Overall Purpose of the Role
To serve as the company’s foremost expert and growth driver for the K–12, Higher Education and Government market segments. This person owns the end-to-end strategy for how the company wins in education and government — from understanding how schools, universities and governments specify, fund, and purchase flooring; to shaping the product portfolio, segment/industry relationships, and go-to-market/selling approaches that drive segment revenue, profit and market share growth.
Core Responsibilities
1. Segment Insights & Strategy Development- Develop and maintain a comprehensive view of the education and government market — enrollment trends, facility construction and renovation cycles, funding mechanisms (state/local/federal bonds/funding), and competitive landscape
- Define the company’s positioning and value proposition specifically for facilities teams and the design/specification community serving them
- Define the company’s “where to play” and “how to win” strategy and execution plan
- Set short and long-term segment revenue targets and growth roadmaps
2. Go-to-Market Leadership- Develop the sales playbook (“How to sell”) — how to navigate the buying process across facilities directors, purchasing departments, architects/specifiers, and cooperative purchasing vehicles
- Partner with national and regional sales teams to build segment expertise and pipeline
- Identify and develop strategic relationships with key education-focused architecture and design firms
3. Product & Portfolio- Work with product development and marketing to ensure the portfolio meets segment specific needs — durability, acoustics, indoor air quality, budget tiers, and relevant sustainability certifications
- Champion education/government-relevant innovation performance properties, ease of maintenance, moisture protection, wear, etc.
- Provide voice-of-customer input from the segment back into the product roadmap
4. Industry Leadership- Engage with relevant industry associations (A4LE, APPA, etc) to build brand presence and credibility
- Partner with marketing to develop segment-specific content, case studies, sales collateral, CEU courses for architects and specifiers, and trade show presence
- Position the company as a trusted advisor on flooring in learning environments — acoustics, design, safety, and wellness
- Represent the company at key education/government industry events and forums
5. Financial Performance & Reporting- Steward the P&L for the education/government segments
- Track leading and lagging indicators
- Report segment performance to senior leadership and adjust strategy accordingly
Candidate Profile
Commercial and Segment ExpertisePreferred expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Commercial Flooring Experience — 10+ years in commercial flooring in a senior sales, segment, or business development role with demonstrable education and/or government segment experience. Have existing relationships within the industry segments
- Building Products Segment — Comes from an adjacent building products category (ceiling systems, furniture, lighting, etc.) where they led an education/government segment. Understands the education and government buying cycle deeply and can transfer that expertise to flooring.
- Education/Government Facilities / Procurement Leader — Broad expertise as an end user (facilities leadership, university projects, etc.), understanding the needs and buying cycles of new and renovation driven projects.
- Architecture/Design – Strong background in designing and specifying education/government projects with experience in end-to-end project management.
Experience & Background- 10+ years total, with at least 5 years in a role with direct education and/or government segment responsibility
- Deep familiarity with public education/government procurement — cooperative purchasing vehicles, state bid schedules, and bond-funded capital projects
- Understanding of the specification process and the role of architects, interior designers, and owners’ representatives in project delivery
- Familiarity with relevant certifications and standards — FloorScore, EPD, HPD, C2C, etc.
Skills & Competencies
Strategic Thinking
- Can synthesize market data, competitive intelligence, and customer insight into a clear, actionable segment strategy
- Thinks in multi-year horizons while staying grounded in near-term execution
- Comfortable making resource allocation recommendations and defending them to senior leadership
Commercial Acumen
- Understands margin dynamics in a specification-driven, project-based business
- Can build a business case, model a market opportunity, and translate it into a growth plan
- Experienced working with and through a dealer/distributor channel and selling direct
Relationship Building & Influence
- Builds trust-based relationships with architects, specifiers, facilities directors, and purchasing agents
- Can influence without authority — this role succeeds by rallying internal sales, marketing, and product teams around a segment agenda they don’t directly control
- Comfortable presenting to C-suite internally and to senior customer stakeholders externally
Communication & Thought Leadership
- Strong presenter — equally effective at a national sales meeting, an education/government conference session, or a one-on-one with a facilities director
- Can develop and deliver CEU content credibly
- Writes and speaks with authority on education/government environment design, wellness, and performance
Education- Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Business, Marketing, Architecture, Interior Design, or a related field
- Master’s degree (MBA or relevant discipline) a plus, but not required if experience is strong
Travel requirements – 25%
What We Offer
A commitment that Safety is #1
Competitive benefits, pay, and retirement plan options!
Career growth, stability, and flexible work arrangements.
Responsible Manufacturing – Protecting Our Planet for the Future
We utilize renewable energy and a closed loop recycled water process.
We are committed to reducing greenhouse emissions and water consumption.
We are the only flooring company recognized by the Asthma and Allergy foundation.