National Accounts Manager - Dimensional Lumber Sales
About The Position
Alta Forest Products, in collaboration with Itochu Building Products, is the world's largest producer of wood fence boards, specializing in Western Red Cedar fence pickets and other premium products. The company also manufactures timbers and dimensional lumber, with advanced sawmills operating with zero wood waste. Headquartered in Chehalis, Washington, Alta operates sawmills, reload facilities, and log yards in various Northwest rural communities. The Dimensional Lumber Sales Manager will be responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of key accounts within Alta's distribution network. This role requires a strong understanding of product mix, supply dynamics, and market conditions, with a background in the North American lumber industry, including sawmill operations, lumber manufacturing, wholesale distribution, or building products. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of lumber market fundamentals and a proven track record selling timbers, dimension lumber, and related wood products through distribution networks and direct/open-market channels. Success requires connecting market demand with manufacturing capabilities, developing long-term strategic relationships, and owning the account relationship end-to-end. This involves aligning customer demand with mill production, managing order flow, and ensuring consistent execution, with sound commercial judgment, navigating market volatility, and proactively aligning internal resources with customer needs.
Requirements
- Direct experience in the U.S. lumber and wood products industry, including sawmill operations, lumber manufacturing, wholesale distribution, or building products.
- Strong understanding of lumber market dynamics, species, grades, pricing mechanisms, and supply chain fundamentals.
- Experience selling wood timbers, dimension lumber and other wood products through both distribution partners and direct/open-market channels.
- Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with distributors, buying groups, retailers, and independent lumber dealers.
- Strong understanding of pricing, margins, and market-driven decision-making.
- Ability to operate effectively in a supply-constrained, production-driven environment.
- High level of accountability with a focus on execution and results.
- Skilled at building long-term, trust-based relationships with customers and internal stakeholders.
- Knowledge of North American lumber market trends, competitive landscape, and channel strategies.
- 7+ years of sales, trading, account management, or business development experience within the North American lumber and wood products industry strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated success selling dimension lumber, boards, timbers, fencing products, or other wood products through both distribution networks and direct/open-market channels.
- Experience working with or within sawmill operations, lumber manufacturing facilities, remanufacturing operations, or wholesale distribution organizations.
- Strong understanding of lumber grades, species, manufacturing processes, inventory management, and market pricing.
- Proven success managing large or national accounts while driving profitable sales growth and margin performance.
- Established relationships within the lumber, building products, or industrial wood products sectors are highly desirable.
- Ability to travel up to 30%, including customer visits and industry events.
- Strong communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Solid analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and business systems.
- Experience mentoring or supporting junior team members is a plus.
Nice To Haves
- Established relationships within the lumber, building products, or industrial wood products sectors are highly desirable.
- Experience mentoring or supporting junior team members is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Manage and develop strategic national account relationships within the distribution channel.
- Align customer demand with production capacity, inventory positions, and logistics constraints.
- Oversee order flow, forecasting, and on-time delivery performance.
- Identify opportunities to optimize product mix, pricing, and margin across accounts.
- Collaborate closely with operations and logistics to ensure execution against commitments.
- Lead account planning and internal alignment discussions.
- Resolve issues related to supply, quality, and delivery with urgency and professionalism.
- Monitor market conditions, competitive positioning, and customer trends.
- Drive continuous improvement in service levels and account performance.
- Develop and expand relationships with lumber distributors, buying groups, pro dealers, and strategic wood-products customers.
- Evaluate lumber market trends, species demand, pricing movements, and competitive activity to identify growth opportunities.
- Support the development and execution of sales strategies for wood timbers, dimension lumber, products, and other value-added wood products.
- Other duties as assigned.
Benefits
- Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Retirement Savings Plan w/ 4.5% company match that is immediately vested.
- Short & Long Term Disability Insurance
- Paid Time Off (Vacation, Holidays, Sick Leave)
- Employee Referral Program
- Flexible Work Schedule
- Tuition Reimbursement Program
- Additional voluntary benefits
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
