Job Description

Join Our Movement!

We’re a growing company that designs and manufactures playground equipment for communities all around the world! Be part of something bigger with Burke by Joining Our Movement!

We are seeking a Regional Sales Manager based at our headquarters in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to lead and grow sales across the Southwest U.S. territory. This role is ideal for a strategic, relationship-driven sales leader who thrives in managing manufacturer representative networks and driving profitable growth.

What Moves You?

We’re not going to lie; this is an amazing opportunity. It requires hard work, a lot of innovation and enthusiasm and, of course, an abundance of Purple Passion (def. a love of play, bringing play to communities and specific love of Burke and those you work with)!

The Role

As a Regional Sales Manager, you will be responsible for achieving sales objectives and expanding Burke’s market presence through effective territory management, representative firm leadership, and new business development. You will serve as a key connector between customers, representative partners, and internal teams; bringing inclusive, innovative playgrounds to life.

Key Responsibilities:

Sales & Growth

• Achieve profitable sales growth within the assigned territory through effective management of manufacturer representative firms.
• Identify and develop new customers through territory analysis, prospecting, and independent sales activity.
• Present Burke solutions to key accounts and prospective customers, both independently and alongside representative partners.

Territory & Representative Firm Management

• Develop and execute annual territory growth plans aligned with company objectives.
• Recruit, evaluate, and onboard new manufacturer representative firms to improve territory coverage and performance.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with representative firms to drive effective business planning and execution.
• Assess representative firm talent and capabilities; identify gaps and implement development or recruitment strategies.
• Actively manage, coach, and motivate representative firms through regular communication, site visits, trade shows, and joint customer calls.
• Ensure accurate and timely management of project pipelines, forecasts, and reporting.
• Train representative firms on Burke’s products, services, and value propositions, and monitor effectiveness in the field.

Customer Development

• Develop a deep understanding of customer needs, market dynamics, and buying processes to strengthen Burke’s value proposition.
• Create and deliver compelling presentations to customers, representative firms, and other stakeholders.
• Build long-term relationships with architects, contractors, program managers, and purchasing decision-makers.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner closely with Finance on budgets and forecasts, Design on proposals, and Operations on delivery commitments.
• Actively support Burke’s culture and core values, including open communication, teamwork, integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Participate as a member of the broader management team and support company-wide initiatives as assigned.

Travel Requirement

• Regular travel of 40 percent for territory management, customer visits, trade shows and Representative recruitment is required in this role.

Performing other duties as assigned

Teamwork

We have an awesome team at Burke and the right individual for this role will fit well within our culture of teamwork, straightforward and open communication. Oh, and you need to have a passion for play!

Qualifications That Move Us!

• Bachelor's Degree (B. A.) in a related field is required.
• 5-7 years of work history with prior sales management experience working with, or for, independent manufacturer’s Representative Firms.
• Experience working in the commercial recreational market, calling on architects, general contractors, program managers, directors, or purchasers.
• Proven ability to analyze sales territory, develop and execute a territory management plan, prospect, and cold call.
• Knowledge and experience working on projects using RFP/RFQ steps, timelines, communications, and overall project management.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills including the ability to
• Calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, percentages to quickly make data-based decisions
• Understand sales metrics and KPI’s, along with ability to implement continuous improvement actions
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including the ability to
• Easily and effectively communicate with a variety of Representatives around the country, executive-level clients and government officials
• Work through conflict to come to a productive resolution
• Effectively present information and respond to questions in one-on-one and group situations with managers, employees, reps, customers, and the general public
• Write reports, business correspondence, and training materials
• Relationship building skills - demonstrated ability to quickly gain a level of trust, technical acumen and credibility within the Representative network, customers, and internal organization. Someone who commands presence and develops rapport and trust easily.
• Strong leadership and sales management skills – dynamic, inspirational, and results driven leader with the ability to persuade and influence on both and individual and group basis who also possesses an open and facilitative management style that fosters collaboration.
• Strong computer skills with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel PowerPoint) along with the knowledge of websites and associated electronic media. Learn and use in-house computer systems.

Burke is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Military veterans are encouraged to apply.