How We Headhunted a Head of Specification Sales for Birkdale in 7 Weeks
Client
Birkdale
Specialisation
Construction / Building Products
Summary
Birkdale needed a senior commercial sales leader to accelerate specification-led growth across housing, developers, contractors, and construction markets. The Sales Experts delivered a focused headhunting campaign and secured the right hire within 7 weeks.
Client Overview: UK Building Products Manufacturer
Birkdale is a leading UK manufacturer of gate and fencing accessories with a strong reputation built over decades.
The business had consistently invested in product innovation and customer service to maintain its market position. To accelerate its next stage of commercial growth, Birkdale required a senior sales leader capable of expanding specification-led sales across key construction markets, including housing, developers, contractors, and landscape design.
This was a specialist sales leadership search requiring precise market mapping, direct headhunting, and a clear understanding of specification sales within the building products sector.
Role: Head of Specification Sales / Commercial for a National UK Market
Birkdale required a UK-based Head of Specification Sales / Commercial with proven experience in construction, building products, or a closely related specification-led environment.
The successful candidate needed to demonstrate:
- Proven leadership in construction or building products
- Strong experience in specification sales
- Ability to build relationships with architects, developers, contractors, and housing stakeholders
- Confidence influencing projects at design stage
- Commercial capability to drive national revenue growth
- Experience operating in a project-led sales environment
Our Strategy: Specification Sales Recruitment by a Sales Headhunting Firm
Challenge: Recruiting Senior Specification Sales Talent in a Specialist Construction Market
The challenge was identifying a senior commercial leader with the right blend of specification sales expertise, construction market knowledge, stakeholder influence, and leadership capability.
Birkdale needed more than a traditional sales manager. They required a candidate who could take ownership of specification sales, build relationships across the construction decision-making chain, and support long-term pipeline and revenue development.
Our sales recruiters built a custom candidate database focused on specification sales professionals, construction product manufacturers, building materials suppliers, and commercial leaders already working in project-driven environments.
We targeted candidates with experience selling into:
- Housing associations
- Developers
- Contractors
- Architects
- Landscape design stakeholders
- Construction and building products markets
Our team engaged candidates through direct outreach, email, and calls, focusing on individuals already operating successfully in specification-led roles.
Each candidate was assessed for market relevance, technical sales understanding, design-stage influence, stakeholder management, leadership potential, and ability to deliver national commercial growth.
After a focused search, we presented a strong shortlist of carefully assessed candidates. Birkdale’s preferred candidate accepted the offer within the agreed timeframe.
Results: Senior Specification Sales Hire Delivered in 7 Weeks
People Cold Screened*
Agency-Side Interviews
Candidates Presented
Client-Side Interviews
*Cold Screening represents the initial group of candidates identified as having a potential fit to the search parameters. These candidates were then contacted and those interested in the opportunity were further screened prior to scheduling Agency Side interviews.
Timeframe
7 weeks
Total Hours
84 hours
Conclusion: Precision Sales Recruitment for the Construction and Building Products Sector
The Sales Experts delivered a highly specific senior sales leadership search within a complex specification sales environment.
By mapping the market quickly, identifying a focused pool of relevant candidates, and engaging professionals already succeeding in specification-led roles, we helped Birkdale secure a high-impact commercial hire within 7 weeks.
The appointed candidate has taken ownership of the specification sales function, strengthened key stakeholder relationships, and begun contributing to pipeline growth and revenue development.
This case highlights our capability in construction sales recruitment, building products sales recruitment, and specification sales headhunting for companies that need proven sales leaders rather than active jobseekers.
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