Monarch Water are a key part of the Culligan family, sitting in the Household vertical, and known for their expertise in water softening, treatment and filtration. Based inDiss in Norfolk, the team has built a strong reputation for designing and manufacturing high-quality water softeners, filters, and drinking water solutions for both domestic and commercial use.
Monarch is one of the UK's leading manufacturers and suppliers of water softeners and filtration products.
Their products are sold through a wide network of independent plumbing merchants, wholesalers, and retailers, as well as being trusted by installation professionals up and down the country. The focus is on quality, performance, and keeping things simple for customers, supported by industry leading field service and customer support.
As Managing Director at Monarch you will play a pivotal role in steering both strategic and operational initiatives to drive profitable growth in the UK & Ireland water softener market. This role will primarily concentrate on indirect distribution channels, engaging with plumbers' merchants (both national and independent), wholesalers, and retailers. You will take ownership of the P&L, craft the go-to-market strategy, enhance partnerships with third-party distributors, cultivate installer advocacy, and maintain operational excellence across supply, quality, and service.
Essential Responsibilities & Focus Areas Strategy & P&L Ownership
- Own full P&L: revenue growth, gross margin, EBITDA, cash (working capital), and capital allocation.
- Define a 3 year strategy: category growth, pricing/pack architecture, portfolio positioning (good/better/best), and channel segmentation (national merchants, buying groups, regionals, independents, online).
- Set annual operating plan (AOP) with clear channel, brand, and product line targets.
- Design and implement the Strategic Deployment Process plan for Monarch ensuring that the strategy is executed consistently, cross functionally, and measurably, turning high level intentions into real, delivered results.
Channel & Customer Leadership
- Lead national account strategy with top merchants and buying groups; negotiate joint business plans, trading terms, rebates, display investments, and data-sharing.
- Expand distribution: drive numeric and weighted distribution, new branch activation, and in aisle presence.
- Manage sell in and sell through: align demand planning, promotions, and merchandising to protect branch-level stock turns.
- Oversee category management at merchant level: shelf plans, category resets, range rationalisation, pricing ladders.
Installer & End-User Demand Generation
- Build a plumber advocacy engine: training, certified installer programs, loyalty schemes, van signage kits, and referral incentives.
- Trade marketing: in branch POS, counter days, roadshows, toolbox talks, and merchant staff incentives.
- Target end user pull: homeowner education (limescale/efficiency benefits), lead-generation partnerships.
Commercial Excellence
- Develop pricing governance: RRP policy, margin waterfalls, promotional calendar, and recovery of inflation through the chain.
- Establish key account planning, opportunity pipelines, and forecast accuracy (bottom up by chain/region).
- Monitor and optimise rebate structures to drive profitable mix and adherence to JBPs.
Operations, Supply & Quality
- Ensure OTIF target across key merchants; align S&OP with seasonal trends and promotions.
- Oversee supplier reliability, component quality, warranty performance (RMA, returns, failure modes).
- Drive cost-to-serve efficiency: freight, pick/pack, branch delivery performance, minimum order quantities, and refurb/repair loops.
Product & Compliance
- Shape the product roadmap: UK specific features, installer-friendly design, compact footprints, packaging optimised for aisles, and SKU simplicity.
- Lead sustainability improvements: salt/energy consumption, recycled packaging, and takeback.
Customer Service & Technical Support
- Maintain market-leading tech support and warranty processes, with responsive escalation for merchants and installers.
- Insight-to-action: convert failure data and NPS feedback into training, product fixes, and FAQ materials.
Qualifications
- Extensive leadership experience and large project management.
- Pragmatic leadership style focused on execution, leading through Accountability & Performance
- Cultivates a customer obsessed culture delivering a high quality seamless customer experience
- Experience in scaling teams and improving delivery outcomes.
- Effective communicator at Executive and Board levels.
- Demonstrates high standards of Ethical Conduct, Integrity & Transparency
- Strong work ethic with a proactive mindset and sense of ownership.
- Commitment to continuous learning and developing talent.
- Success in managing a £10million plus revenue business with full P&L responsibility
- Operational excellence with clear communication and cultural stewardship.
Benefits
- Competitive base salary aligned to market plus bonus
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays
- Private Healthcare Plan
- Life Assurance
- Car Allowance
- Part of the Culligan Group, opportunities for international travel, professional development, and engagement with global leaders.
- Culligan employee discounts and staff incentives