Sales Lead

Clayton is a leading single-family, values-driven home builder dedicated to attainable housing, sustainable practices and creating a world-class experience for customers and team members. Our company portfolio includes a broad offering of attainable housing, and as a vertically integrated home builder, we are uniquely positioned to serve customers through every stage of the homeownership journey – building, selling, financing, and insuring homes. From entry-level to more experienced positions, we're actively recruiting individuals who are passionate, positive, and eager to learn. We then equip you for success, whether you're in the office, in the field, or on the floor. As a member of our team you'll enjoy excellent benefits, opportunities for growth, and an encouraging culture that supports work / life balance.

Position Summary

The Sales Manager drives sales growth, market share expansion, retailer success, and profitability across assigned markets while leading a team of Customer Success Managers and Sales Coordinators. Reporting directly to the Director of Sales & Customer Service, this role provides proactive leadership, strategic direction, coaching, and operational oversight to ensure world-class performance and sustainable business growth.

The Sales Manager serves as the primary leader responsible for developing CSM's, improving processes, strengthening retailer partnerships, identifying growth opportunities, and ensuring disciplined execution of strategic initiatives across the business.

This position carries no direct account responsibility, allowing full focus on leadership, team development, operational excellence, and revenue growth initiatives.

Primary Responsibilities

Sales Leadership & Growth

• Drive sales growth, market share expansion, and profitability across assigned markets.
• Establish and execute strategic sales plans that support organizational objectives.
• Identify opportunities for retailer growth, increased product penetration, and new market development.
• Lead initiatives that improve competitive positioning and long-term revenue performance.
• Monitor sales trends, market conditions, and retailer performance to identify opportunities and risks.
• Partner with the Director of Sales & Customer Service to develop and execute growth strategies.
• Ensure accountability for sales performance and business results throughout the sales organization.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop Customer Success Managers and Sales Coordinators.
• Conduct regular field visits and market travel to support and develop team members.
• Facilitate performance discussions, development planning, and succession planning.
• Foster a culture of accountability, engagement, continuous improvement, and teamwork.
• Celebrate successes while addressing performance gaps through coaching and action plans.
• Support leadership development throughout the organization.

Retailer Relationship Management

• Maintain executive-level relationships with key retail partners.
• Conduct regular business reviews with major accounts.
• Partner with Customer Success Managers to strengthen customer engagement and loyalty.
• Support complex retailer opportunities and issue resolution as needed.
• Collaborate with Customer Care leadership to improve retailer and homeowner satisfaction.
• Advocate for exceptional customer experiences throughout the organization.

Market Intelligence & Strategic Planning

• Analyze market conditions, competitive offerings, pricing trends, and industry developments.
• Identify emerging market opportunities and evolving customer needs.
• Provide strategic recommendations regarding product offerings, positioning, and growth initiatives.
• Support product development through market feedback and competitive analysis.
• Participate in annual planning, forecasting, and budgeting activities with the Director of Sales and Customer Service.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure consistent execution of operational excellence initiatives across all facilities including, but not limited to :

• Accounts Receivable (A/R)
• Inventory management
• Inventory turn performance
• Yard management
• Net Promoter Score (NPS)
• Warranty card submission compliance
• Compass utilization
• Inactive retailer engagement
• Change order review processes
• Backlog management
• Option and BOM maintenance support
• Monitor KPI performance and implement corrective actions where needed

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as the voice of the customer during operational, production, and quality discussions.
• Support cross-functional projects that improve customer satisfaction, efficiency, and profitability.
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing, customer care, finance, and executive leadership teams.
• Promote communication, alignment, and accountability throughout the organization.

Culture & Company Representation

• Act as a trusted ambassador of the organization and its values.
• Support recruiting, onboarding, and retention efforts.
• Foster a positive, high-energy, team-oriented culture.
• Demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and ethical leadership at all times.

Qualifications

Education

• Associate degree required: Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Preferred fields include:
  • Business
  • Marketing
  • Economics
  • Sales Management
  • Finance
  • Data Analytics

Experience

• Preferred minimum 5 years of sales leadership experience.
• Experience leading, coaching, and developing sales professionals.
• Experience in strategic planning, market development, and business growth initiatives.
• Manufacturing, homebuilding, housing, or related industry experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong leadership and coaching skills.
• Strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Financial and operational understanding.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to analyze data and drive decisions through metrics.
• Experience with CRM, business intelligence, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.

Travel Requirements

• Ability to travel approximately 25-40% of the time.
• Flexibility to support customer visits, retailer meetings, trade events, and field coaching activities.

Success Measures

The Sales Manager will be evaluated on:

• Sales growth
• Market share growth
• Gross margin performance
• Team performance and development
• Retailer satisfaction
• NPS improvement
• Inventory performance
• Operational excellence metrics
• Account receivable performance
• Customer retention
• Strategic initiative execution
• Leadership effectiveness

Why Clayton?

Full-time team members have the flexibility to create their own health, dental, and vision benefits package. Clayton provides competitive 401K programs, including investment options and company matching for full and part time team members after one year to help our team members achieve their financial goals. Additional benefits include paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, Employee Assistance Programs, and more.

As part of Clayton’s commitment to Opening Doors to a Better Life, Clayton is now providing paid time for Team Members to volunteer to causes that are meaningful to them through the Clayton Impact program.

At Clayton, we encourage holistic wellness with physical, nutritional, social, financial, spiritual and occupational programs available online or in-person for team members.

Clayton is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. Clayton is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

Business Unit - B00018

Clayton Manufacturing