The Decorative Décor Specialist and Specification Support is responsible for the inventory of all decorative sample collaterals and is the key contact responsible for sending out sample requests for the sales and specification team in the East Region. This position will also handle the coordination of purchasing and inventory control of EGGER, Shinnoki, Querkus, Astrata, AGT, AGT Supramat, and EchoWood with the Branch Manager in Chicago. Working closely with the rest of the Specification team, the Decorative Décor Support Specialist will serve as a source of decorative décor product knowledge, have strong communication and muti-tasking skills, and will be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.

About Hardwoods

Hardwoods Specialty Products is the recognized premier distributor of decorative surfaces, high-grade hardwood lumber, sheet goods, and architectural-grade building products serving the residential and commercial construction markets. Operating 32 distribution centers strategically located across the United States and Canada, Hardwoods is uniquely positioned to provide our customers immediate access to a large, diverse product portfolio and our vendors a broad, significant channel to market.

We are part of a powerful group of companies with a network of over 85 distribution centers spanning North America. Our parent ADENTRA consists of five distinct brands: Hardwoods Specialty Products, Rugby Architectural Products, Frank Paxton Lumber Company, Novo Building Products, and Mid Am Building Supply. Our brands work together as North America’s largest and most diverse supplier of specialty architectural building products, which are used to create beautiful spaces where we live, work, and play. We have approximately 3100 employees across North America and growing as we are very active in the acquisition of complementary companies.

Responsibilities

1. Collateral – Inventory maintenance- Identifying levels of collateral, generating & submitting POs to vendors. To help with collateral restocking and sample requests sent to customers. Track specification rep samples by entering them into CRM. Track samples sent by outside sales to match an existing or future spec. Keep track of collateral budgets by understanding where dollars are being spent and staying within budget. Help facilitate library updates.

2. Specification Follow-Up & Retention – Facilitate communication with Fabricators, General Contractors, Architects, and Designers. Topics to include timelines, bids, product conflicts or first right of substitutions, budget issues, and sampling. Communication with inside and outside Push sales staff regarding new Fabricator leads that come from a bidders list and/or specified jobs. Review batch reports to match sales with specified projects. Update on current projects with existing customers that outside sales may not be aware of yet. Maintain and update specification database and projects via CRM.

3. Project Pricing/Fabricator Program – Manage project pricing with communication to inside sales. Setting up a project bidders list/pricing sheet for large jobs (excel spreadsheet) with access to all inside sales, outside sales, and specifications. This allows information to be known on who is bidding on which job and what price was quoted and also opens up the potential for new customers for outside sales. Help facilitate our “Prestigious Fabricator Program” (not just a list of fabricators that are referred for projects, but fabricators that sales have arrangements with for project information, work within lead times, and never try to change our specs).

Other Responsibilities

• Responsible for sample follow-up with designers - gather additional project information.
• Tracking binders/samples in CRM.
• CRM accounts/contact/project additions – project tracking.
• Follow up and clean out old/closed projects in CRM.
• Proficient in Dodge Report to find additional or missed opportunities.
• Research to find the top 25 Display houses/Multifamily/Hospitality in each geographical territory.
• Include in HDI to enhance product knowledge. They need to be trained previously on our current product basket.
• Schedule Lunch & Learns.
• Place outbound calls to designers for project information.
• May be required to provide budgetary material pricing.
• Special projects as needed.

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate well, in a fast-paced environment, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to multi-task – interruptions are the norm – not an occasional exception
• Likes numbers and part numbers but also is willing to develop a reasonably high level of product knowledge.
• Desire to “own” the task – must be willing to make decisions and feel comfortable doing so with some level of autonomy.
• Capable of independent problem-solving but also collaborating with the team on implementing solutions.
• Very detail-oriented.
• Willing to operate in an environment that is mostly email or phone interaction, with a lower emphasis on in-person communications.
• Positive attitude while under fire – needs to like the sort of fast-paced environment that our organization thrives on.
• Prior experience in a building material-related business would be a plus, but any similar experience dealing with a business of “scale” and many moving parts would be helpful.
• A college degree is preferred but not required.
• Comfortable with math/numbers – addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, units of measure, conversions, and spatial analysis.
• Enthusiastic computer user – data entry, reporting, proficient system navigation in Agility and Excel.

Work Environment

Typical office environment.

Benefits of Working with Us

• Complete insurance coverage – medical, dental, vision, life.
• 401k match
• Paid vacation time
• Safety focused workplace

Reporting Relationships

This role reports to the Regional Specifications Manager and the Branch Manager.

Please note that as part of our interview process, we ask candidates to participate in a series of assessments. These assessments are designed to help more fully understand the candidate’s attributes. Assessments are administered online and take approximately 20 minutes.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 - $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Experience level:

• 1 year

Shift:

• Day shift

Weekly day range:

• Monday to Friday

Work setting:

• In-person
• Office

Application Question(s):

• How many years of work experience do you have with Dodge?
• How many years of work experience do you have with CRM Databases?
• How many years of experience do you have as a specifications specialist?
• How many years of experience do you have working with building materials such as decorative surfaces, high-grade hardwood lumber, sheet goods, and architectural-grade building products?
• What is your salary expectation?

Ability to Relocate:

• Chicago, IL: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person