Trade Development Manager Jobs in Connecticut (NOW HIRING)

Why join us?

At Design Within Reach, home comes first. We believe in creating and sourcing pieces that move with you and are meant to be enjoyed over a lifetime - from home to home, generation to generation. For us, that means exceptionally crafted, built-to-last, and beautifully designed furnishings.
Our purpose is design for the good of humankind. It's the ideal we strive toward each day in everything we do. Being a part of Design Within Reach means being a part of something larger than your work team, or even your brand. We are redefining modern for the 21st century. And our success allows Design Within Reach to support causes that align with our values, so we can build a more sustainable, equitable, and beautiful future for everyone.

About the opportunity:

MillerKnoll is seeking a Senior Manager for Design Within Reach's Trade and Hospitality to support the continued growth of Design Within Reach's emerging B2B business. Reporting to the Sr. Director DWR Trade & Hospitality, this role will help strengthen DWR's connection to the residential design trade, boutique & lifestyle hospitality, restaurants, creative workspaces, developers and small businesses.

This individual will play a highly collaborative and hands-on role focused on business development, relationship management, sales support and customer engagement. Working closely with DWR Retail, Marketing, Design and acting as a liaison with the MillerKnoll Contract teams, the Senior Manager will help identify new opportunities, nurture industry relationships, support project pipelines and execute programs that drive awareness and revenue growth.

The ideal candidate is entrepreneurial, highly organized and relationship-oriented, with experience supporting sales initiatives or account growth within the luxury furnishings, hospitality or design industries.

Responsibilities:

• Support the growth and day-to-day execution of the DWR Trade and Hospitality business, helping to build awareness and engagement across key B2B audiences.

• Assist in developing and maintaining relationships with interior designers, hospitality groups, developers, small business owners and trade partners.

• Partner closely with DWR retail teams to help identify, nurture and convert project opportunities within local markets.

• Support business development outreach efforts including prospecting, lead generation, client follow-up and pipeline management.

• Help coordinate trade programs, client events, showroom activations and partnership opportunities designed to strengthen engagement with the design community.

• Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Stores and MillerKnoll Contract teams to identify opportunities for collaboration, shared customer engagement and to ensure a seamless customer experience from introduction through project execution

• Assist in preparing presentations, proposals, customer communications and sales materials to support account development efforts.

• Maintain awareness of industry trends, competitive activity and emerging opportunities within the residential trade and hospitality sectors.

• Track customer engagement, sales activity and key performance metrics to help evaluate business performance and identify areas for growth.

• Support account management activities by helping coordinate project needs, timelines, follow-up communication and ongoing relationship development.

• Act as a brand ambassador for DWR, representing the company at industry events, trade gatherings, showroom experiences and client meetings.

Qualifications:

• 5-8 years of experience in home furnishings, luxury interiors, hospitality, B2B sales, business development or related industries.

• Prior experience working with the interior design trade community, including residential designers, hospitality designers, developers or trade professionals.

• Strong understanding of the luxury home furnishings and modern design landscape, with a highly refined aesthetic sensibility and elevated taste level.

• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with clients, designers, industry partners and cross-functional internal teams.

• Experience supporting business development initiatives, account growth, lead generation or client relationship management efforts.

• Passion for design, architecture, hospitality and the customer experience, with the ability to represent the DWR brand with credibility and sophistication.

• Highly organized with strong communication and follow-through skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.

• Collaborative and entrepreneurial mindset with a willingness to work cross-functionally and contribute to a growing business initiative.

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment with a balance of strategic thinking and hands-on execution.

• Familiarity with CRM tools, sales reporting and pipeline management preferred.

• Travel required up to 30-40% of time.

Who We Hire?
Simply put, we hire qualified applicants representing a wide range of backgrounds and abilities. Design Within Reach is comprised of people of all abilities, gender identities and expressions, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, veterans from every branch of military service, and more. Here, you can bring your whole self to work. We're committed to equal opportunity employment, including veterans and people with disabilities.

MillerKnoll complies with applicable disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact MillerKnoll Talent Acquisition at careers_help@millerknoll.com.