Outside Sales Account Manager - Industrial Automation Solutions

SunSource Company; Lancaster (Lancaster County); On-site; USD 60,000 - 98,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Technical and professional training

Job summary

Applied Controls, a SunSource company, seeks an Automation Outside Sales Account Manager to grow business across Scranton, Williamsport, and Harrisburg, PA. You will partner with OEMs and manufacturers to deliver automation solutions that enhance productivity and safety.

This field-based role focuses on consultative selling, territory planning, and close collaboration with product specialists to provide value-added automation offerings. Expect extensive travel and customer visits daily.

Qualifications

• Three or more years of outside sales experience in industrial automation or related fields.
• Proven ability to develop customer relationships and expand sales territories.
• Strong consultative selling, negotiation, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to travel extensively within the assigned territory.

Responsibilities

• Grow sales and profitability within the assigned territory by expanding existing accounts and identifying new opportunities.
• Build strong customer relationships as a trusted advisor for automation products and services.
• Achieve or exceed sales and gross profit objectives through consultative selling and territory management.
• Conduct regular account reviews and gap analyses to identify expansion opportunities.
• Collaborate with Automation Product Specialists, Inside Sales, and supplier partners to develop solutions.
• Promote engineering services, systems integration, and training events to enhance customer success.
• Develop and execute territory sales plans with awareness of competitors and market trends.
• Respond promptly to inquiries and maintain accurate pipeline and forecasting in the CRM.
• Participate in ongoing sales/technical training to maintain knowledge.
• Travel throughout the territory to visit customers and strengthen relationships.

Skills

Outside sales

Account management

Consultative selling

Negotiation

Relationship building

CRM software

Microsoft Office

Travel readiness

Communication skills

Product knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Industrial Technology, or related field

High school diploma or GED

Tools

CRM software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Applied Controls, a SunSource company, is a high-tech automation distributor and solutions provider. We educate and support local manufacturers in implementing emerging technologies to reduce costs, increase productivity and improve safety. Our offerings range from industrial computers and software, Robotics, Machine Vision, and Motion Control. Our goal is to increase productivity to keep manufacturing in America successful and prosperous. www.appliedc.com

We are seeking an Automation Outside Sales Account Manager to grow and develop business throughout the Scranton, Williamsport, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania territory. In this consultative sales role, you will partner with OEMs, manufacturers, and industrial customers to deliver innovative automation solutions that improve productivity, efficiency, reliability, and safety.

This position is ideal for a motivated sales professional who enjoys developing long-term customer relationships, identifying new business opportunities, and collaborating with technical specialists and leading automation manufacturers to deliver value‑added solutions. If you thrive in a customer‑facing environment and enjoy solving real‑world manufacturing challenges, we'd like to hear from you.

Essential Functions

• Grow sales and profitability within an assigned territory by developing existing accounts and identifying new business opportunities.
• Build strong customer relationships and serve as a trusted advisor by recommending industrial automation products, engineered solutions, and value‑added services.
• Achieve or exceed established sales and gross profit objectives through consultative selling and effective territory management.
• Conduct regular account reviews and gap analyses to identify opportunities for expanding product offerings.
• Collaborate with Automation Product Specialists, Inside Sales, and supplier partners to develop solutions, support customer applications, and close business.
• Promote engineering services, systems integration, customer training events, and other value‑added solutions that enhance customer success.
• Develop and execute territory sales plans while maintaining awareness of competitive products, market trends, and assigned account responsibilities.
• Respond promptly to customer inquiries and sales opportunities while maintaining accurate customer activity, pipeline, and forecasting information in the CRM system.
• Participate in ongoing sales, technical, and manufacturer training to maintain product knowledge and consultative selling expertise.
• Travel throughout the assigned territory to conduct customer visits, identify opportunities, and strengthen long‑term business relationships.

Experience, Education and Skills

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Industrial Technology, or a related field preferred.
• Three (3) or more years of outside sales experience, preferably selling industrial automation, controls, motion control, electrical, or industrial solutions.
• Demonstrated success developing customer relationships and growing industrial sales territories.
• Working knowledge of industrial automation products and their manufacturing applications.
• Strong consultative selling, negotiation, presentation, and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to understand customer applications and recommend value‑added automation solutions by leveraging internal technical resources.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams) and CRM software.
• Experience maintaining customer activity and opportunity records within a CRM system.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Self‑motivated with strong organizational and time management abilities.
• Valid driver's license with the ability to travel extensively throughout the assigned territory.
• This is a field‑based outside sales position requiring regular travel throughout the assigned territory. Customer visits are expected daily, and a vehicle allowance is provided.
• While visiting customer manufacturing facilities, occasional exposure to heat, dust, noise, fumes, and other industrial environments may occur. Exposure is generally limited to the time necessary to conduct customer meetings, site walks, and application evaluations.

Why Join Us?

Join a team that helps improve productivity through innovative industrial automation solutions. You'll have the support of experienced application engineers, leading automation manufacturers, and a collaborative sales organization committed to your success. We offer:

• Competitive base salary plus incentive compensation
• Car allowance
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Ongoing technical and professional sales training
• Career advancement opportunities within a growing industrial distribution and automation organization

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. If you are an individual with a disability and require an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact [e-mail] to request reasonable accommodation. Only requests for accommodation in the application process will be returned from this email address. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here, aquí). Sun-Source | Privacy Policy#appliedcontrolsassc