Overview
The General Manager – Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) Sales is responsible for leading and growing Hampton Lumber’s SYP sales and trading operations supporting the company’s new mill in Fairfax, South Carolina (Allendale County).
This role will play a critical part in establishing and scaling Hampton’s southern trading presence, including helping to select an office location, define the structure of the sales team, and shape the go-to-market approach for the SYP business.
This leader is accountable for building a high-performing sales team and driving revenue growth, margin performance, inventory management, and customer relationships within the SYP segment. The role requires a strong combination of market expertise, hands-on trading leadership, and operational discipline to align mill production, customer demand, and pricing strategy.
Benefits Highlights
- Substantial company-paid assistance for Medical and Dental insurance premiums; mental health coverage; cost effective co-pays and deductibles
- 401(k) with 5% annual company contribution and generous company matching contributions vested over three years
- Paid time off, including eight paid holidays
- Opportunity to earn bonuses
- Employee wellness program that includes free counseling sessions, financial and legal guidance, and more
- Opportunities for paid training to support career advancement and personal development
Responsibilities
Business & Market Development
- Build and execute the strategic growth plan for SYP sales in alignment with company objectives.
- Establish Hampton Lumber as a leading and trusted SYP supplier across target markets and channels.
- Lead the development of the Southeast sales footprint, including recommendations on office location, team structure, and market coverage.
- Identify and develop new customer relationships (dealers, distributors, mass merchants, industrial accounts) in collaboration with the existing sales team in Portland, Oregon.
- Monitor SYP market dynamics, pricing trends, supply/demand shifts, and competitor activity to inform strategy.
- Drive volume and margin growth while maintaining disciplined risk management.
Sales & Trading Leadership
- Oversee day-to-day trading activities, including pricing, negotiation, and product allocation.
- Develop and implement pricing strategies aligned with market conditions and production realities.
- Ensure strong alignment between trading activity, mill production, and inventory management.
- Provide leadership and coaching to traders and sales staff while establishing clear performance expectations, metrics, and accountability to build a strong, results-driven culture.
Operations & Execution
- Partner closely with manufacturing, logistics, and operations teams to support initial ramp-up and ongoing production at the Fairfax, SC mill
- Ensure alignment of sales commitments with production capabilities to optimize product mix and profitability.
- Establish and oversee efficient transportation and logistics coordination for timely and cost-effective delivery.
- Implement systems, processes, and reporting to support operational discipline and visibility, particularly during startup and growth phases.
Customer & Relationship Management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers and strategic partners.
- Act as a senior point of contact for major accounts, resolving issues and strengthening long-term partnerships.
- Develop and maintain high levels of customer satisfaction and responsiveness.
Team Leadership & Development
- Recruit and develop a high-performing SYP sales team that can scale as Hampton’s SYP business grows.
- Coach team members in trading strategy, relationship management, and market development.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, real-time feedback, and continuous improvement.
- Support leadership development and succession planning within the team.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in business, Marketing, or related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive sales and wholesale experience, including leadership of multi-site or large-scale operations.
- Strong knowledge of SYP markets, customers, and distribution channels.
- Demonstrated success driving revenue growth and margin performance
- Strong financial acumen and understanding of pricing, margin, and inventory dynamics
- Five or more years of experience in leadership roles, with a proven track record of managing and developing high-performing teams
- Strong negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills
- Proficiency in sales systems, reporting tools, and data-driven decision-making
- Proficiency in business systems, data analytics, and sales performance tools.
Core Competencies
- Market & Business Acumen: Demonstrates deep understanding of SYP markets, pricing dynamics, and customer segments, leveraging data, market insights, and financial acumen to drive informed decision-making.
- Strategic Execution: Translates strategy into clear actions, priorities, and measurable outcomes while balancing short-term trading decisions with long-term market development.
- Leadership & Team Development: Builds, develops, and holds a high-performing team accountable while creating clarity in roles, expectations, and performance metrics.
- Customer Focus: Champions customer needs while balancing company goals for profitability and sustainability.
- Operational Discipline: Establishes structure, systems, and processes to support consistent performance while aligning sales activity with production, logistics, and inventory realities.
- Collaborative Influence: Works cross-functionally with mills, logistics, and leadership to drive alignment while communicating clearly and building trust across stakeholders.
- Entrepreneurial Drive: Takes ownership for building and growing the SYP business while effectively operating in an evolving environment where structure is still being defined.
- Continuous Improvement Mindset: Actively seeks opportunities to refine systems, process and people for ongoing growth and effectiveness.
