Sales Operations Specialist

NISC; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

NISC is seeking a detail-oriented Proposal Specialist to support sales and operations. You will draft contracts, proposals, and pricing content, coordinate with product, implementation and sales teams for RFPs, and help optimize proposal processes.

Strong Excel, communication, and project management skills are essential. This role reports to the Sales & Operations Team Lead and involves data analysis, dashboard development, and ensuring compliance with negotiated terms during the sales cycle.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of related experience preferred.
• Knowledge of pricing models, software applications, and hardware.
• Knowledge of project management processes and theory.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Mastery skills in MS Excel.
• Basic level presentation and training skills.
• Excellent telephone etiquette and an ability to deal effectively with Members/Internal Customers.
• Research and problem-solving skills with a strong attention to detail.
• Working knowledge of business-related software applications and services.
• Ability to organize and prioritize.
• Ability to interact in a positive manner with internal and external contacts.
• Ability to set and manage internal and external Member/Vendor expectations.
• Conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to travel as often as necessary to meet the goals and objectives of the position.
• Initiative and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Prepare contracts, change orders, and proposals for multi-industries.
• Maintain proposal templates.
• Gather and manage information from product, implementation and sales teams to help prepare RFPs.
• Improve efficiencies through best-practice development.
• Research sales-related activities to enhance efficiencies.
• Explore data integration and reporting between multiple databases.
• Develop dashboards and reporting to present data across the organization.
• Identify trends and develop data-integrity solutions.
• Review industry-specific contracts to ensure alignment with final proposals.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Proposal writing

MS Excel

Communication

Data analysis

Project management

Attention to detail

Presentation

Interpersonal skills

Travel flexibility

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in a business-related field

Tools

MS Excel

Job description

NISC develops and implements enterprise-level and customer-facing software solutions for over 1,200+ energy cooperatives and communication organizations across North America. Our mission is to deliver technology solutions and services that are Member-focused, quality-driven and valued-priced. We exist to serve our Members and help them serve their communities through our innovative software products, services and outstanding customer support. We are an AI-forward company committed to being a technology leader in our industry. NISC has been ranked ComputerWorld’s Best Places to Work for 23 years, and we are looking for qualified individuals to join our team.

Summary:

This position reports to the Sales & Operations Team Lead and has a high level of interaction with NISC’s key stakeholders and departments, including the outside sales team, product line managers (PLMs), Implementation team leads, and Member Sales. Although the primary responsibility is to generate proposals, contracts, and pricing related content, the bulk of the work entails extensive fact finding, critical thinking, data analysis and collaboration to ensure the proposals generated meet both the expectations of the customer as well as NISC. Requirements include the ability to manage complex projects, effective problem-solving, analytical thinking skills and excellent writing skills to communicate custom terms and conditions negotiated during the sales cycle.

Essential Duties:

• Preparecontracts, change orders, and proposalsfor multi-industries.
• Perform maintenance of proposal templates.
• Gatherand manageinformation from product, implementation and sales teams to help prepare RFPs(Request for Proposals).
• Optimize efficiencies through the creationand refinement of best practices.
• Research sales related activities to improve efficiencies.
• Explore data integrationand reporting between multiple databases.
• Develop dashboards and reportingtopresent data across the organizationimprovingawareness anddecision-making abilities.
• Identify trends and develop solutions to drive data integrity.
• Assist in the review of industry specific contracts to ensure the contract aligns with final proposal.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Commitment to NISC’s Statement of Shared Values.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Preferred:

• 2+ years of related experience preferred
• Knowledge of NISC’s pricing models, software applications, and hardware.
• Knowledge of project management processes and theory.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Mastery skills in MS Excel
• Basic level presentation and training skills.
• Excellent telephone etiquette and an ability to deal effectively with Members/Internal Customers.
• Research and problem-solving skills with a strong attention to detail.
• Working level knowledge of business-related software applications and services.
• Ability to organize and prioritize.
• Ability to interact in a positive manner with internal and external contacts.
• Ability to set and manage internal and external Member/Vendor expectations.
• Conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to travel as often as necessary to meet the goals and objectives of the position.
• Strong ability to demonstrate initiative and accountability.

NISC’s Shared Values & Competencies:

• Integrity – We are committed to doing the right thing – always.
• Relationships – We are committed to building and preserving lasting relationships.
• Innovation – We promote the spirit of creativity and champion new ideas.
• Teamwork – We exemplify the cooperative spirit by working together.
• Empowerment – We believe individuals have the power to make a difference.
• Personal Development – We believe the free exchange of knowledge and information is absolutely necessary to the success of each individual and the organization.

Education Preferred:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a business-related field or equivalent experience.

Minimum Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the essential functions of this position, employees must be able to see and communicate. Employees are regularly required to maintain a stationary position, move, and operate computer keyboards or office equipment.