Wholesale Lumber Trader

Company Summary

Hampton Lumber is a thriving family-owned company aspiring to be North America's preferred source for responsibly-sourced wood solutions. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, we operate nine sawmills in Western Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. We also manage timberland and operate a wholesale and import/export division.  

Our mission is to grow, manufacture, and market renewable wood products and deliver innovative solutions for a more sustainable built environment. At Hampton Lumber, we accomplish this through our own operations as well as those of our affiliates—Trapa Forest Products, Idaho Timber, and RedBuilt. Our tagline, "Find a better way every day," encapsulates our commitment to innovation and improvement across all operations. 

We are guided by our core values: 

• Safety – Prioritize safety across all operations.
• Integrity & Authenticity – Operate honestly and ethically while preserving our distinctive family-owned brand.
• Responsible Stewardship – Endeavor to balance and maintain economic, social, and environmental values in everything we do.
• Tenacity – Embrace challenges with grit, determination, and a can-do spirit. 
• Continuous Improvement – Strive to enhance our processes, products, and people.
• Customer Satisfaction – Be nimble, responsive, and solutions-oriented.
• Community Engagement – Be a responsive, supportive, and respected member of the community.

With over 80 years in the sawmill business, we are proud to have cultivated the knowledge and experience needed to grow and prosper, even in challenging times.  We always look to the future and invest in our people, new technologies, and continuous improvement processes and techniques. 

Overview

The Wholesale Trader develops and manages a profitable book of business by building customer and supplier relationships, purchasing and selling lumber and related wood products, identifying market opportunities, and managing transactions from initial negotiation through fulfillment. The role is responsible for growing assigned accounts, developing new business, and making informed trading decisions within established company guidelines.

This position works closely with customers, suppliers, mills, logistics, credit, sales support, accounting, and Hampton Lumber Sales leadership to deliver reliable service and profitable results. The Wholesale Trader is expected to demonstrate strong ownership, sound judgment, disciplined follow-through, and an ongoing commitment to developing product, market, and relationship expertise.

Benefits Highlights

• Substantial company-paid assistance for Medical and Dental insurance premiums; mental health coverage; cost effective co-pays and deductibles
• 401(k) with 5% annual company contribution and generous company matching contributions vested over three years
• Paid time off, including eight paid holidays
• Opportunity to earn bonuses
• Employee wellness program that includes free counseling sessions, financial and legal guidance, and more
• Opportunities for paid training to support career advancement and personal development

Responsibilities

Customer Development & Sales:

• Develop, maintain, and grow a portfolio of assigned customers in alignment with company direction and business goals.
• Prospect for new customers and identify opportunities to expand business with existing accounts.
• Understand customer needs, product requirements, buying patterns, and service expectations and provide practical solutions.
• Negotiate pricing, volume, delivery expectations, and other transaction terms within established company guidelines.
• Maintain regular customer contact and provide timely, accurate, and professional communication throughout the sales process.
• Represent Hampton Lumber Sales at approved customer visits, industry events, and other business development activities.

Supplier Development & Purchasing:

• Develop and maintain productive purchasing relationships with outside mills, manufacturers, suppliers, and other trading partners.
• Identify supply opportunities that align with customer demand, market conditions, product quality, risk, and profitability expectations.
• Negotiate purchases and supply arrangements within established authority and company guidelines.
• Develop and support sales programs from Hampton Mills and other approved suppliers as directed by business leadership.
• Monitor supplier performance, product availability, quality, and market developments and communicate relevant information to internal partners.

Trading, Market Knowledge & Profitability:

• Buy and sell lumber and related wood products with a focus on responsible risk management, customer value, and profitable growth.
• Monitor market conditions, pricing trends, supply and demand, freight, product availability, and competitive activity to support trading decisions.
• Maintain current knowledge of relevant products, grades, species, dimensions, applications, suppliers, customers, and market channels.
• Evaluate transactions for margin, exposure, market risk, credit considerations, and operational feasibility before committing company resources.
• Manage open positions and trading activity in accordance with company guidelines and assigned business expectations.
• Review personal business performance and use results, market information, and manager feedback to adjust priorities and strategies.

Inventory & Transaction Management:

• Maintain company-approved inventory locations and inventory positions within defined company guidelines.
• Monitor inventory levels, aging, carrying costs, quality, and marketability and take timely action to manage risk.
• Coordinate with logistics, sales support, credit, accounting, suppliers, and customers to support accurate and efficient order fulfillment.
• Ensure transaction details, pricing, purchase and sales commitments, documentation, and system information are complete and accurate.
• Address service issues, claims, shipment challenges, and other transaction concerns promptly and collaboratively.
• Follow established credit management, contract, sales contact, documentation, and approval requirements.

Business Partnership & Professional Development:

• Build strong working relationships across Hampton Lumber Sales and partner effectively with other traders, general managers, mills, logistics, sales support, credit, and accounting.
• Communicate risks, opportunities, significant commitments, and customer or supplier concerns to the appropriate manager and internal partners.
• Actively develop product knowledge, market expertise, negotiation capability, financial understanding, and business judgment.
• Seek and apply coaching and feedback and take ownership of individual performance and continued professional growth.
• Model Hampton values through ethical business practices, accountability, collaboration, customer focus, and a commitment to finding a better way every day.
• Respond promptly to other related duties and business needs as required.

Qualifications

• Experience in lumber, forest products, building materials, wholesale sales, purchasing, account management, or a closely related field preferred.
• College degree in business, marketing, forestry, wood products, supply chain, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience considered.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships, communicate effectively, negotiate, solve problems, and manage multiple priorities.
• Strong customer service orientation and ability to work effectively with customers, suppliers, and internal business partners.
• Analytical ability and business judgment needed to evaluate pricing, margin, inventory, credit, logistics, and market risk.
• Self-directed and accountable, with the initiative and follow-through to develop and manage a book of business.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel and the ability to learn relevant sales, inventory, ERP, and reporting systems.
• Ability to travel for customer, supplier, mill, and industry activities according to company requirements.

More About Us

Hampton Lumber is a fourth-generation, family-owned company headquartered in Portland, Oregon that has grown to become one of the nation’s largest privately held forest products companies. With over 80 years in the sawmill business, Hampton operates sawmills in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia and markets wood products all over the world. We also manage a wholesale and lumber export division and numerous reload and re-manufacturing facilities throughout the U.S. All of Hampton’s forestlands are certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), an independent, non-profit organization that promotes sustainable forest management. SFI certified forests play an important role in water conservation, wildlife habitat, and climate solutions. 

Community is important to us, and we encourage and support our employees’ desire to be active in the community through volunteering and special projects. We passionately support youth education, career and technical education, the arts, diversity and inclusion, affordable housing, and anti-poverty programs. We are also proud sponsors of the Portland Timbers and the Portland Thorns soccer clubs. Go Timbers! Go Thorns!

Learn more at hamptonlumber.com, or follow us on Facebook: @HamptonLumber.  You can also learn about our company and our priorities by visiting our blog.

EEO Statement

Hampton Lumber is an equal opportunity employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other status protected by law. 

Disability accommodation available: If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Office for the location that you are applying.

Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see these government posters: EEO is the Law and its accompanying temporary supplement.