Architectural Sales Manager

Our client, a well-established, design-focused manufacturing organization is seeking an Architectural Sales Manager to aggressively drive architectural specifications and early-stage project influence across an assigned territory. This is a pure hunter, individual contributor role for a sales professional who excels at opening doors within the A&D community and getting products specified before contractor engagement.

The organization delivers custom-engineered architectural solutions incorporated into complex, design-forward commercial projects and works closely with architects and designers from concept through construction.

Position Overview

This role owns front-end architectural business development. The Regional Sales Manager is responsible for identifying upcoming projects, influencing design intent, securing specifications, and protecting those specifications through the full project lifecycle.

Success in this role is measured by new spec creation, pipeline growth, and conversion of specified projects into awarded business—not reactive quoting or inbound order processing.

Key Responsibilities

• Proactively target and develop relationships with architects, designers, general contractors, and architectural decision-makers

• Drive early-stage project discovery and influence product selection during schematic design and design development

• Create and secure architectural specifications and basis-of-design positioning

• Build, manage, and advance a strong pipeline of specified commercial projects

• Track projects from specification through bid, award, fabrication, and installation

• Prepare budgetary pricing, conceptual estimates, and formal proposals

• Interpret architectural drawings, specifications, and construction documents to support project development

• Collaborate with internal design, engineering, and production teams to ensure technical alignment

• Maintain accurate CRM activity, pipeline reporting, and forecasting

• Attend architectural events, AIA functions, design forums, and trade shows to generate new opportunities

• Provide competitive, market, and design-trend feedback to internal stakeholders

Candidate Profile (Who Will Succeed)

• Proven architectural-spec hunter with a history of winning projects through early design influence

• Comfortable opening new relationships and educating architects on custom solutions

• Consultative, design-literate seller with strong presentation skills

• Highly self-directed and disciplined in territory and pipeline management

• Strategic thinker who understands long, multi-stakeholder sales cycles

• Able to manage multiple active projects simultaneously without internal sales support

• Willing to travel 25–50% within the region

This Role Is NOT a Fit For Candidates Who:

• Rely primarily on inbound leads or contractor-driven orders

• Focus mainly on price-based selling or transactional quoting

• Have limited experience calling directly on architects or influencing specifications

• Prefer account maintenance over new business development

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of B2B sales experience focused on architectural specifications

• Demonstrated success calling on architectural and design firms

• Established strong ties with architects, designers, specifiers, owners, and GCs

• Experience selling architectural products, façade systems, specialty building materials, or custom-fabricated solutions

• Strong understanding of commercial construction processes, drawings, and CSI specifications

• Experience managing a defined sales territory or region

• CRM experience (Salesforce or similar preferred)

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university required

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary plus commission

• Comprehensive health benefits with multiple plan options

• Matching 401K

• Paid time off

• Flexible, professional work environment

• Opportunity to represent a respected, design-forward product line within the architectural community

Additional Information

• Valid driver’s license required

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

• Background check required

• Relocation assistance not available

Direct Hire | Full-Time
Remote | Must be physically located in the Houston market