Product Specialist

Border States Industries, Inc.; Salina (KS); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee ownership (ESOP)

Competitive benefits

Job summary

Border States Industries, Inc. in Salina, KS is seeking a Product Specialist to promote sales, consult on product and system applications, and provide valued customer support.

You will collaborate with sales staff, follow up on quotations and technical inquiries, and participate in marketing plans to drive growth and service quality for our customers. The role requires strong product knowledge, experience in electrical distribution, and proficiency with SAP and Microsoft Office.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4-year technical or engineering degree or equivalent work experience.
• 4+ years in customer service, marketing, quotation or sales preferred.
• 3+ years of electrical distribution and quotations experience preferred with product knowledge.
• Knowledge of electrical and hi-tech industrial products and applications.
• Strong PC skills including Excel, Word, Access and PowerPoint; SAP proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Promotes sales, secures orders and provides quality service to customers.
• Consults with customers on product and system applications and follows up on quotations.
• Provides technical product support and field trouble shooting assistance.
• Coordinates with branches, customers, engineers and contractors on product needs.
• Participates in marketing, planning and sale of Border States products and services.
• Contributes to stock level decisions and pricing discussions.
• Delivers training on new and existing product lines and applications.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Customer service

Education

Four-year technical or engineering degree

Tools

SAP software

Microsoft Office

Windows OS

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

Be part of a growing, successful company in an exciting and challenging field. Border States is 100% employee-owned, which means you’re empowered to make decisions, find solutions and receive rewards for your hard work.

This position will be located in: Salina, KS

Please note that the position may be filled before or after the listed application deadline. Applications will only be accepted while the posting remains active.

Pay Range:

*Individual compensation is determined based on several factors, including job-related skills and qualifications, education, relevant experience, work location, internal equity considerations, and the overall responsibilities of the position.

Job Summary

The Product Specialist promotes sales, secures orders, and provides quality service to our customers. Consults with customers on product and system applications and provides customers with follow-up on quotations and technical inquiries, and specialist product support. Participates in marketing, planning and sale of Border States technical products and services, advises management on the implementation and success of marketing plans and strategies. Evaluates new products and makes recommendations on stock levels for new and existing products. Provides field trouble shooting assistance, training and information/documentation support.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Works closely with Border States’ sales and marketing staff to meet and exceed sales and gross profit objectives.
• Consults with customers on product and system applications.
• Provides customers with timely follow-up on quotations, technical inquiries and other requests.
• Provides continuous contact and interaction with customer’s engineering staff, contractors and consultants.
• Provides specific or specialized product support for branches and customers.
• Inputs TCCM cost savings documentation that is relevant to the assigned customer base.
• Actively participates in the marketing, planning, and sale of Border States’ technical products and services.
• Participates in and advises management on the implementation and success of marketing plans and strategies.
• Consistently provides responsive, quality service to meet and exceed customer expectations.
• Provides input to other sales and marketing staff on customer needs and concerns regarding pricing, products, competition, procedures, and market potential.
• Evaluates new products and makes recommendations on stock levels for new and existing products.
• Provides input to the pricing and purchasing departments on product evaluations and code descriptions, inventory management, pricing developments, and other related functions.
• Performs product updates and new product launches for branches and customers as required.
• Leads customer and Border States employee training on new and existing technical product lines and applications in specified product areas.
• Provides field trouble shooting assistance, training and information/documentation support.
• Conducts product application assessments including TCCM savings, alternatives to materials, equipment, methods and practices, and regional, industry, national standards for material, equipment and apparatus.
• Designs, develops and/or maintains database and documentation files such as engineering and technical records, TCCM savings, customer parts database by SKU including technical reference information (guides, specs and standards), product and vendor files, technical reference library, and customer information file.

Non-essential Functions

• Evaluates demo equipment and makes recommendations for new products in specified product areas.
• Ensures existing demos are in functional condition.
• Attends and assists with sales meetings, trade shows and training programs as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a 4-year technical or engineering degree preferred or the equivalent in work experience.
• Minimum of 4 years of prior customer service, marketing, quotation or sales experience preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of prior electrical distribution and quotations experience preferred with a comprehensive knowledge of Border States product lines and applications.
• Knowledge and technical competence in understanding electrical and hi-tech industrial products and applications including industrial automation software and hardware.
• Prefer strong working knowledge of PC for Windows, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access and PowerPoint), internet, email, and SAP software.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication, and customer service skills are preferred with the ability to effectively plan and organize.
• Excellent customer service skills include being competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged.

