Construction Trainee Jobs in Kitchener, ON (NOW HIRING)

About EMCO Corporation

EMCO Corporation is one of Canada's leading construction wholesale distribution businesses, serving contractors and partners across the country. Backed by more than 115 years of experience, we combine the strength and stability of a national organization with the agility and entrepreneurial spirit of a growing business.

Our purpose is to help build stronger communities by delivering the products, expertise, and service that support critical systems in residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects across Canada.

What makes EMCO Corporation different is our people and culture.

Our teammates are empowered to make decisions, develop customer relationships, drive growth, and shape the future of their business. We provide the tools, support, and mentorship needed to succeed, while encouraging initiative, accountability, and innovation.

Our culture is built on four core values:

• Fairness & Caring
• Trust & Respect
• Straight Talk
• Generous Listening

Diversity, Inclusion & Opportunity

EMCO Corporation is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where every teammate can succeed. We believe that diverse backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and ideas make us a stronger organization and better partner to our customers.

We actively encourage applications from women, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, and individuals from all backgrounds. We are particularly committed to increasing representation of women in leadership and throughout the construction wholesale industry by creating an environment where talent, performance, and potential drive opportunity.

Why Join EMCO Corporation?

• Learn from experienced leaders and mentors!
• Participate in industry-leading training and development programs.
• Competitive salary, benefits, pension, and profit-sharing programs
• Long-term career growth with one of Canada's most respected organizations
• Team-oriented culture that supports work-life balance.

Strategic Development Trainee – Quotations Focus

Are you highly organized, detail-oriented, and interested in building a long-term career in the construction and wholesale distribution industry?

EMCO Hamilton Mountain is looking for a Strategic Development Trainee with a focus on quotations to join and strengthen our Bid & Spec team. This is an excellent opportunity for a recent college or university graduate—or someone early in their career—who enjoys working with numbers, analyzing detailed information, solving problems, and managing deadlines.

The Strategic Development Program is designed to provide broad exposure to our business while developing the technical, commercial, and leadership skills required for future growth within EMCO. Your initial focus will be on quotations and project support, where you will receive hands-on training and mentorship while learning how projects move from the bidding stage through award and delivery.

Over time, you will learn to review construction drawings and specifications, complete material takeoffs, obtain vendor pricing, prepare accurate quotations, and coordinate awarded projects. You will also gain experience in customer service, sales, purchasing, operations, inventory management, credit, and other areas of the profit centre.

This position requires patience, accuracy, curiosity, initiative, and a strong sense of ownership. Previous plumbing-industry experience is not required, but you must be motivated to develop technical product knowledge and comfortable working in a deadline-driven environment.

Quotations and Project Support

• Learn to read construction drawings, specifications, schedules, and other project documentation.
• Assist with quantity takeoffs and the preparation of accurate material lists.
• Obtain pricing, availability, lead times, and technical information from vendors.
• Prepare and organize customer quotations with support from experienced teammates.
• Track bid deadlines, addenda, project revisions, and quotation follow-ups.
• Maintain accurate electronic project files and supporting documentation.
• Identify potential gaps, exclusions, substitutions, and sales opportunities within project specifications.
• Support awarded projects by coordinating submittals, purchasing, delivery schedules, change orders, and project documentation.
• Build relationships with customers, vendors, and teammates to support successful project execution.
• Develop the ability to manage increasingly complex quotations independently.

Strategic Development and Business Training

• Learn the complete sales cycle, from identifying an opportunity and preparing a quotation through order fulfillment and after-sales support.
• Gain exposure to customer service, inside sales, account management, purchasing, warehouse operations, inventory control, and credit management.
• Develop a strong understanding of EMCO’s products, vendors, customers, systems, and business model.
• Participate in product, technical, sales, and leadership training.
• Analyze pricing, gross profit, project risk, and other commercial considerations when preparing quotations.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, customer service, and profitability.
• Work closely with profit centre leadership to understand business planning and day-to-day decision-making.
• Take on greater responsibility as your technical knowledge, business judgment, and leadership skills develop.

Customer and Business Responsibilities

• Deliver a high level of service by responding accurately and promptly to customer and vendor inquiries.
• Communicate professionally with customers, vendors, and teammates.
• Monitor project commitments, lead times, and deadlines to help ensure expectations are met.

Long-Term Career Growth

The goal of the Strategic Development Program is to prepare high-potential teammates for progressive responsibility and long-term career opportunities within EMCO.

Depending on performance, interests, and business needs, future career paths may include:

• Senior Quotations and Project Management
• Technical Sales
• Inside or Outside Account Management
• Purchasing and Vendor Management
• Operations Management
• Profit Centre Leadership

Qualifications:

• College diploma or university degree in business, construction, engineering technology, estimating, supply chain, or a related field is preferred.
• Previous customer service, administrative, estimating, construction, or sales-support experience is an asset.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Excellent organization, time-management, and deadline-management skills.
• Comfortable working with numbers, pricing, spreadsheets, and detailed documentation.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to ask questions, receive feedback, and continuously learn.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively while taking ownership of individual responsibilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook and Excel.
• Experience reading construction drawings or specifications is an asset but not required.
• Knowledge of plumbing, heating, mechanical, or construction products is an asset but not required.

The Person We Are Looking For

You may be a strong fit if you:

• Take pride in producing accurate, high-quality work.
• Naturally notice details that others may overlook.
• Stay organized when balancing several projects and deadlines.
• Are dependable and follow through on your commitments.
• Enjoy learning technical information and solving problems.
• Work well in a team-oriented and supportive environment.
• Want to build a career rather than simply finding your next job.
• Are motivated by the opportunity to grow your responsibilities and compensation over time.

Salary Range: $50000-$60000
Salary Range is based on total compensation for a first year teammate in the Strategic Sales Development Program. It is a combination of base salary plus profit sharing based on performance of the individual as well as the business.

What EMCO Offers You:

• A world-class development program tailored for you
• Great mentors and on-the-job training
• Growth potential with competitive salary, and profit sharing
• A career with a solid, stable company with strong core values
• Full benefits and pension package
• A commitment to internal promotion

Emco is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a barrier free workplace where all employees can contribute to their fullest potential. We welcome all applications to ensure we have an inclusive workforce that reflects the diversity of the customers and communities in which we live and serve. Should you require an accommodation as part of the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

EMCO is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a discrimination, harassment, and barrier free workplace where all employees can contribute to their fullest potential. EMCO is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplaces. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, colour, creed, place of origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by the law. We welcome applications from all minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, neurodiversity, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.