Director, Sales & Marketing, Export & Specialty

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Director, Sales & Marketing, Export & Specialty

🔹 Company: Interfor

🔹 Location: Burnaby, British Columbia

🔹 Job Type: Full-time, On-site

🔹 Category: Sales & Marketing

🔹 Date Posted: 2025-05-27

🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Developing and executing sales strategies for export and specialty products
• Leading a high-performance sales team
• Building and maintaining strong customer relationships
• Collaborating with operations and logistics teams
• Driving margin growth and delivering exceptional value to customers

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of the lumber industry, particularly in export sales and specialty products.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Export Sales & Marketing: Develop and execute progressive international sales strategies in all markets outside of the US, Canada, and Japan.

✅ Cedar Remanufacturing & Sales: Manage the entire value-added finished Western Red Cedar business originating at our three sawmill operations in the BC Interior and through our three remanufacturing facilities in BC and Washington state.

✅ Western Specialty Sales: Work with operations and find new domestic and foreign markets for our diverse softwood species mix.

✅ Western Low-Grade Sales: Consistently find the best margin opportunities for our low-grade products.

✅ Team Leadership: Build, support, and develop a high-performance sales team that delivers sales solutions and results.

✅ Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain internal peer relationships with domestic sales staff, senior operations personnel, logistics, and supply chain groups through open, respectful, and constructive communications.

✅ Sales Growth & KPIs: Drive sales growth and develop KPI performance measurement systems for increasing revenue contribution and communicating results regularly to senior staff.

✅ Logistics & Administration: Implement streamlined and efficient logistics and administration processes.

✅ Margin Opportunities: Ultimately, use this sales platform to provide ongoing margin opportunities to Interfor.

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of strategic thinking, leadership, and collaboration with various teams to achieve sales targets and drive margin growth.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: A degree in Business Administration or a related field is preferred.

Experience: A minimum of 7 years of progressive sales & marketing experience with a thorough understanding of lumber sales & marketing and how sales decisions impact mill performance.

Required Skills:

• Deep knowledge of export lumber sales and logistics and complex international business regulations
• Familiarity with foreign policy, import & documentation requirements, and ocean freight
• Involvement in managing strategic and/or business-critical customer relationships and contracts
• Experience in developing and negotiating new customer business
• Experience in specialty, value-added wood products manufacturing and sales
• Ability to effectively negotiate claims
• Working knowledge of softwood lumber grades
• High competency in Microsoft 365 suite
• Experience in data analytics, specifically Tableau
• Ability to work in-depth with sales platforms such as LumberTrack and CrossCut

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in modern knowledge and high competency in Microsoft Copilot or equivalent
• Valid passport and ability to travel domestically and internationally
• Valid driver’s license and ability to drive in various countries

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong background in lumber sales, export regulations, and customer relationship management, with a preference for those with relevant degrees and experience in data analytics.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $165,000 - $205,000 CAD per year

Benefits:

• Extended Health & Dental, which includes Vision Care
• Short Term Disability Insurance
• Long Term Disability Insurance
• Group Life and AD&D Insurance
• Optional (Employee Paid) Group Life Insurance
• RRSP Matching Plan
• Participation in our Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Participation in our Short-Term Incentive Plan (STIP)
• Paid Vacation
• Employee Assistance Program

Working Hours: 40 hours per week

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is based on the company's stated range and industry standards for a Director-level role in the lumber industry.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Interfor operates in the Paper and Forest Product Manufacturing industry, focusing on sustainable forest management and producing a diverse line of wood products.

Company Size: Interfor is a large company with 1,001-5,000 employees, offering opportunities for growth and career development.

Founded: Interfor was founded in 1993 and has since grown into one of the largest forest products companies in the world.

Company Description:

• Interfor invests in modern facilities and systems, employing top quartile mill facilities located in great communities across North America

• The company focuses on excellence and opportunity, positioning employees alongside the best people in top quartile mill facilities

• Interfor is growing in exciting directions and offers opportunities for career growth and success

Company Specialties:

• Sustainable forest management
• Diverse wood products
• Modern facilities and systems
• Career growth opportunities

Company Website: www.interfor.com

ASSUMPTION: Interfor's focus on sustainability, modern facilities, and career growth opportunities makes it an attractive employer in the forest products industry.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is at the Director level, requiring strategic thinking, leadership, and a deep understanding of the lumber industry.

Reporting Structure: The Director of Sales & Marketing, Export & Specialty reports directly to the company's senior leadership team.

