Automations Specialist

Sonepar; Hot Springs (AR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Parental leave

401(k) with company match

Professional development programs

Shareholder opportunity

Job summary

Crawford Electric Supply in Arkansas seeks an Automation Specialist to drive growth in automation and software solutions, including programmable controllers and industrial networking. You will lead commercial programs, train staff, and collaborate with Rockwell and Crawford teams to create compelling customer solutions.

The role requires a strong technical background, proven selling skills, and the ability to develop account plans for the assigned territory. Travel within the region is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or equivalent.
• B+5 years' experience with Rockwell Automation or equivalent.
• Ability to write professional proposals from customer specs and follow processes.
• Strong English communication; additional languages desirable.
• Demonstrates professional selling skills and market awareness.

Responsibilities

• Articulate value of Rockwell Automation portfolio to customers.
• Lead portfolio offerings and drive growth in assigned geography.
• Input to annual planning, forecasting, and strategic growth initiatives.
• Lead commercial introductions of new products and services with defined targets.
• Provide technical training to distributor account managers for core products.
• Advise customers on proposals, pricing strategies, and configurations.
• Collaborate with Crawford Electric Support and Rockwell sales teams for solutions.

Skills

Professional selling

Technical writing

Presentations

English communication

Multilingual (Spanish desirable)

Data trend analysis

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Tools

Rockwell Automation portfolio

Job description

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There’s a Place for You at Crawford Electric Supply.

A career at Crawford Electric Supply is more than a job. You’re investing in a brighter, more sustainable future together and joining a team that makes a real difference for our customers. Crawford Electric Supply offers electrical products and services to contractors. If it helps bring electricity to an office, home, factory or other building – you can find it here. We operate throughout the southeast region of the United States, and are part of the Sonepar group, the world’s #1 electrical distributor with over 45,000 associates around the globe.

Being “Powered by Difference” means we respect and value diverse perspectives.Crawford Electric Supply we offer a supportive culture and great benefits, and as part of the larger Sonepar group, we can offer exciting opportunities to grow your career.

Position

Location

North/Central Arkansas

About Crawford

If you are looking for a company who is committed to building a relationship with you, who encourages having fun at work, who is powered by difference, and who is passionate about your future, it’s time to apply at Crawford Electric Supply. Known in the electrical distribution industry for being a great place to work and build a career, Crawford prides itself on being a business partner rather than just an electrical supplier to its customers. Every day, Crawford associates provide the best customer experience while at the same time offering the widest variety of electrical products on the market. For the past 30 years, Crawford has built a culture of growth, opportunity, innovative thinking, and stability for its employees by truly living up to the company motto of, “Whatever it Takes!” through our mindset competencies below:

Adapt: Effectively embrace new situation and people

Dare: Appropriately challenge the status quo

Learn: Learn from others, from mistakes, and self-improve

Job Summary

The Automation Specialist role is responsible for driving the business strategy to accelerate growth in Automation and Software-related businesses, including programmable controllers, I/O, safety, industrial computers, system network design, design software, operations software, and plant maintenance software. This position will provide technical, marketing, and commercial leadership for sales growth, be responsible for supporting the commercial plan for this business segment and take a lead role in developing a competency plan to ensure that support functions (inside/outside sales) are adequately prepared to maximize share gain for this business in the assigned territory.

