Job Description

Job Title: Customer Sales Assistant (Experienced Trade Counter)

Location: Manchester, M11 2FB

Are you an experienced trade counter professional who knows the building materials industry inside out? Do you thrive in a fast-paced merchant environment and take pride in delivering confident, knowledgeable service to trade customers?

Jewson Partnership Solutions (JPS) — a specialist division of STARK Building Materials and a trusted supplier to housing associations and local authorities — is looking to recruit an experienced Customer Sales Assistant to strengthen our Manchester team.

This is a hands-on, business-critical role within a developing branch. We are specifically seeking applicants who already have proven trade counter experience within a builders’ merchant or similar environment.

The Role

This is a varied, practical position that will include:

• Serving customers on a busy trade counter

• Providing confident product advice and solutions to trade and contract customers

• Supporting warehouse operations, including picking and stock movement

• Driving the branch delivery van when required (training provided if needed)

Essential Experience & Requirements

Applicants must meet the following essential criteria to be considered:

• Proven experience working on a trade counter within a builders’ merchant or similar trade environment
  (e.g. Jewson, Screwfix, Travis Perkins, Wolseley, independent merchants, or equivalent)

• Demonstrable trade knowledge in one or more of the following areas:

  • Plumbing & Heating (essential)

  • Gas products

  • Joinery

  • Kitchens

  • Bathrooms

  • General building materials

• Experience working in a merchant warehouse environment

• Ability to confidently deal with trade customers, contractors, and site operatives

• Strong product awareness and the ability to problem-solve at the counter

• Full UK driving license (essential)

This role is not suitable for applicants without previous trade counter or merchant experience.

What We’re Looking For

• A confident, capable trade counter professional who can “hit the ground running”

• Strong communication skills and a customer-first mindset

• A proactive, reliable team player with high standards

• Someone comfortable working in a fast-paced, sometimes pressured environment

• A practical, solutions-focused attitude — not scripted sales

Why Join Jewson Partnership Solutions?

• A supportive, professional working environment where experience is genuinely valued

• Real opportunity to make an impact within a developing branch

• Career development opportunities within oneof Northern Europe’s largest building materials groups

• Competitive salary and benefits package, including:

  • 34 days holiday (including bank holidays)

  • Staff discount scheme

  • Life assurance

  • Ongoing training and development

At Jewson Partnership Solutions, we don’t just supply materials — we build trust.

If you’re an experienced trade counter professional looking for a role where your knowledge actually matters, we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll be doing:

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((Adapt as appropriate to detail part-time working hours))

((Remember to amend holiday entitlement above also))

Working hours are XX hours per week

XX:XX – XX:XX to Friday and every other Saturday morning 8:00 – 12noon

Hyperlink branch address

What you’ll need to have:

These are the essential skills or experience needed to succeed in this role.

((List only the essential skills and experience required to do the role. Keep it simple, avoid corporate jargon or criteria that is too generic and could be open to interpretation. Max 5 bullet points))

It would be great if you also have:

These are desirable skills or experience and are not essential, so we would welcome applications from candidates that don’t match this additional criteria.

((List desirable skills that are not essential but preferred. Max 3 bullet points.))

What’s in it for you:

• Discretionary bonus

• A wide range of voluntary benefits including holiday buying, discounted gym membership, car salary sacrifice scheme, Cycle2Work, Benenden Healthcare and more.

• Access to a wealth of health and wellbeing services including access to online GP appointments and mental health support

• Generous employee discounts

• Access to discounts with hundreds of your favourite high street and online retailers

• Retirement savings plan

• Life assurance

• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave for anyone expecting or adopting a child

Why STARK?

At insert brand, we're proud to be part of STARK Building Materials UK and dedicated to providing top-quality products and exceptional service to our customers. We're a friendly and collaborative team, passionate about what we do and committed to doing it well. 

If you're ready to take your career to the next level and join a team that is dedicated to providing great service, we want to hear from you. Apply today!

What's next…

If your application is successful, our in-house recruitment team will be in touch to arrange an interview and to answer any initial questions you have.

Where a role is advertised as full-time, we are open to discussing part-time and job share options during the application process. If you require additional support as part of the application and interview process, we are happy to provide reasonable adjustments to help you to be at your best.

Stark Building Materials UK is a Ban the Box employer and will consider the suitability of applicants with criminal convictions on a case-by-case basis.