not need to be a veneer expert from day one, but they must understand design-led materials, quality, finish, application and the practical realities of specification. They will need to learn the fundamentals of veneer, including its uses, limitations, suitability, quality considerations and relevance within high-end interiors, architecture and furniture-led projects.

Relevant previous experience may include veneer, timber, wood flooring, joinery, panelling, metalwork, architectural surfaces and structural design-led materials or other specification-led products. What matters most is that the candidate understands the specification process and can speak with enthusiasm and knowledge to architects, designers and contractors.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Alongside the existing team, represent Mundy Veneer from the Clerkenwell Studio and across all relevant design, architecture and specification markets.
• Build and manage specification relationships with architects, designers, contractors, developers and project teams.
• Identify new project opportunities across large and small schemes.
• Proactively follow up on leads, conversations, introductions and market intelligence, ensuring opportunities are not missed.
• Track projects and relationships over time, following the thread from initial conversation through to specification opportunity.
• Attend relevant industry events, breakfast meetings, showroom gatherings and networking opportunities.
• Build a thoughtful and active network of architects, designers, contractors, developers and project influencers.
• Visit clients, studios, contractors, building sites and project locations as required.
• Understand the early stages of projects and help ensure Mundy Veneer is considered at the right point in the specification process.
• Maintain a strong working relationship with the existing teams, both in London and Wellington, feeding market intelligence, project information and client insight back to everyone on a regular basis. The successful candidate will be expected to travel to Wellington approximately once a month or as required.

Candidate Profile

Experience in joinery, or working closely with a joinery business, would be particularly valuable, but is not essential. Relevant backgrounds also include architectural products, interiors, surfaces, metalwork or a related specification-led environment.

The successful candidate must have:

• An understanding of detailed specification management.
• Experience working with architects, designers, contractors or project teams.
• A genuine drive to succeed and the discipline to follow up properly.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to identify opportunities.
• The curiosity to follow a thread, spot connections and turn conversations into opportunities.
• Good judgement around quality, finish, detail and design-led products.
• A methodical approach to managing sales opportunities, keeping track of enquiries, specifications, quotations and agreed next steps.
• Confidence in client-facing conversations.
• Strong communication skills.
• A drive to learn, understand and promote the extraordinary veneer that Mundy Veneer supplies. Training will be given.
• Persistence without being pushy or aggressively sales-led.
• The ability to work independently while staying closely connected to Wellington.
• A team-first, proactive and enthusiastic approach.
• A willingness to support colleagues and contribute wherever needed.
• The confidence to make the role their own without becoming disconnected from the wider business.

Culture Fit

Mundy Veneer is a highly regarded, values-led business with a strong sense of care, quality and pride in what it does. The successful candidate must be practical, collaborative, thoughtful and generous in the way they work. They must be comfortable with autonomy, but they must also genuinely enjoy being part of a team.

The most important quality is that they are a true team player. They must be willing to communicate clearly, share information and support colleagues. The right person will have the opportunity to make a real impact if they combine initiative, energy, good judgement, independence and genuine team commitment.

Sustainability

Sustainability sits at the heart of Mundy Veneer’s work. Veneer is, by its nature, a highly efficient use of wood: a small amount of timber can create a far greater surface area than solid wood, making it a responsible and intelligent material choice for interiors, furniture and architectural projects.

Mundy Veneer is committed to responsible sourcing, due diligence, fair trade within the industry and the careful use of wood as a precious natural resource. With nearly 30 years’ specialist expertise, the company combines extraordinary product knowledge with a progressive approach to sustainability.

Further Information

Role Title: Sales Specification and Business Development Manager

Location: Clerkenwell Studio, London

Contract: Full-time, permanent, office-based, 5 days a week throughout the year

Package: Competitive, dependent on experience including a 10% discretionary bonus and a travel allowance.

If you feel you could bring commercial drive, a methodical approach and enthusiasm for design-led materials or would like further information, please email Katharine Landale, Bold New Recruitment with your CV and a covering letter stating why you should be considered for this role.

[email protected]

Thank you. We look forward to hearing from you.