Quotations Specialist

About the role

Be part of a growing, successful company in an exciting and challenging field. Border States is 100% employee-owned, which means you’re empowered to make decisions, find solutions and receive rewards for your hard work.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Performs takeoffs of bids and pricing functions that could include products such as switchboards, panelboards, transformers, safety switches, motor control centers, variable frequency drives, switchgear, duct systems, and specialty equipment or products such as fixtures, lighting, lamps, and dimming systems.
• Utilizes knowledge and experience to make judgment and discretionary decisions within established pricing guidelines, margin targets, and approval authority to determine what product specifications, applications, and pricing are necessary for a specific project.
• Independently completes and supports the quotation process for each assigned project.
• Provides customers with timely follows-up on specialized or technical inquiries and requests.
• Develops quotations and requests bids for customers within company profit objectives and guidelines, including coordinating vendor pricing, lead times, alternates, and compliance with project specifications.
• Provides consistent, responsive, quality service to our customers.
• Actively participates in coordinating, analyzing, and acting upon information and feedback of customer needs, pricing, products, competition, and procedures.
• Coordinates with Border States staff to resolve customer billing issues resulting from errors in the quotations process, pricing, shipping, delivery, or other customer service/credit areas.
• Maintains an active log of wins/losses for project bids that includes vendors and contractors quoted.
• Identifies and recommends value engineering, alternate product, and expedited ship options to improve competitiveness and to meet project requirements.
• Evaluates bid scope, technical requirements, and commercial risk and escalates deviations from standards or unusual conditions as appropriate.

Non-Essential Functions

• Provides input and market intelligence, as required.
• May place orders and hold orders on secured projects, prepare submittal drawings, and release hold orders after submittal approval.
• May obtain orders and provide sales support for the Border States outside sales force.
• May provide guidance or input in purchasing functions, product evaluations and code descriptions, inventory management, pricing development, and other related services.
• Attends sales meetings and training programs, as required.
• Participates in sales meetings and trade shows, as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum of a business or trade degree preferred or the equivalent in work experience.
• Minimum of 4 years of prior customer service, quotation, or sales experience with strong knowledge of electrical products and systems preferred.
• Comprehensive knowledge of product lines and applications, alternate product substitutes, and supplier pricing policies preferred.
• Ability to read, write, and speak in English preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of PC for Windows, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint), internet, email, and SAP software preferred.
• Prior experience working in switchgear manufacturer quotations software (i.e. Eaton BidManager) may be preferred.

Skills

• Strong technical ability to understand electrical systems and product applications with prior electrical distribution experience preferred.
• Technical ability to read blueprints and specifications.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication, reading, and customer service skills are preferred with the ability to effectively plan and organize.
• Excellent customer service skills include being competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged.

Physical Requirements

• Lift from Waist: Less than 10 lbs – Not at all; 10 to 25 lbs – Not at all; 26 to 50 lbs – Not at all; 51 to 75 lbs – Not at all; 75 to 100 lbs – Not at all; 100+ lbs – Not at all
• Lift from Floor: Less than 10 lbs – Frequently; 10 to 25 lbs – Frequently; 26 to 50 lbs – Occasionally; 51 to 75 lbs – Not at all; 75 to 100 lbs – Not at all; 100+ lbs – Not at all
• Carried for Distance: Less than 10 lbs – Not at all; 10 to 25 lbs – Not at all; 26 to 50 lbs – Not at all; 51 to 75 lbs – Not at all; 75 to 100 lbs – Not at all; 100+ lbs – Not at all
• Physical Activity Frequency:
  • Sitting – Continuously
  • Standing – Frequently
  • Walking – Frequently
  • Bending/stooping – Occasionally
  • Climbing/Walking Stairs – Frequently
  • Reaching – Frequently
  • Crouching/squatting – Occasionally
  • Kneeling – Occasionally
  • Balancing – Occasionally
  • Repetitive motion – Continuously
  • Pivoting – Occasionally
  • Pushing/Pulling – Occasionally
  • Grasping – Continuously
  • Fingering – Continuously
  • Talking – Continuously
  • Driving – Occasionally
  • Desk work – Continuously
  • Use of a computer – Continuously
  • Use of a telephone – Continuously
  • Hearing – Continuously
• Exposure: Occasionally to adverse weather & temperature conditions
• Travel: Occasionally

Pay

The pay range for this position is $66,400 per year to $95,000 per year, depending on experience.

Benefits

• 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
• Bonuses to employee-owners upon the achievement of branch and company goals