Outside Sales - Customer Specialist - Merlo Energy

The Kendall Group; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Kendall Group, a distributed industrial supplier, seeks a Customer Specialist to develop distributor and end-user relationships, promote products, and meet sales targets across assigned territory. You will collaborate with internal teams to plan field activities and drive growth.

Key duties include generating profitable orders, creating sales strategies, and expanding the customer base while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• 3 years of sales experience.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Proficiency with MS Office (especially Excel); mechanical aptitude; knowledge of institutional systems and applications.
• Highly organized; detail-oriented.
• Ability to work cross-functionally; excellent customer service; strong presentation skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; strong negotiating and sales planning skills.
• Frequent sitting, driving; valid driver's license; willingness to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Generate profitable orders and meet or exceed annual sales targets
• Create and implement sales strategies for developing your assigned territory
• Establish trust between Merlo Energy, manufacturers, and customers
• Plan, organize, and execute field activities such as customer visits and surveys
• Monitor quotations and follow up to maximize sales
• Analyze unconverted quotations and recommend improvements
• Identify and expand new prospects to grow the customer base
• Stay aware of market activities and competitors
• Convert sales opportunities into orders
• Continually upgrade product knowledge and selling techniques

Skills

Sales experience

Interpersonal skills

Presentation skills

Customer service

Negotiation

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Bachelor's degree (preferred)

Tools

MS Office

Excel

Job description

About The Kendall Group

The Kendall Group is comprised of eight divisions with 75+ locations in ten states. Combined, we serve the Electrical, Automation, Pipe, Valve, and Fitting products, Steam, Lighting, Industrial Controls, and Instrumentation Industries. The Kendall Group is a 100% employee-owned company. Kendall offers a great opportunity for a rewarding career.

Why The Kendall Group?

Our employee ownership model is the core of who we are. You will not only own part of the company, but you will own your future. At Kendall, you'll have opportunities to learn and grow while being coached and mentored along the way. We're that company where people stay! We're proud to say more than 60% of our associates have more than 5 years of tenure, and more than 40% have greater than 10 years. At Kendall, you will be valued and supported, your ideas will be heard, your voice will matter, and you'll work alongside incredible people who care about your success.

Role Summary: Reporting to the Sales Manager, the Customer Specialist is a key member of the Merlo Sales team. The person in this role is responsible for establishing and nurturing relationships with distributors, engineers, and end users. This role involves promoting products or services, understanding client needs, and collaborating with internal teams to meet sales targets. Effective communication, market analysis, and strategic planning are crucial to drive business growth and ensure customer satisfaction.

Exciting work you will do:

The essential duties and responsibilities of the Customer Specialist position will consist of, but are not limited to, the following:

• Generate profitable orders and meet or exceed annual sales targets
• Create and implement sales strategies for developing your assigned territory
• Establish trust and confidence between Merlo Energy, manufacturers, and customers
• Plan, organize, and execute field activities such as customer visits and walk-about surveys to achieve maximum productivity
• Monitor all quotations and ensure professional follow-up to maximize sales
• Analyze unconverted quotations, understand reasons for loss, and recommend improvements
• Regularly review field activities and implement improvements to drive productivity and efficiency
• Search for new prospects to expand the customer base and identify new sales opportunities
• Develop a full understanding of your customer base and stay aware of market activities and competitors
• Identify and convert sales opportunities into orders
• Continually upgrade product knowledge and selling techniques through training and self-study
• Apply product knowledge by making technical proposals and demonstrating benefits to customers
• Perform other duties as assigned

Competencies you possess:

• Service Excellence
• Results & ; Action Oriented
• Accountability & ; Responsibility
• Understanding Others & ; Listening
• Teamwork & ; Collaboration
• Priority Setting
• Problem Solving
• Time Management

What you'll need:

• Experience: 3 years of sales experience
• Education: High School Diploma or equivalent
• Analytics/Computer Skills: Proficiency with MS Office (especially Excel); mechanical aptitude; technical knowledge of institutional systems and applications
• Organization Skills: Highly organized; detail-oriented
• Cross-functional Skills: Ability to work well cross-functionally; excellent customer service; strong presentation skills
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication; strong negotiating and sales planning skills
• Physical, Mental & ; Visual Skills: Frequent sitting, driving, and vehicle entry/exit; ability to see, sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear; ability to stand for 8 hours; ability to climb stairs and step ladders, bend, stoop, crouch, and kneel
• Physical Environment: Normal office environment with exposure to warehouse, fabrication settings, and moving equipment
• Travel: Willing to travel up to 25% with minimal overnight
• Driver's License: Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license

Qualifications we prefer but don't require:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or business

The Kendall Group is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, military status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.