Branch Manager

Shepherd Electric Company • SES Tidewater, VA

42d • Onsite

About The Position

The Tidewater branch is Shepherd’s next chapter — our expansion into southern Virginia and a market where our name is not yet on every contractor’s speed dial. As Branch Manager, you are not stepping into an established operation. You are building one. The people, the customers, the numbers, and the culture of this branch will be shaped by how you show up from day one. This is a player/coach role, and in a new market that matters more than ever. You are not managing from a distance — you are in the branch and out in the field, opening accounts, solving customer problems, hiring and developing the first members of the team, and standing up the systems that make the branch run. You set the standard by doing the work, because in a startup branch there is nowhere to hide and no one else to point to yet. Tidewater does not need a figurehead. It needs a builder — a leader who can win trust in a market that has never bought from Shepherd, earn customers by name, step in wherever the gap is, and hold a brand-new branch to the standard our established locations are known for. If you want to put your fingerprints on something from the ground up, this is that role.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• 3–5 years of management experience in distribution, wholesale, or a related industry preferred
• Electrical product knowledge is a strong plus; willingness to learn is non-negotiable
• Demonstrated track record in sales — building relationships, growing accounts, closing business
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; comfortable with difficult conversations
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Outlook; familiarity with distribution software a plus
• Onsite presence required; this is not a hybrid role
• Ability to successfully complete pre-employment screening requirements

Nice To Haves

• college degree preferred
• Experience opening, launching, or building a branch, territory, or market is a strong plus
• Familiarity with the southern Virginia / Tidewater market is a plus

Responsibilities

• Recruit, hire, and onboard the founding Tidewater team — you are building the bench, not inheriting one
• Coach your team daily — side-by-side, on the floor and in the field, not just in performance reviews
• Set clear expectations, give real-time feedback, and address performance issues directly and fairly
• Create an environment where people are proud to help launch something new — and want to stay and grow with it
• Establish Shepherd’s presence in southern Virginia — prospect, qualify, and close new business in a market that does not yet know us
• Build and grow a personal book of accounts — you are a player, not just a manager
• Deepen relationships with early customers so the first wins become repeat business and referrals
• Coach inside sales staff on quoting, follow-through, and customer service standards from the start
• Ensure every customer interaction — at the counter, on the phone, or in the field — reflects Shepherd’s commitment to reliability
• Stand up branch operations — inventory, purchasing, staging, and daily workflow — and own the P&L as the branch ramps
• Hit sales targets, manage gross margin, and control expenses with the discipline a new location demands
• Maintain inventory accuracy and purchasing discipline; avoid dead stock and stockouts while building the initial stocking profile for the market
• Ensure the branch facility is clean, organized, and reflects the Shepherd standard from opening day
• Communicate performance and goals to your team regularly — they should always know where they stand
• Partner closely with regional leadership and HQ through launch — a new branch needs tight, two-way communication
• Collaborate with established branches on transfers, staffing, stocking guidance, and shared customer needs
• Represent Tidewater’s interests while staying aligned with Shepherd’s broader expansion strategy
• Feed what you learn opening southern Virginia back to the organization to support the next new market

Benefits

• Competitive pay with opportunity tied to branch performance
• The chance to launch and own a brand-new branch in a growing market
• Medical, dental, and life insurance
• Prescription drug coverage
• Paid vacation and personal time
• 401(k) with employer match
• 130+ years of industry leadership — and we are still growing
• A culture where reliability is noticed, ownership is rewarded, and people come first
• A company scaling into new markets — with real paths to grow with it

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED