Construction Materials | B2B Supply | Large Contractor Accounts
- Cape Town, Western Cape
- Full-time, Permanent
- Up to R45,000/month + Commission
About Buildmate
Buildmate.co.za is the Western Cape's fastest-growing online building materials supplier. We offer 10,000+ products — from cement, timber, and roofing to insulation, waterproofing, and finishing materials — with next-day delivery across the Western Cape.
We're not a hardware store. We're a technology-driven supply partner built for professionals. Our online calculators, quoting tools, and specialist product knowledge help contractors source the right materials, in the right quantities, at low trade prices — without wasting time driving between suppliers.
Buildmate is part of the Scheltema Group, a specialist roofing and ceilings contractor with an 80-year history in the industry. Our leadership team includes the current President of the Master Builders Association, Western Cape. These relationships open doors — but we need someone who can walk through them and close.
We are scaling fast and the next phase of growth will be driven by winning large contractor accounts — which is where you come in.
The Role
We're hiring a Senior Business Development Manager to build and own a portfolio of large contractor accounts across the Western Cape.
This is not an order-taking role. This is not inbound. Your primary focus is outbound, relationship-driven, consultative selling to construction professionals who buy R100k–R5m+ in materials per project.
Your job: Win large accounts personally, manage and nurture those accounts for long term sustainable growth.
What You'll Do
Hunt for Large Accounts (50%)
- Target contractors running residential and commercial developments in the Western Cape (10+-unit complexes, estate developments, commercial fit-outs)
- Identify and approach Tier 1-3 contractors (e.g. JSE listed contractors / developers, established regional builders, growing SME contractors)
- Leverage Scheltema Group relationships for warm introductions to decision-makers
- Attend site visits, industry events, and MBAWC functions to build your network
- Cold-call procurement managers, project managers, and relevant business owners
Win and Close (20% of your time)
- Build detailed material quotes for large projects (you'll have tools and support for this)
- Negotiate pricing, credit terms, and delivery schedules for accounts worth R100k+/month
- Present Buildmate's value proposition: one supplier, one delivery, one invoice, competitive pricing, secure availability, product expertise
- Convert first orders into ongoing supply relationships
Grow Accounts (20% of your time)
- Become the trusted materials advisor for your personal large accounts
- Ensure delivery reliability and service quality keep clients coming back
- Identify new projects within existing accounts
- Cross-sell across categories (a roofing client also needs insulation, cladding, flashings)
- Provide feedback informing stock requirements, pricing expectations, and competitor activity
Support the Sales Team (5% of your time)
- Provide support to other sales team members focused on inbound sales as and when required
What Makes This Role Different
You're not selling to retail. You're selling to professionals who buy materials every week. One large contractor account could be worth R2-5m per year in recurring revenue.
Tech that supports you. Buildmate.co.za can be used to generate and email quotes quickly and accurately and is connected to live pricing and delivery.
Warm doors to open. Scheltema has been one of the Western Cape's biggest contractors for 80 years. You'll walk into meetings that take other salespeople a lot longer to arrange.
You have credit. We're launching 30-day terms for large accounts — removing a barrier that prevents large contractors from switching suppliers.
You're building something. This is a key role at a fast-growing company. You are getting in early
Who You Are
Must have:
- 5+ years B2B sales experience in building materials, construction supply, hardware wholesale, or a related sector
- Proven track record of winning NEW business (not just managing existing accounts)
- Direct experience selling to contractors, developers, or construction procurement teams
- Understanding of how construction projects procure materials (the buying cycle, the decision-makers, the pain points)
- Confidence walking onto a building site and having a credible conversation with a foreman, QS, or construction business owner
- Strong negotiation and closing skills — you can handle pricing pushback and procurement processes
- Self-starter mentality — you'll build your own pipeline with minimal hand-holding
- Comfortable using digital quoting systems daily
- Valid driver's licence and own transport
- Based in Cape Town
Ideal background:
- Sales or account management at a large building materials supplier
- BDM role at a construction-related business
- Trade sales in general materials (timber, roof sheeting, ceilings, wet works, waterproofing)
- Construction industry experience on the contractor/developer side with a move into sales
- Comfortable with using technology to support your sales work, WhatsApp, CRM, Web.
Compensation
| Base salary |
Up to R45,000/month |
| Profit share |
Quarterly profit share based on sales performance and margin |
| Tools |
Laptop, Website, Delivery Tech, WhatsApp, full product/pricing access |
| OTE (Year 1) |
R55,000–R70,000/month (based on realistic targets) |
| OTE (Year 2+) |
R80,000–R120,000/month (as accounts grow and repeat) |
Our incentive structure is a quarterly profit share — not a flat commission on revenue. This means:
- You earn a meaningful share of the gross profit you generate above a baseline target
- It rewards margin quality, not just volume — smart selling is rewarded
- It's paid quarterly, based on collected revenue, it compounds as your accounts grow and reorder
- An additional annual bonus is available when team-wide targets are met — we value collaboration, not just individual performance
The more you sell, and the better you manage pricing, the more you earn. There is no cap. Full details of the structure will be shared during the interview process.
Why Join Buildmate
- Growth stage — We've 5×'d in 4 years. You're getting in early.
- Industry connections — Scheltema's 80-year network gives you unique access.
- Uncapped earning — Commission on accounts that order R100k-R500k+ per month.
- Tech advantage — Tools your competitors don't have
- Credit enabling — 30-day terms removes barrier to large account conversion.
- Career path — This role has potential to grow into a Director position over time.
How to Apply
Send your CV and a short note to [email protected] with the subject: ”Senior “Business Development Manager
In your note, tell us:
- The largest B2B account you've personally won (industry, approximate value, how you did it)
- Your expected earnings in Year 1 (show us you understand commission-based selling)
Strong candidates will be invited for a conversation within 2 weeks.
Buildmate.co.za | Part of the Scheltema Group | Cape Town, Western Cape
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