Strategic Development Trainee

Posted 9 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Hamilton, ON, CAN
In-Office
50K-55K Annually
Entry level
Industrial • Manufacturing
The Role
Entry-level development role supporting quotations and construction projects while learning sales, purchasing, customer service, inventory, operations, and credit functions. Responsibilities include reviewing drawings and specifications, completing material takeoffs, obtaining vendor pricing, preparing quotations, analyzing pricing and profitability, monitoring deadlines, and communicating with customers, vendors, and teammates. The program provides training and mentorship for long-term growth into sales, account management, purchasing, operations, or leadership.
Summary Generated by Built In
Company Description

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.

Job Description

Strategic Development Trainee 

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. 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.

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

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.

Additional Information

Salary Range: $50000-$55000
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.

    Skills Required

    • College diploma or university degree in business, construction, engineering technology, estimating, supply chain, or a related field
    • Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
    • Excellent organization, time-management, and deadline-management skills
    • Comfort 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
    • Previous customer service, administrative, estimating, construction, or sales-support experience
    • Experience reading construction drawings or specifications
    • Knowledge of plumbing, heating, mechanical, or construction products

    Emco Corporation Compensation & Benefits Highlights

    The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Emco Corporation and has not been reviewed or approved by Emco Corporation.

    • Career-Linked Recognition & Rewards — Feedback suggests hard work and strong branch performance can translate into substantial profit-sharing bonuses that meaningfully lift overall pay at successful locations. In these cases, modest base salaries are seen as offset by high annual payouts.
    • Retirement Support — Job postings and benefits listings indicate an employer-contributed pension plan is available for eligible roles, enhancing long-term total compensation. This element is viewed as a potential advantage for salaried or management-track employees.
    • Flexible Benefits — Some roles are advertised with comprehensive packages and options, including health coverage, life and disability insurance, paid time off, and an employee assistance program. Work-life flexibility is also noted in postings and is seen by some as a plus.

    Emco Corporation Insights

    Am I A Good Fit?
    beta
    Get Personalized Job Insights.
    Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.

    The Company
    HQ: London
    5,000 Employees
    Year Founded: 1906

    What We Do

    EMCO Corporation is one of Canada's largest integrated distributors of products for the construction industry, offering products in plumbing, waterworks, industrial, and HVAC.

    Similar Jobs

    In-Office
    Ottawa, ON, CAN
    5000 Employees
    In-Office
    Windsor, ON, CAN
    5000 Employees
    50K-55K Annually

    Emco Corporation Logo Emco Corporation

    Business Analyst

    Industrial • Manufacturing
    In-Office
    Ottawa, ON, CAN
    5000 Employees
    50K-50K Annually
    In-Office
    London, ON, CAN
    5000 Employees
    40K-45K Annually

    Similar Companies Hiring

    Fortune Brands Innovations Thumbnail
    Manufacturing
    Deerfield, IL
    10000 Employees
    Amalgamated Sugar Thumbnail
    Food • Greentech • Agriculture • Industrial • Manufacturing
    Boise, Idaho
    768 Employees
    Ford Energy Thumbnail
    Automotive • Software • Energy • Utilities • Manufacturing • Renewable Energy
    Glendale, Kentucky
    55 Employees

    Sign up now Access later

    Create Free Account

    Please log in or sign up to report this job.

    Create Free Account