Automation Product Specialist

About the Role

The Automation Product Specialist is responsible for assisting outside sales to drive sales of automation products and solutions to customers. This role involves understanding product features and benefits, providing technical support, and building strong customer relationships to identify and meet their needs.

Responsibilities

• Meet or exceed sales goals of assigned technology offerings.
• Lead and support sales efforts with key targets, customers, and opportunities in the assigned product area or region.
• Provide technical support for internal and external customers via on-site visits, phone, and email, including troubleshooting, product selection, and accessing technical documentation.
• Establish and maintain relationships with sales teams and customers to understand sales potential.
• Collaborate with sales to develop joint strategies and activities.
• Provide expert knowledge to sales and branch teams to facilitate quoting, order entry, and order expediting.
• Create and present technical and commercial training for internal and external customers.
• Demonstrate products to customers and develop personal technical expertise.
• Prepare and deliver quotations, proposals, or estimates of prices, scope of work, terms, and delivery.
• Work with prospective customers to move projects through the sales cycle to conclusion.
• Prepare for sales calls and customer events.
• Work with purchasing to manage inventory of high-tech products and identify potential obsolescence issues.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in the electrical distribution industry or a related field.
• Valid driver’s license.
• High school diploma or GED (required); Bachelor’s degree (preferred).

Skills

• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, specifically with Excel, Outlook, and Word.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, blueprints, and governmental regulations.
• Strong written communication skills for reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Effective presentation skills for small groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including tact, courtesy, and a positive attitude toward customers and coworkers.
• Ability to develop and present specialized instruction on high-tech equipment.

Physical Demands

• Sit: Frequently (21% to 50% of the time).
• Walk: Frequently (21% to 50% of the time).
• Use hands to finger, handle, or feel: Constantly (at least 51% of the time).
• Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl: Occasionally (up to 20% of the time).
• Climb or balance: Occasionally (up to 20% of the time).
• Talk, hear, taste, smell: Constantly (at least 51% of the time).
• Lift up to 10 pounds: Occasionally (up to 20% of the time).

Working Environment

• Exposure to unpleasant or disagreeable physical environments, such as high noise levels or extreme temperatures: Occasionally (up to 20% of the time).
• Travel to offsite locations: Frequently (21% to 50% of the time).

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• 401K with employer match.
• Paid vacation and sick time.
• Paid company holidays plus flexible personal days per year.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Health and wellness programs.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA).
• Commuter transit benefits.
• Optional insurance (e.g., pet insurance, legal assistance, critical illness, home and auto insurance).
• Employee discount programs.
• Professional training and development programs.
• Career advancement opportunities (promotion from within).