Based in St. Louis, Core & Main is a leader in advancing reliable infrastructure™ with local service, nationwide®. As a specialty distributor with a focus on water, wastewater, storm drainage and fire protection products and related services, Core & Main provides solutions to municipalities, private water companies and professional contractors across municipal, non-residential and residential end markets, nationwide. With over 370 locations across the U.S., the company provides its customers local expertise backed by a national supply chain. Core & Main’s 5,700 associates are committed to helping their communities thrive with safe and reliable infrastructure. Visit coreandmain.com to learn more.
Job Summary
The District Manager provides strategic and operational leadership across an assigned district, guiding branch leaders to deliver strong sales, operational, customer, and financial results while translating enterprise and regional priorities into clear branch-level expectations. This role develops branch leadership capability, builds talent pipelines, reinforces consistent operating rhythms, and drives accountability for performance, safety, customer experience, vendor partnerships, market growth, and P&L outcomes. Through visible field leadership, coaching, structured follow-up, and change leadership, the District Manager ensures corporate initiatives are adopted locally while protecting operational discipline and supporting long-term business growth.
Major Tasks, Responsibilities and Key Accountabilities
Talent Development
Talent Management: partner with branch leaders to recruit, hire, and onboard talent; ensure leaders maintain an active pipeline for critical roles and follow consistent selection standards
Training & Capability Building: set expectations for training completion and role readiness; equip branch leaders with coaching routines, tools, and resources to build field capability
Performance Development: coach branch leaders on goal setting, feedback, and accountability; review performance trends and support leaders in addressing performance gaps and recognition
Succession & Retention: develop branch leadership bench strength; identify high-potential talent through leaders, create development plans, and reduce risk in key roles across the district
Customer & Vendor Relations
Own key customer relationships at the district level and support branch leaders with escalation support, retention risk management, and service recovery for high-impact issues
Set standards for customer experience and ensure branch leaders reinforce responsiveness, jobsite support, and consistent follow-through
Partner with vendors strategically to improve availability, lead times, and service levels; ensure branches leverage preferred programs and follow vendor processes
Support negotiated deals and issue escalation as appropriate; help branch leaders route vendor and customer issues through the right support path and close the loop
Field Presence & Community/Industry Engagement
Maintain visible field leadership through a consistent district cadence (branch visits, leader check-ins, and customer touchpoints) focused on priorities, risks, and execution—not day-to-day supervision
Coach branch leaders on operating rhythm including huddles, safety routines, standard work, and follow-up disciplines; verify execution through observation and dashboards
Represent the company locally and support branch leaders’ community presence to strengthen relationships and local credibility
Engage in industry organizations to stay close to market trends and create opportunities that branch leaders and sales teams can convert into growth
Operational & Financial Oversight (P&L)
Run the district through a review cadence of operational and financial metrics; identify trends, prioritize actions, and hold branch leaders accountable for plans and results
Own district P&L performance by setting targets and guardrails; ensure branch leaders manage sales,…