Area Sales Manager - Champaign & Danville, IL

About the role

At Echo Electric, a brand owned by Sonepar, we are a leader in electrical distribution. Echo Electric represents over $1.2 billion in sales covering Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Nebraska, and Southern South Dakota. As part of Sonepar, the worldwide leader in electrical distribution, we have a global reach that allows us to offer excellent benefits and develop innovative solutions, while maintaining our strong local roots and close-knit culture. We empower our associates to contribute to our success by adopting the adapt, dare, learn mindset—adapt to new situations and people, dare to appropriately challenge the status quo, and learn from others and our own experiences. Our 6 legacy brands known as Echo Electric Supply, Holt, PEPCO, Richards, Shaw Supply, and Springfield Electric have become one brand moving forward with a shared culture, strategy, and vision. We are now going to the market under one bold new brand, Echo Electric.

We are looking for the next leader of our Champaign & Danville, IL Branches! As a Branch Manager, you will focus on sales & territory management and developing strategic & tactical plans to achieve optimum efficiency, economy of operations, and maximization of profits. To achieve this, you will direct, coordinate, and/or delegate functions such as sales, logistics and administrative activities of the branches. You will also manage sales, profitability, customer service levels, inventory turns and other metrics to achieve the desired branch results. The candidate can work primarily from either branch location but will need to make weekly trips to the other location for oversight. Compensation: In addition to an annual salary, this position is eligible for an incentive plan.

Responsibilities

• Manage branch performance to assure alignment with all policies, practices and culture of the organization
• Oversee preparation of branch budget for Champaign and Danville, and monitor actual performance to ensure that the branch achieves objectives
• Develop and maintain business relationships with current and potential customers and suppliers
• Monitor competitive conditions in the territory, and build relationships to gain market share in new areas in the industrial and contractor market
• Oversee branch inventory status (e.g. cycle counts with RF system), including daily reconciliation of discrepancies and adjustments
• Interact regularly with customers to drive customer service and achieve sales goals through addressing, mediating, and resolving customer concerns, complaints, and issues
• Support initial and ongoing training and qualifications of all branch employees
• Conduct performance evaluations and address branch personnel issues
• Interview and hire applicants for branch positions
• Report accidents in a timely manner & conduct the appropriate accident investigation process and follow up with associate in accordance with guidance provided by the Safety and HR team

Requirements

• 5 years of experience in business, sales or operations management including the application of management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, sales forecasting, and coordination of people and resources. Experience in the electrical distribution industry is desired.
• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Management, Sales and Marketing or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and job experience as determined by the company.
• Demonstrated customer and vendor relationship building and maintenance skills.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, associates, or regulatory agencies.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret financial reports, general business documents, legal documents or governmental regulations and implement a plan to enhance business and course correct as needed.
• Demonstrated ability to lead people, coach to get results through others and motivate and develop talent.
• Ability to effectively communicate, orally and in writing, and present information to top management, customers, vendors, associates and the general public.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions to solve practical problems where only limited information and standardization exists.
• Conflict management and diffusion skills to foster a solution-oriented environment that does not take matters personal.
• Demonstrated time management and organization skills, including the ability to plan and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds with or without accommodation.
• Characteristic of passion for learning electrical products and their applications, as well as learning the electrical distribution industry.
• Travel will be required on occasion; valid driver’s license required with insured vehicle for mileage reimbursement.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance plus employer paid short term and long-term disability and life insurance
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• 401K match
• Profit Sharing
• Tuition reimbursement and employee development
• Annual Safety Shoe Reimbursement
• Employee Discount on products
• Access to a variety of trainings for personal development

About the company

We’re the world’s number one distributor of electrical products, solutions and related services. Echo Electric is owned by Sonepar, a global company with over 500 locations nationwide. Whether you grow at one of our local Opcos or at one in another region, we want you to grow with us! All associates are regularly trained and we value promoting from within when possible.