Specification Manager

Specification Manager Salary: Competitive and based on experience Location: Ho Chi Minh City Keywords: Relationship building, project sales, architect and design community, market development, pipeline management, brand awareness, stakeholder engagement, CRM discipline, regional travel, technical expertise

A leading global manufacturer in the wood-based materials industry is seeking a dynamic Specification Manager to spearhead market creation and drive business growth across Southeast Asia. This is an exceptional opportunity to take full ownership of developing a robust specification pipeline while collaborating with architects, designers, developers, and contractors throughout the region. Renowned for its commitment to sustainability, responsible sourcing, and innovative production processes, the company offers a diverse portfolio of decorative products, flooring solutions, and building materials. With its regional hub in Ho Chi Minh City and a partner-driven structure spanning South East Asia, this role provides a unique platform to expand brand presence and shape the future of the business in one of the world’s most dynamic markets.

Enjoy the flexibility to operate across multiple countries, collaborate with global teams, and make a tangible impact on long-term growth—all within a supportive environment that values entrepreneurial spirit and offers genuine opportunities for career progression.

Your Role: What You’ll Do

As Specification Manager, you will play a pivotal role in establishing the organisation’s products as preferred choices within Southeast Asia’s fragmented markets. Your focus will be on building strong relationships with key stakeholders in architecture, design, development, and construction—ensuring your efforts translate into measurable business outcomes. From identifying promising projects at their earliest stages to guiding them through the specification process using your technical expertise, you will be instrumental in driving success.

By managing an active CRM pipeline via Salesforce and supporting local sales teams on high-value initiatives, you will secure initial wins that demonstrate proof of concept. Your ability to gather market intelligence will inform both local tactics and global strategies. Through impactful presentations at industry events and ongoing training sessions for partners or clients, you will elevate brand awareness while positioning yourself as a trusted resource within the specification community. Success in this role means not only achieving ambitious targets but also laying the foundation for sustainable growth across multiple countries.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build strong relationships with architects, designers, developers, project owners, contractors, and other decision-makers across Southeast Asia to establish a robust network.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive specifications strategy tailored to multiple SEA markets while aligning with broader organisational objectives.
• Conduct frequent market visits to identify early-stage projects and foster meaningful connections within the specification community.
• Identify high-value strategic projects at inception stages and actively influence their direction through expert consultation and support.
• Manage an active Salesforce pipeline by tracking contacts, projects, progress forecasts, and ensuring data accuracy for effective project management.
• Collaborate with local sales teams on key projects by coordinating stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of samples, product specifications, and overall project alignment.
• Serve as a trusted consultant to the architecture and design community by providing technical guidance on product applications and best practices.
• Gather valuable market intelligence by monitoring competitors, industry trends, project flows—and share insights with global specification teams for continuous improvement.
• Deliver impactful presentations, seminars, technical trainings; represent the organisation at industry events to enhance brand visibility within the specification segment.
• Continuously refine strategies based on market feedback while maintaining close collaboration with global teams in China, North America, and Europe.

What You Bring: Skills & Experience

To excel as Specification Manager, you should have substantial experience in project-driven sales or specification management within industries such as wood-based materials manufacturing or interior finishing solutions. Your background should reflect hands-on involvement in field-based roles where relationship-building was central—particularly among architects & designers or developers operating across Southeast Asia.

Essential Qualifications:

• Proven experience in specification or project sales within Southeast Asia’s architecture & design or construction supply sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to build business from scratch by developing networks among architects, designers, developers, contractors or similar stakeholders across several countries.
• Strong commercial acumen enabling prioritisation of high-value opportunities over volume-driven activities while maintaining structured pipeline management via CRM systems like Salesforce.
• Technical expertise with construction materials (e.g., wood-based panels/laminates/flooring/interior surfaces) ensures credibility when consulting clients on product applications or specifications.
• High level of self-organisation to manage frequent travel demands across fragmented markets without compromising quality or responsiveness.
• Experience delivering presentations or technical trainings at industry events demonstrates your ability to promote brand awareness effectively within professional communities.
• Fluency in English is mandatory; proficiency in additional Southeast Asian languages is advantageous given the regional scope of this role.

Preferred Attributes:

• Collaborative approach combined with excellent interpersonal skills to nurture long-term relationships while influencing key decisions during early project phases.
• Adaptability to varying maturity levels between countries; willingness to share insights globally for continuous improvement of specification strategies.

Why Join This Company?

This organisation stands out as one of Europe’s most respected manufacturers of wood-based materials due to its unwavering commitment to sustainability innovation and responsible sourcing practices. With over six decades of excellence behind it, the company has built an enviable reputation for delivering complete solutions—from decorative boards and laminates to advanced building products used globally.

In Southeast Asia’s fast-growing markets, its lean partner-driven model empowers employees with significant autonomy—offering flexibility alongside real influence over local market development strategies. The company fosters a culture that encourages entrepreneurial thinking supported by knowledgeable teams who value collaboration transparency mutual respect above all else.

Employees benefit from exposure to international best practices access cutting-edge technologies plus ongoing training opportunities designed specifically for personal growth professional advancement alike.

What’s Next?

If you’re ready to take ownership of building something remarkable across Southeast Asia’s thriving markets—this is your moment! Apply now if you want your next career move to truly matter.

Click below to start your journey toward making a lasting impact!

Due to the high volume of applications we are experiencing, our team will only be in touch with you if your application is shortlisted.