Inside Sales Representative

LMK Recruiting Solutions; Illinois; On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

LMK Recruiting Solutions is seeking an Inside Sales Representative in the United States, Illinois. This role involves managing proposals and ensuring technical documentation is interpreted accurately, while closely collaborating with Business Development Managers and distributor partners.

The ideal candidate should have at least 3 years of experience in inside sales within a technical manufacturing environment and possess exceptional communication skills. Strong familiarity with ERP systems and CRM platforms is essential.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in inside sales, customer service, or applications support within industrial environments.
• Proven ability to read and interpret technical documentation.
• Strong experience in building quotes and managing sales pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Build accurate, timely proposals and manage quotations.
• Provide technical support by reviewing customer specifications.
• Conduct follow-ups on outstanding proposals and coordinate order processing.

Skills

Inside sales experience

Customer service skills

Technical documentation interpretation

Exceptional communication skills

Experience with ERP/order management software

Education

Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Technology, Business, or related field

Tools

CRM platform

ERP systems

Job description

We are seeking an Inside Sales Representative (ISR) to serve as the operational backbone of our commercial organization. This role sits at the intersection of customer service, technical support, and commercial execution. You will work in close coordination with outside Business Development Managers (BDMs), distributors, and internal technical and operations teams to convert field activity into documented, closeable revenue.

This is a commercially engaged, technically aware role requiring the ability to interpret technical specifications, build accurate proposals, and maintain momentum across our product pipeline.

Core Responsibilities

• Proposal & Quotation Management: Build accurate, timely proposals from customer specification sheets, drawings, and RFQ documentation. Identify alternative or complementary configurations to expand project scope.
• Technical Support: Review and interpret customer spec sheets, P&IDs, and technical data sheets to confirm product suitability across industrial instrumentation, sensing, and software categories.
• Pipeline & Follow-Up: Conduct disciplined follow-up on outstanding proposals. Partner with BDMs to advance quotes toward close and accurately maintain opportunity statuses in the CRM.
• Order Entry & Processing: Enter orders into our ERP system with a zero-defect mindset, capturing precise product configurations, pricing, and shipping schedules. Coordinate lead times and exceptions with Supply Chain and Operations.
• Distributor & Field Support: Serve as the primary inside contact for distributor partners. Provide pre-call preparation and seamless commercial backup for the outside sales team while they are traveling.
• Data Integrity: Maintain flawless, current records in the CRM for all open quotes, proposals, and customer interactions to ensure reliable pipeline forecasting.

Key Measures of Success

• Quote turnaround times within defined SLAs.
• High order entry accuracy and proposal-to-order conversion rates.
• CRM data integrity (no stale opportunities or ghost quotes).
• Distributor and field sales team satisfaction.

Qualifications

Required

• Experience: 3+ years of inside sales, customer service, or applications support experience within an industrial, instrumentation, or technical manufacturing environment.
• Technical Skills: Proven ability to read and interpret technical documentation, including spec sheets, data sheets, and basic P&IDs.
• System Proficiency: Strong experience building quotes within ERP/order management software and managing sales pipelines within a CRM platform.
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; highly responsive with a natural sense of urgency.

Preferred

• Familiarity with tank gauging, industrial instrumentation, process equipment, or inventory management software.
• Experience supporting distributor networks and channel partner relationships.
• Experience collaborating with an outside "hunter/farmer" field sales team.
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Technology, Business, or a related field.