Assistant Manager – Plumbing & Heating Merchant
Location: Plumbase Northampton
Salary: Negotiable + Profit Share
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
At Plumbase Northampton, the Assistant Manager is right at the centre of how the merchant performs. You’ll be working alongside the Site Manager, who runs the business like their own, and you’ll be expected to operate the same way.
This is a hands-on role within a busy plumbing and heating merchant. You’ll be trusted to take ownership, make commercial decisions, and step in to run the site when needed. The expectation is simple: contribute to growth, improve performance, and take responsibility for how the site operates.
What sets this apart is the level of autonomy. Our sites operate with full control over how they grow. That includes business development, account management, procurement, product range, pricing, and local marketing. You’re not waiting on head office approval for every decision. You’re part of the team making them.
We’re part of one of the UK’s largest independent networks of plumbing and heating merchants, with over 310 sites nationwide. That scale gives you backing, but the day-to-day is driven locally by the people running the site and rewarded through our industry leading Profit Share.
Key Responsibilities:
You’ll be directly involved in how the site performs, both operationally and commercially.
Supporting the day-to-day running of a plumbing and heating merchant- Overseeing trade counter sales, warehouse, and delivery operations
- Working with trade customers to maintain and grow sales
- Supporting business development and increasing customer spend
- Contributing to account management and customer retention
- Managing stock, purchasing, and pricing with a focus on margin
- Supporting decisions around product range and supplier relationships
- Maintaining site standards and operational efficiency
- Stepping in to run the site in the Manager’s absence
What We’re Looking For:
This role suits someone who understands how a builders merchant or plumbing and heating merchant operates and is comfortable taking ownership.
You might currently be a:
- Assistant Branch Manager
- Trade Counter Supervisor
- Senior Sales Advisor within a plumbing and heating merchant
- Builders Merchant Sales or Trade Counter professional
You’ll bring:
- Experience within a plumbing & heating merchant or builders merchant
- Strong understanding of trade counter sales and branch operations
- Commercial awareness across margin, pricing, and stock control
- Confidence working with trade customers and suppliers
- A hands-on approach within a fast-paced merchant environment
- The ability to make decisions and take responsibility for outcomes
- A full UK driving licence
What You’ll Get:
- Competitive salary + profit share
- Real authority to influence how the site operates and grows
- Direct involvement in commercial decisions across the business
- Clear visibility of the impact you make on performance
- Ongoing support and product training
- The opportunity to build a long-term career within a growing merchant group
Sound like your kind of role? Apply now and step into a position where you’re expected to help run a business, not just support one.