Responsibilities

• The Automation Specialist must be able to articulate the value of Rockwell’s portfolio of Automation products and services and utilize outcome-based selling strategies at all customer levels.
• Serve as the key driver and business leader of their portfolio offerings
• Responsible for input to annual planning, forecasting, and driving the business strategy to accelerate business growth and sales performance in the assigned geography.
• Lead the commercial introduction of new products and services including:
  • Set business goals
  • Identify customer targets
  • Drive marketing efforts, and run Rockwell Automation commercial programs
  • Coordinating sales engagement
• Provide technical, application, and industry training to distributor account managers for core products.
• Consult and advise customers on proposals and pricing strategies.
• Guide customers on the proper installation and configuration of core products, modernizations, and conversion to upgraded technology.
• Collaborate with Crawford Electric Support and Rockwell Automation sales, specialists, and domain experts to sell core products.
• Provide pre-sale and post-sale support
• Understand market trends, business drivers, KPIs, and competing forces and translate them into customer solutions.
• Build and maintain trusted customer relationships, while understanding the different personas within the customer (e.g., buyer vs influencer) as well as their business drivers.
• Develop, create, and implement account and territory plans, campaigns, and commercial programs for new and existing business.
• Act as a trusted partner to the aligned Rockwell Automation Business Units (BUs), providing local market intelligence and constructive customer feedback.
• Interface with Rockwell’s Business Leaders and Technical Consultants to facilitate the resolution of quality and delivery issues when necessary and provide feedback to the appropriate Rockwell Specialist team relative to product or service gaps, as well as opportunities.
• Develop marketing and sales collateral on their products, services, and solutions relevant to their market for internal, partner, and customer use.
• Serve as a domain expert for this portfolio of products and services, maintaining and building technical and sales competency through both formal and informal training, as well as regular product updates and team meetings.
• Lead and support customer-facing technical events.
• Respond in a timely manner to customer and sales requests, including outside of normal business hours.
• Travel as required within assigned geography including overnight, and to training and other events nationally for up to two weeks annually.
• Acknowledge and maintain compliance with applicable Sonepar, Crawford Electric Support, and Rockwell Focused Vendor policies.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or equivalent combination skills, experience, or education.
• 5 years' experience with Rockwell Automation’s products and applications or equivalent experience with competitive products and solutions.
• Ability to create professional proposals from customer specifications, follow process and approval procedures.
• Good technical writing, presentation, and communications skills with the ability to present topics to groups of customers and internal peers in English. Ability to converse in additional languages, especially Spanish, would be very desirable.
• Ability to determine data trends and utilize the information in the decision-making process.
• Demonstrates professional selling skills, e.g., prospecting, negotiation techniques, preparing for professional meetings, handling customer objections, gaining committed customer relationships.
• Ability to identify and understand market trends and conditions, competitive forces, sales opportunities, and growth through strategic business planning.
• Willing to continuously learn and improve technical competency.

Preferred Qualifications

Sales experience with an understanding of the important business drivers (key factors and activities that drive the operational and financial results) for industrial customers.

Deep technical knowledge of programmable controllers, I/O, safety, industrial computers, system network design, design software, operations software, and plant maintenance software and able to articulate core product capabilities to customers in a way that is relevant to customer's industry and applications.

Note: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. Crawford is an equal opportunity employer

Crawford is a subsidiary of Sonepar USA.

What We Offer You

We offer great family-friendly benefits to full-time associates:

• Paid time off
• Paid parental leave
• 401(k) retirement savings with company match
• Professional and personal development programs
• Opportunity to become a shareholder
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability
• Employer-paid life insurance for spouse and dependents
• Robust wellness program
• Gym reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

We’re proud to be a military-friendly company, and our many employee resource groups (ERGs) help you make connections and feel supported.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Sonepar is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability unrelated to ability, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, genetic information, sexual orientation, order of protection status, protected veteran or military status, or an unfavorable discharge from military service, or any other categories protected by federal, state or local law.

Sonepar and our family of brands are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, we will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. Accordingly, if a reasonable accommodation is required to fully participate in the job application or interview process, to perform the essential functions of the position, and/or to receive all other benefits and privileges of employment, please call 843-745-2420 or email [e-mail] .

EEO is the Law

Applicants and employees are protected under Federal law from discrimination. To learn more, Click here .

Pay Transparency Non-Discrimination Provision

Sonepar follows Executive Order 11246, including the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision. To learn more, Click here .

LI-EV

Nearest Major Market: Little Rock

Nearest Secondary Market: Hot Springs