Physical Requirements

Frequency at which you would carry/lift in a typical day:
Occasionally 0 – 33% Frequently34 – 66% Continuously: 67 – 100%

• Lift from Waist:
  • < than 10 lbs. - Not at all
  • 10 to 25 lbs. - Not at all
  • 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all
  • 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
  • 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
  • 100+ lbs. - Not at all
• Lift from Floor:
  • < than 10 lbs. - Frequently
  • 10 to 25 lbs. - Frequently
  • 26 to 50 lbs. - Occasionally
  • 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
  • 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
  • 100+ lbs. - Not at all
• Carried for Distance:
  • < than 10 lbs. - Not at all
  • 10 to 25 lbs. - Not at all
  • 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all
  • 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
  • 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
  • 100+ lbs. - Not at all

Physical Activity

Frequency at which you would do the following in a typical day:

• Sitting (a continuous period of being seated) - Continuously
• Standing (for sustained periods of time) - Frequently
• Walking (moving about on foot to accomplish tasks) - Frequently
• Bending/stooping (downward and forward) - Occasionally
• Crawling (moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet) - Not at all
• Climbing/Walking Stairs (ascending or descending) - Frequently
• Reaching (extending arms in any direction) - Frequently
• Crouching/squatting (bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine) - Occasionally
• Kneeling (bending legs at knee to come to rest on knee(s)) - Occasionally
• Balancing (maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling) - Occasionally
• Repetitive motion (substantial movement (motions) or the wrists, hands, and/or fingers) - Continuously
• Pivoting (movement in any direction with one foot, keeping the other in contact with the floor) - Occasionally
• Pushing/Pulling (using upper extremities to press against or draw or tug) - Occasionally
• Grasping (Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm) - Continuously
• Fingering (picking, pinching, typing; working with primarily fingers and not whole hand) - Continuously
• Talking (expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word) - Continuously
• Driving (the control and operation of a motor vehicle) - Occasionally
• Desk work (work usually performed at a desk) - Continuously
• Use of a computer - Continuously
• Use of a telephone - Continuously
• Hearing (Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels) - Continuously
• Exposure (to adverse weather & temperature conditions) - Occasionally
• Travel (travel needed to perform job duties) - Occasionally

Additional Information

This job description is a summary of the job duties and responsibilities and is not intended to cover all possible job duties and is subject to change at the employer’s discretion. Employees must be able to perform the essential job duties and satisfy job requirements either with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Our History

Border States is a leader in the electrical supply distribution industry with approximately 130 locations in 31 states. Our employee-owners are second to none in delivering top-notch customer service and in demonstrating extra-ordinary people skills. We are one of the largest independent electrical distributors in the United States providing products and services to the construction, industrial and utility industries. Border States has a competitive benefit package and is a 100 percent employee-owned company. Employee-ownership is a significant part of our culture and our success stems from the dedication of our employee-owners. We practice open-book management and our employee-owners are empowered with clearly defined levels of authority to be innovative and decisive, allowing us to respond quickly to the needs of customers. Employee-owners understand their roles in the success of the company and care about customers’ needs, which drives our focus on adding value to everything we do. We recognize that not all customers are the same and each has specific requirements. Our employee-owners understand these diverse needs and have the commitment, resourcefulness and flexibility to outperform all others.

Values
As a Border States employee-owner, you’re responsible for living our mission, service philosophy and service standards.

Our Purpose
We believe unstoppable businesses shouldn't go it alone. We are owners - of relationships, of outcomes, of every moment these unstoppable businesses need to deliver.

Service Philosophy
We earn customer loyalty and confidence by caring about their needs and adding value to everything we do.

Service Standards
Border States employee-owners are competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged .

Your career
Join an experienced team at one of the largest electrical distributors in the United States. What are you waiting for?

Border States has a competitive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity
FSA & HSA
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
Disability Benefits
401(k) Retirement Plan
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Paid Holidays
Paid Volunteer Time
Personal Leave time and more!
Border States provides bonuses to their employee-owners upon the achievement of branch and company goals.

Equal Opportunity For All

It’s not just the law. It’s something we’ve believed in since our founding. We value the diversity of all of our employee-owners and will always be an equal opportunity employer.

Drug Free/Smoke Free workplace

Employment may be contingent on the offered candidate successfully passing one or more of the following pre-employment screenings:

• Criminal background check (required for all positions)
• Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check (required for positions involving driving)
• Drug testing

The MVR check and drug testing vary by role and will be communicated to the offered candidate during the onboarding process and as applicable.