Own Brand Business Partner / Manufacturer's Rep - Plumbing

Own Brand Business Partner / Manufacturer's Rep - Plumbing

Ferguson is actively hiring an Own Brand Business Partner (OBBP) to support our very successful Own Brand Division.

Position Summary

The Own Brand Business Partner (OBBP) is responsible for driving Own Brand sales growth, profitability, and market share across assigned regions and customer segments. This role serves as a strategic partner to sales leadership, branch teams, and key customers by identifying conversion opportunities, developing category growth strategies, and driving initiatives that increase adoption of Ferguson Own Brand products. In this role, you will serve as the product expert resource on Own Brand initiatives for all Plumbing and Mechanical Pipe, Valves, Fittings, etc.

The OBBP collaborates across sales, category management, marketing, and operations teams to deliver sustainable growth through customer engagement, associate development, business planning, and execution excellence. This position requires strong business acumen, relationship-building skills, and the ability to influence partners at all levels of the organization.

Location: This role is approved to be remote in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Des Moines metro markets, but will also consider other locations within the MN, KS, MO, IA region.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and implement regional Own Brand growth strategies aligned with company sales and profitability objectives.
• Partner with Regional leadership and sales teams to identify and capture conversion opportunities.
• Drive market share growth through strategic customer engagement, product conversion initiatives, and business development activities.
• Analyze sales performance, customer purchasing trends, and market opportunities to identify areas for expansion and improvement.
• Lead and support sales blitzes, branch visits, customer meetings, product demonstrations, and training events focused on Own Brand growth.
• Coach and educate sales associates on Own Brand value propositions, competitive positioning, product applications, and conversion strategies.
• Build and maintain relationships with key customers, influencers, and decision-makers to increase Own Brand adoption.
• Track and manage opportunities through the sales pipeline, ensuring effective follow-up and conversion to closed business.
• Collaborate with category management, sourcing, marketing, and product teams to support product launches, promotions, and growth initiatives.
• Monitor competitive activity, industry trends, and market dynamics to identify opportunities and mitigate risks.
• Develop business reviews, executive summaries, and performance reports that communicate results, opportunities, and action plans.
• Facilitate training programs and workshops to improve product knowledge and sales effectiveness across the organization.
• Support strategic category initiatives, including expansion into targeted growth segments and emerging market opportunities.
• Use reporting tools and analytics platforms to measure program effectiveness, monitor key performance indicators, and drive accountability.
• Champion a culture of execution, collaboration, and continuous improvement while reinforcing the value of Own Brand solutions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of experience in sales, business development, category management, product management, or a related commercial role.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate with cross-functional teams and senior leaders.
• Strong analytical skills with experience interpreting sales data and developing actionable business insights.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and implement critical initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication, presentation, relationship management, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and Power BI.
• Willingness to travel 50% of time to support customer engagement, branch visits, sales events, and regional initiatives.

At Ferguson, we care for each other. We value our well-being just as much as our hard work. We are committed to a holistic approach towards benefits plans and programs that support the mental, physical, and financial well-being of our associates. Our competitive offering not only includes benefits like health, dental, vision, paid time off, life insurance, and a 401(k) with a company match, but our associates also enjoy additional meaningful and inclusive enhancements that are adaptable to their diverse situations and needs, including mental health coverage, gender affirming and family building benefits, paid parental leave, associate discounts, community involvement opportunities, and more!