Segment Director, Education

Overall Purpose of the Role

To serve as the company's foremost expert and growth driver for the K-12, Higher Education and Government market segments. This person owns the end-to-end strategy for how the company wins in education and government - from understanding how schools, universities and governments specify, fund, and purchase flooring; to shaping the product portfolio, segment/industry relationships, and go-to-market/selling approaches that drive segment revenue, profit and market share growth.

Core Responsibilities

1. Segment Insights & Strategy Development

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive view of the education and government market - enrollment trends, facility construction and renovation cycles, funding mechanisms (state/local/federal bonds/funding), and competitive landscape
• Define the company's positioning and value proposition specifically for facilities teams and the design/specification community serving them
• Define the company's "where to play" and "how to win" strategy and execution plan
• Set short and long-term segment revenue targets and growth roadmaps

2. Go-to-Market Leadership

• Develop the sales playbook ("How to sell") - how to navigate the buying process across facilities directors, purchasing departments, architects/specifiers, and cooperative purchasing vehicles
• Partner with national and regional sales teams to build segment expertise and pipeline
• Identify and develop strategic relationships with key education-focused architecture and design firms

3. Product & Portfolio

• Work with product development and marketing to ensure the portfolio meets segment specific needs - durability, acoustics, indoor air quality, budget tiers, and relevant sustainability certifications
• Champion education/government-relevant innovation performance properties, ease of maintenance, moisture protection, wear, etc.
• Provide voice-of-customer input from the segment back into the product roadmap

4. Industry Leadership

• Engage with relevant industry associations (A4LE, APPA, etc) to build brand presence and credibility
• Partner with marketing to develop segment-specific content, case studies, sales collateral, CEU courses for architects and specifiers, and trade show presence
• Position the company as a trusted advisor on flooring in learning environments - acoustics, design, safety, and wellness
• Represent the company at key education/government industry events and forums

5. Financial Performance & Reporting

• Steward the P&L for the education/government segments
• Track leading and lagging indicators
• Report segment performance to senior leadership and adjust strategy accordingly

Candidate Profile

Commercial and Segment Expertise

Preferred expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Commercial Flooring Experience - 10+ years in commercial flooring in a senior sales, segment, or business development role with demonstrable education and/or government segment experience. Have existing relationships within the industry segments
• Building Products Segment - Comes from an adjacent building products category (ceiling systems, furniture, lighting, etc.) where they led an education/government segment. Understands the education and government buying cycle deeply and can transfer that expertise to flooring.
• Education/Government Facilities / Procurement Leader - Broad expertise as an end user (facilities leadership, university projects, etc.), understanding the needs and buying cycles of new and renovation driven projects.
• Architecture/Design - Strong background in designing and specifying education/government projects with experience in end-to-end project management.

Experience & Background

• 10+ years total, with at least 5 years in a role with direct education and/or government segment responsibility
• Deep familiarity with public education/government procurement - cooperative purchasing vehicles, state bid schedules, and bond-funded capital projects
• Understanding of the specification process and the role of architects, interior designers, and owners' representatives in project delivery
• Familiarity with relevant certifications and standards - FloorScore, EPD, HPD, C2C, etc.

Skills & Competencies

Strategic Thinking

• Can synthesize market data, competitive intelligence, and customer insight into a clear, actionable segment strategy
• Thinks in multi-year horizons while staying grounded in near-term execution
• Comfortable making resource allocation recommendations and defending them to senior leadership

Commercial Acumen

• Understands margin dynamics in a specification-driven, project-based business
• Can build a business case, model a market opportunity, and translate it into a growth plan
• Experienced working with and through a dealer/distributor channel and selling direct

Relationship Building & Influence

• Builds trust-based relationships with architects, specifiers, facilities directors, and purchasing agents
• Can influence without authority - this role succeeds by rallying internal sales, marketing, and product teams around a segment agenda they don't directly control
• Comfortable presenting to C-suite internally and to senior customer stakeholders externally

Communication & Thought Leadership

• Strong presenter - equally effective at a national sales meeting, an education/government conference session, or a one-on-one with a facilities director
• Can develop and deliver CEU content credibly
• Writes and speaks with authority on education/government environment design, wellness, and performance

Education

• Bachelor's degree required, preferably in Business, Marketing, Architecture, Interior Design, or a related field
• Master's degree (MBA or relevant discipline) a plus, but not required if experience is strong

Travel requirements - 25%

What We Offer

• A commitment that Safety is #1

• Competitive benefits, pay, and retirement plan options!

• Career growth, stability, and flexible work arrangements.

Responsible Manufacturing - Protecting Our Planet for the Future

• We utilize renewable energy and a closed loop recycled water process.

• We are committed to reducing greenhouse emissions and water consumption.

• We are the only flooring company recognized by the Asthma and Allergy foundation.

Who we are:

With a history of more than 140 years, Tarkett is a worldwide leader in innovative and sustainable flooring and sport surface solutions, generating turnover of €3.3 billion in 2025. The Group has close to 12,000 employees, 25 R&D centers, 8 recycling centers and 33 production sites. Tarkett creates and manufactures solutions for hospitals, schools, housing, hotels, offices, stores and sports fields, serving customers in over 100 countries. To build "The Way to Better Floors," the Group is committed to circular economy and sustainability, in line with its Tarkett Human‐Conscious Design approach.

www.tarkett-group.com

Tarkett is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity in backgrounds and in experiences and promote an inclusive workplace where all employees can perform at their best.