General Manager - Southern Yellow Pine - Sales - SE US

About the role

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).

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Maintain 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.
• 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.
• Implement systems, processes, and reporting to support operational discipline and visibility, particularly during startup and growth phases.
• 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.
• 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.

Requirements

• 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.

Qualifications

• 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.