Work Arrangement: This is a full-time, on-site position, with the expectation of occasional travel for business purposes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential for career advancement within the sales and marketing department or other areas of the business
• Opportunities to lead and develop a high-performance sales team
• Possibility to expand the role's scope and impact as the company grows

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, both in terms of career advancement and expanding the role's impact on the company.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Interfor's headquarters is located in Burnaby, British Columbia, with additional offices and facilities across North America.

Office Location(s): 1600-4720 Kingsway, Burnaby, British Columbia V5H 4N2, CA

Geographic Context:

• Burnaby is a suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia, with a population of approximately 232,755
• The region offers a mild oceanic climate, with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters
• Burnaby is known for its outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, biking, and water sports

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with a 30-minute lunch break.

ASSUMPTION: The Burnaby office offers a convenient location with easy access to public transportation and nearby amenities, as well as opportunities for outdoor recreation and a high quality of life.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screening
• In-person or video interview with the hiring manager
• Final round interview with senior leadership
• Background check and reference check
• Job offer

Key Assessment Areas:

• Sales strategy and execution
• Leadership and team management
• Customer relationship management
• Industry knowledge and expertise
• Problem-solving and analytical skills

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant sales and marketing experience, as well as your understanding of the lumber industry and export regulations
• Prepare examples of your past sales strategies, customer relationships, and negotiation skills
• Research Interfor's company culture and values to demonstrate your fit for the role
• Be prepared to discuss your long-term career goals and how this role fits into your plans

ATS Keywords: Sales strategy, export sales, lumber sales, customer relationships, negotiation, leadership, team management, data analytics, Tableau, LumberTrack, CrossCut

ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role is likely to be competitive, with a focus on sales strategy, leadership, and industry-specific knowledge.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft 365 suite
• Tableau
• LumberTrack
• CrossCut
• Microsoft Copilot or equivalent (preferred)

ASSUMPTION: Proficiency in the Microsoft 365 suite, Tableau, LumberTrack, and CrossCut is required for this role, with experience in Microsoft Copilot or equivalent being preferred.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Excellence
• Opportunity
• Investment
• Sustainability
• Growth

Work Style:

• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Results-driven and action-oriented
• Adaptable and responsive to change
• Strategic and forward-thinking
• Customer-focused and customer-centric

Self-Assessment Questions:

• How do your personal values align with Interfor's company values?
• Describe a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in your work environment, and how did you approach it?
• How do you prioritize and manage multiple projects or responsibilities simultaneously?

ASSUMPTION: Interfor values a strong cultural fit, with an emphasis on excellence, opportunity, investment, sustainability, and growth. Candidates should be results-driven, collaborative, and adaptable to thrive in this work environment.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing a diverse product portfolio and multiple sales teams
• Navigating complex international business regulations and export requirements
• Developing and implementing efficient logistics and administration processes
• Balancing margin growth with customer value and satisfaction
• Adapting to changes in the lumber market and industry trends

ASSUMPTION: This role presents various challenges, including managing diverse teams, navigating complex regulations, and balancing margin growth with customer satisfaction. Candidates should be prepared to tackle these challenges and drive results.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Unlike other sales roles, this position focuses on export and specialty products, requiring a deep understanding of international business regulations and export logistics
• This role offers a unique opportunity to shape and lead a results-driven sales team for one of North America's largest lumber producers
• Career progression in this role may lead to senior leadership positions within the sales and marketing department or other areas of the business

ASSUMPTION: This role is distinct from other sales positions due to its focus on export and specialty products, offering a unique opportunity for growth and leadership within a large lumber producer.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and executing a progressive international sales strategy for a new specialty product line
• Negotiating and securing a long-term contract with a key international customer, resulting in significant margin growth
• Implementing a new data analytics system to improve sales performance and KPI tracking

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects demonstrate the strategic, leadership, and analytical skills required for this role, focusing on sales strategy, negotiation, and data analytics.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the current sales strategies for our export and specialty products, and how they align with the company's overall business objectives?
• How does the sales team collaborate with operations and logistics to ensure efficient and effective product delivery?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days, and how can I contribute to driving results in these areas?
• How does Interfor support the professional development and growth of its employees, particularly in the sales and marketing department?
• What are the most significant challenges facing the sales team currently, and how can this role address these issues?

ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions demonstrates your interest in the role, the company, and the challenges facing the sales team, while also providing valuable insights into the position and the organization.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant sales and marketing experience, as well as your understanding of the lumber industry and export regulations
• Prepare examples of your past sales strategies, customer relationships, and negotiation skills
• Research Interfor's company culture and values to demonstrate your fit for the role
• Be prepared to discuss your long-term career goals and how this role fits into your plans
• Follow up with the recruitment team one week after submitting your application to inquire about your application status

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.