Specialty Gas Sales Specialist

Location: San Jose, CA - Hobson - Filling industrial; Concord, CA - Retail shop; Fremont, CA - Enterprise St - Retail shop; Oakland, CA - Retail shop

About the role

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces the unique perspectives of our employees, our customers, patients, community stakeholders, and cultures across the world. We believe that a variety of backgrounds makes our team stronger and more innovative.

The Specialty Gases Sales Specialist is dedicated to advancing the growth of Specialty Gas Products to existing and prospective customers. Through both direct outreach and in collaboration with area account managers, the Specialist is empowered to champion product management, market growth, and development to fulfill business and sales goals within the regional community. This is an outside sales position.

Responsibilities

• Advance specialty gas sales within the regional community by identifying key growth markets including Life Science, Energy and Chemical, Semiconductor, Research Laboratories, Manufacturing, EV Lithium Battery and PV solar manufacturing, Food and Beverage, and related products.
• Develop and execute strategies to realize growth opportunities.
• Support account managers to expand specialty gas sales within their assigned portfolios.
• Nurture collaborative partnerships with Account Managers, District Managers, and other Specialists in the region.
• Provide customers with technical support, engineering guidance, training, and service for all their specialty gas needs.
• Establish a process for continuous and accurate market data collection for customer sales and service needs, market trends, and competitor activities.
• Utilize sales and marketing literature to promote Airgas initiatives identified as part of the region’s growth strategy.
• Continuously grow your consultative approach and technical/product knowledge through learning opportunities, team insights, and self-guided research.
• Use Salesforce and Google Suite daily; generate and execute customer contracts.
• Read and respond to email and phone calls in a timely manner.
• Handle special projects and other duties as necessary.
• Support various tasks within your qualifications, even if not specifically described.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biology, Science, Food Science, Engineering, Technology, or a related field required. In lieu of a degree, up to 4 years of additional related experience may be accepted.
• Knowledge of customer segmentation and ability to prioritize targeting customers delivering the highest value to Airgas.
• Experience with a consultative sales approach, providing multiple layers of value to establish a mix of sales solutions and products.
• Strong understanding and application of customer business needs, current macro- and microeconomic trends, industry trends, and potential new business opportunities.
• Excellent organizational, written, and oral communication, listening, and presentation skills.
• Strong PC skills (e.g., Windows, Word, Excel, email) with the ability to acclimate to PC-based order entry systems, handheld devices, scanning, and wireless devices.
• Resourceful and proactive; ability to drive work forward both independently and with a team.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and planning skills.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with variables in situations with limited standardization.
• Reliable transportation, current driver’s license, and minimum liability insurance as required by the state of vehicle registration.

Qualifications

• Ideally, 5 years of prior outside business-to-business sales experience, including background or demonstrated success in solution-selling concepts.
• Familiarity with industrial and specialty gases, industrial gas/welding supply sales is a plus.
• Working knowledge of SAP is a plus.
• Preferred 5 years of relevant experience in Life Sciences, Energy and Chemical markets, Research Laboratories, Manufacturing, or Food and Beverage, ideally paired with prior outside business-to-business sales experience.
• A demonstrated history of managing customers throughout a defined sales territory with industry experience required; industrial sales experience preferred.
• A strong understanding of medical, specialty, or food-grade gas products and processes is preferred.

Benefits

• Comprehensive family benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, and Disability Insurance.
• 14-week paid childbirth benefit to support growing families.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with company match.
• Tuition Assistance and discounted college tuition for eligible employees’ dependents.
• Airgas Scholarship Program for dependent children.
• Paid Holidays, Vacation, Sick time, Floating Holidays, Jury Duty, and Funeral/Bereavement leave.
• Benefits start after 30 days of employment.

Pay

Hiring range: $90,000 - $105,000 base with a 20% bonus plan (Total Compensation = $112,500 - $131,000) plus car allowance.

Schedule

Monday - Friday, Daytime hours.