Technical Sales Specialist

Northern Technologies International Corporation (\"NTIC\"); Louisville (KY); Remote; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Zerust Industrial, a NTIC company, seeks a field-based sales professional to cover Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia from a Louisville home office. You will diagnose corrosion issues on plant floors, propose product solutions, and close orders with direct customers and distributors.

In this role, you’ll run on-site trials, train distributor teams, and build cross-functional relationships with engineering and purchasing. Overnight travel is common.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, industrial technology, or related field.
• Equivalent hands-on industrial experience will be considered.
• 0–5 years of experience; more experienced candidates welcome at appropriate level.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for engineers and purchasing teams.
• Willingness and ability to travel 50%+ with overnight stays.
• Valid driver's license and an acceptable driving record.
• Comfort working in active manufacturing environments and wearing PPE.

Responsibilities

• Own the territory forecast and plan for KY, IN, TN, VA and WV; forecast, prospect, quote and close with direct customers and distributors.
• Walk customer plants to diagnose corrosion problems and specify the right product combination.
• Run on-site product trials, corrosion surveys, and fluid testing; document results with a written recommendation.
• Train distributor sales teams and customer personnel on corrosion fundamentals and correct product use.
• Build relationships at all levels of accounts—purchasing, engineering, manufacturing, quality, and plant management.
• Provide day-to-day customer service and problem resolution for territory accounts.
• Submit visit reports and monthly territory/forecast updates; support technical marketing and trade shows.

Skills

Communication skills

Willingness to travel

Valid driver's license

Manufacturing environment comfort

Problem-solving mindset

Education

Bachelor of Science in chemistry

Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering

Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering

Bachelor of Science in materials science

Bachelor of Science in industrial technology

Tools

CRM

Excel

ERP (SAP)

Job description

Zerust® Industrial — a Northern Technologies International Corporation (NTIC) company

Location: Home-office based in Louisville, KY

Territory: Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia.

Travel: 50%+, including overnight travel within the territory

Experience: 0–5 years

THE SHORT VERSION

Steel rusts. We stop it. You will spend your days on plant floors across the Midwest and Mid-South — automotive, heavy equipment, steel, oil and gas, electronics, and more — figuring out why a customer's parts are corroding in transit, in the warehouse, or between operations, and then selling the system that fixes it. This is a technical, consultative sales role with a real product behind it. If you like solving problems in person and you would rather be in a plant than at a desk, keep reading.

ABOUT ZERUST

Northern Technologies International Corporation (NTIC) is a global developer, manufacturer, and marketer of corrosion and cleaning management solutions — packaging, coatings, cleaners, services, and systems. NTIC operates three platforms: Zerust® Industrial, ZERUST® Integrity Solutions, and Natur-Tec®. Your focus will be on the Zerust® Industrial.

Our product line includes Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI) polyethylene film, VCI paper, diffusers and emitters, rust preventative liquids, wash chemistries, hydrostatic testing products, and rust removers. Customers use them to protect metal during transportation, warehousing, in-process handling, and long-term lay-up.

WHAT YOU WILL ACTUALLY DO

You own the territory. You are the face of Zerust to every customer and distributor in it — the person who walks the line, runs the trial, writes the recommendation, and closes the order.

• Own the sales plan for Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia— forecast, prospect, quote, and close with both direct customers and distribution partners.
• Walk customer plants and diagnose corrosion problems: analyze the manufacturing and packaging process, identify where and why the corrosion is occurring, and specify the right combination of film, paper, diffusers, or liquid chemistry.
• Run on-site product trials, corrosion surveys, and fluid testing, and document the results in a clear written recommendation.
• Train distributor sales teams and customer personnel on corrosion fundamentals and correct product use — a poorly applied VCI product is a lost account, so this matters.
• Build relationships at every level of the account: purchasing, engineering, manufacturing, quality, and plant management.
• Provide day-to-day customer service and problem resolution for accounts in your territory.
• Submit written visit reports and a monthly territory and forecast update.
• Support technical marketing of products and services, and represent Zerust at trade shows and industry conferences.
• Work independently, with regular coaching and support from your Regional Manager.

WHAT WE REQUIRE

• Bachelor of Science in chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, industrial technology, or a related technical field. Equivalent hands-on industrial experience will be considered.
• 0–5 years of experience. Those with lesser experience are still encouraged to apply, we will teach you corrosion. Candidates with 10 or more years in technical or industrial sales are also welcome to apply and will be considered at a level that fits their background.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. You will write recommendations that engineers read and quotes that purchasing acts on.
• Willingness and ability to travel more than 50% of the time, including overnight stays.
• Valid driver's license and an acceptable driving record.
• Comfort working in active manufacturing environments and wearing required PPE (safety glasses, steel-toe footwear, hearing protection).
• Authorization to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

WHAT WILL MAKE YOU STAND OUT

• A chemistry degree, or coursework in corrosion, materials, or surface chemistry.
• Any exposure to technical, industrial, or consultative selling — including internships and co-ops.
• Familiarity with automotive, heavy equipment, steel, oil and gas, or electronics manufacturing.
• Working knowledge of metalworking fluids, parts washing, or industrial packaging.
• Comfort with CRM, Excel, and ERP systems such as SAP.
• A self-starter with a sense of urgency, strong organizational habits, and no hesitation about walking up to a stranger on a plant floor and starting a conversation.

YOUR FIRST YEAR

• Months 1–3: Product, corrosion, and application training. Ride-alongs with experienced reps and your Manager. Introductions to your existing accounts and distributors.
• Months 4–6: Running plant surveys and product trials with support. Managing your own call schedule and visit reports.
• Months 7–12: Owning the territory forecast, driving new business independently, and being the person your accounts call first.

WHY THIS ROLE, RIGHT NOW

Zerust North America is growing and restructuring at the same time. We are adding sales headcount across the U.S., and two senior members of the team are retiring within the next year — which means the person we hire into this seat has a visible path to a larger territory and greater responsibility, not a decade-long wait. Recent wins in heavy-duty engines and consumer products show where the momentum is. You will have room to build.