Project Support Specialist

About the role

This position will be located in Phoenix, AZ All Border States locations. Applications will only be accepted while the posting remains active.

Responsibilities

• Reviews and validates bills of material (BOMs), drawings, and specifications for accuracy prior handoff.
• Conducts basic material takeoffs for assigned scopes and helps identify material gaps, alternates, and technical solutions.
• Assists in preparing quotations, coordinating vendor pricing, and documenting competitive alternatives.
• Prepares customer-facing documentation including project status updates, delivery schedules, and technical submittal packages.
• Participates in customer and vendor meetings; may lead small portions of the discussion related to documentation, schedules, or open items.
• Proactively identifies customer concerns, schedule issues, or material risks and escalates them appropriately.
• Manages detailed project documentation including schedules, order logs, meeting notes, submittal tracking, RFIs, and change coordination.
• Maintains project workflow for delays, discrepancies, or risks and recommends corrective action to PMs or Account Managers.
• Collaborates with Project Coordinators, purchasing, logistics, and vendors to ensure alignment on material needs and timelines.
• Supports portions of project budget tracking or margin verification as directed by Project Managers or Account Managers (without independent ownership).
• Provides technical support to internal teams regarding product selection, specification alignment, and substitution options.
• Provides temporary project coverage during staff absences ensuring continuity of communication and documentation.
• Participates in process improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a business or trade degree preferred or the equivalent in work experience.
• 2+ years of prior customer service, quotation, or sales experience.
• Strong knowledge of electrical products and utility systems, preferred.
• Comprehensive knowledge of product lines and applications, alternate product substitutes, and supplier pricing policies, preferred.
• Proficiency in quoting software, preferred.
• Requires the ability to read, write and speak in English.
• Prefer strong working knowledge of PC for Windows, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word and PowerPoint), internet, email, and SAP software.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong technical ability to understand electrical systems and product applications with prior electrical distribution experience, preferred.
• Technical ability to read specifications and drawings is highly preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication, reading, and customer service skills.
• Ability to effectively plan and organize and work well on a team.
• Demonstrated initiative, attention to detail, and willingness to escalate risk appropriately.
• Possesses a customer service mindset: competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged.

Physical Requirements

• Lift and carry requirements (weight and frequency): occasionally 0-33%, frequently 34-66%, continuously 67-100%.
• Sitting: not at all.
• Standing: frequently.
• Walking: continuously.
• Bending/Stooping: not at all.
• Crawling: not at all.
• Climbing/Walking Stairs: occasionally.
• Reaching: occasionally.
• Crouching/Squatting: occasionally.
• Balancing: frequently.
• Repetitive Motion: occasionally.
• Trunk Rotation: not at all.
• Pushing/Pulling: occasionally.
• Handling: frequently.
• Fingering: occasionally.
• Talking: continuously.
• Driving: not at all.
• Desk Work: continuously.
• Use of tools: frequently.
• Hearing: continuously.
• Exposure: frequently.
• Travel: not at all.

Our History

Border States is a leader in the electrical supply distribution industry with approximately 130 locations in 31 states. Our employee-owners are second to none in delivering top-notch customer service and in demonstrating extraordinary people skills. We are one of the largest independent electrical distributors in the United States providing products and services to the construction, industrial and utility industries. Border States has a competitive benefit package and is a 100 percent employee-owned company. Employee-ownership is a significant part of our culture and our success stems from the dedication of our employee-owners. We practice open-book management and our employee-owners are empowered with clearly defined levels of authority to be innovative and decisive, allowing us to respond quickly to the needs of customers. Employee-owners understand their roles in the success of the company and care about customers' needs, which drives our focus on adding value to everything we do. We recognize that not all customers are the same and each has specific requirements. Our employee-owners understand these diverse needs and have the commitment, resourcefulness, and flexibility to outperform all others.

Values

As a Border States employee-owner, you’re responsible for living our mission, service philosophy, and service standards.

Our Purpose

We believe unstoppable businesses shouldn't go it alone. We are owners - of relationships, of outcomes, of every moment these unstoppable businesses need to deliver.

Service Philosophy

We earn customer loyalty and confidence by caring about their needs and adding value to everything we do.

Service Standards

Border States employee-owners are competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged.

Your career

Join an experienced team at one of the largest electrical distributors in the United States. What are you waiting for?

Border States has a competitive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
• Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity
• FSA & HSA
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Disability Benefits
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Volunteer Time
• Personal Leave time and more!

Border States provides bonuses to their employee-owners upon the achievement of branch and company goals.

Equal Opportunity For All

It's not just the law. It's something we've believed in since our founding. We value the diversity of all of our employee-owners and will always be an equal opportunity employer.

Drug Free/Smoke Free workplace

Employment may be contingent on the offered candidate successfully passing one or more of the following pre-employment screenings:

• Criminal background check (required for all positions)
• Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check (required for positions involving driving)
• Drug testing