Inside Sales Rep

Optical Cable Corporation; Roanoke (VA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Optical Cable Corporation in Roanoke, VA is seeking a Sales Support professional to proactively service customer needs, pursue leads, and support the outside sales force to maximize sales and loyalty.

You will manage quotes, process orders, follow up on status, and work with marketing and engineering to tailor solutions. Strong communication and CRM skills are essential; on-site, full-time role with standard business hours.

Qualifications

• Associates degree preferred with sales/customer service experience
• 1-2 years of experience; Bachelor's degree may substitute for 2 years
• Familiarity with CRM tools used for sales
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Responsibilities

• Proactively find new sales opportunities and manage current opportunities in a region.
• Process orders, provide quotes, and follow up on orders.
• Increase quote close ratio by following up on outstanding quotes.
• Coordinate with outside sales, business development, and marketing to win projects.
• Respond to customer inquiries about product capabilities and provide differentiating features.
• Maintain timely price quotations for existing and new customers.

Skills

Communication

Customer service

Team collaboration

Time management

Education

Associates degree preferred

Bachelor's degree desirable

Tools

CRM software

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Basic Function:

Contributes to increased sales by proactively servicing customer and prospects' needs to maximize sales, service satisfaction, and loyalty; pursues prospective leads and supports the outside sales force to ensure best-in-class service.

Significant Responsibilities:

Performs specific job responsibilities:

• Proactively find new sales opportunities and manage current opportunities in a given region.
• Process orders, provide quotes, and conduct regular follow-ups on orders in a proactive, accurate, and efficient manner.
• Increase quote close ratio by effectively following up on outstanding quotes.
• Conduct needs analysis, and identify applications and appropriate solutions per project. Respond to customer inquiries about product capabilities and provide features and benefits that differentiate OCC from the competition.
• Work in a team environment; coordinate efforts with outside sales team, business development, and marketing to ensure projects are awarded to OCC; regularly and consistently follow up with all parties involved to ensure sales are closed and service provided.
• Appropriately handle customer concerns and issues by servicing the customer directly or by involving the proper channels for a satisfactory resolution.
• Provide timely price quotations for existing and new customers.
• Provide the sales team (outbound inside sales, outside sales force, and sales engineers) with necessary information for effective customer proposals.
• Respond timely to customer inquiries regarding order/shipping status.

Promotes OCC's service excellence and quality. Provides excellent service to customers; builds strong relationships and team cohesiveness; focuses on quality and positive solutions; communicates respectfully; demonstrates compassion and understanding in response to customer request/needs.

Champions OCC's mission, vision and values (as detailed in our 15 Essential Points of Success); complies with policies and procedures, ethical standards and Code of Conduct.

Job Scope:

• Organizational Responsibility: Services customer inquiries, coordinates sales efforts with other team members; works in a team environment with minimal supervision
• Communication: Regular communications with customers, prospective customers, and other sales members; frequent communication with support staff such as Shipping, Finance, and Engineering
• Confidentiality: Confidentiality must be maintained as it relates to customer service and customer accounts
• Financial Responsibility: Will construct and provide quotations that impact profitability. Accuracy is critical.
• Judgment: Expected to use independent judgment and to seek assistance as directed; errors could directly impact the customer relationship and revenue
• Compliance: Responsible for complying with internal pricing guides and all applicable laws and regulations, including ISO and SOX
• Travel: Minimal or infrequent travel to customer sites or events in assigned region

Qualifications: Minimum Qualifications Required:

Education: Associates degree is preferred combined with an applicable field or equivalent and appropriate sales and customer service experience

Experience: 1-2 years of experience (Bachelor's degree desirable and may substitute for 2 years of experience)

Licensure, Certification and/or Registration: N/A

Other Minimum Qualifications

Demonstrated ability to:

• Intermediate skills in Microsoft software packages such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Use CRM (customer relationship management) tools effectively and proactively
• Present information verbally and in writing regarding features and benefits of technical product
• Communicate effectively when handling customer inquiries and issues verbally and in writing.
• Read and follow basic instructions, understand and implement quality procedures
• Pay close attention to detail with the ability to complete assignments accurately
• Recognize, record, and resolve customer issues
• Organize assignments, complete tasks and manage time appropriately

Essential Skills, Abilities & Knowledge

Upon completion of orientation, should be able to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the fiber optic cable, enterprise connectivity, and applied interconnect systems through interaction with prospects and customers.

Working Conditions

This is a partially sedentary job that requires sight sufficient for computer usage and hearing sufficient for extensive, direct, and/or telephone contact with customers, management, and employees. Responsibilities require an individual to be physically mobile to move around the facility. The nature of this position and the personal interactions involved require that an individual possess significant and persuasive interactive communication skills. 40+ hour on-site work week with on-call availability required. Sitting for extended periods, dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard and mouse, and to handle other computer components, occasional inspection of cables in floors and ceilings, lifting and transporting of moderately heavy objects such as computers and peripherals. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with a disability to perform the essential functions.

This role involves work contracted by the U.S. government and/or other federal agencies, which requires that all personnel involved in such work are U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents. Thus, a qualified candidate for this position must be able to present valid documentation indicating that they are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident.

Additional Compensation Information

The posted pay range reflects the established base salary or hourly wage range for this position. Individual compensation is determined based on qualifications, experience, skills, internal equity, and business needs. New hires are typically hired below the midpoint of the range. Eligible positions may receive applicable shift differentials, skill premiums, or other forms of additional compensation.

Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
40 hours / week