Technical Service Representative - Automotive Coatings

PPG; Spring Hill (TN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

PPG, a global leader in coatings, seeks a Technical Service Representative (Certified Optima Solutions Professional) based at the GM plant in Spring Hill, TN. You will serve as a trusted technical advisor, driving customer satisfaction and growth through problem-solving, training, and value-added solutions.

Key activities include resolving issues, ensuring compliance, entering CRM data, and coordinating with cross-functional teams on upsell opportunities and custom orders.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required; Bachelor's degree or global equivalent preferred.
• 2+ years of professional experience in a manufacturing or chemical setting.
• Working knowledge of automotive coatings products, technologies, and application processes.
• Proficient with MS Office and CRM/ERP software.
• Demonstrated problem-solving abilities and cross-functional collaboration.
• Basic math skills for operational decision-making.
• Strong public speaking skills and ability to translate complex information for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Resolve customer issues and craft messaging/next steps for prompt response.
• Ensure compliance with external/regulatory and internal policies to minimize risk.
• Provide fault isolation and correction to address issues promptly.
• May enter customer data into Salesforce for retention and business development.
• Identify opportunities for upselling and cross-selling products/services.
• Process custom/special orders and coordinate with relevant teams.
• Lead periodic health checks with key customers to maximize value.
• Assist in product training and run training sessions under supervision.
• Manage SecureLaunch project activities and document data accordingly.
• Forecast demand and oversee inventory programs at customer locations.
• Track KPIs and utilize required digital tools for reporting.
• Develop knowledge across technology layers; expertise in coatings/applications.
• Adjust products based on conformance to client needs.

Skills

Problem solving

Public speaking

Math skills

Communication

Automotive coatings knowledge

Education

High School Diploma

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

MS Office

CRM/ERP software

Job description

The Technical Service Representative, also known within PPG as a Certified Optima Solutions Professional (COSP), plays a critical role in both the Optima Solutions organization and the One PPG Selling Machine. You will serve as a trusted technical advisor to customers, providing expertise, problem-solving support, and value-added solutions that enhance customer satisfaction, strengthen partnerships, and drive business growth. Based at the GM manufacturing plant in Spring Hill, TN, you will report to the Optima Solutions Manager.

Key Responsibilities

One PPG Selling Machine

• Resolving Customer Issues: Leads the process of crafting and cascading messaging and next steps for customer issues to ensure prompt response to and resolve customer issues including handling returns, complaints, and escalating issues appropriately
• Operational Compliance: Ensures that business activities within the area of responsibility comply with relevant external regulatory and/or voluntary codes and with internal policies and procedures to minimize business risk and to protect the reputation of the Organization, oneself, and the team
• Faults Diagnosis and Correction: Provides fault isolation and resolution to limit and address issues promptly
• CRM Management: May enter customer information that has been gathered through research and/or through direct customer contact into the Salesforce system to ensure that the organization has quality data to enable effective customer retention and business development activities.
• Service-Related Upselling and Cross-selling: Actively looks for ways in which additional products/services can grow the value of the customer's account within the organization.
• Customer Order Processing: Records and processes custom/special orders that may require additional resources for delivery and coordinating with those teams as required.
• Periodic Health Checks: Maintains and leads periodic check-ins with key customers to ensure they are receiving the most value from the product/ service; notes the most raised questions/issues during check-ins.
• Product Training: Helps to prepare product training for specific technical areas following precedents and established procedures; runs small training programs (or pieces of larger training programs) for specific areas using prepared content and working under the supervision of senior colleagues.

Automotive Focused

• SecureLaunchTM: Manages Secure Launch project activities for the site Documents project data and information via the SecureLaunch protocols.
• Demand Planning: Forecasts supply demand based on usage trends, production schedules, and discussions with the customer; oversee the management of inventory programs at a customer location. Proactively works within PPG to track down missing orders.
• Tracking, Reporting and Tools Utilization: Tracks and reports on key functional metrics and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), whether per customer or PPG requirements in the digital tools required for that task.
• Product and Application Expertise: Develops wide knowledge on multiple technology layers and application processes; including deep knowledge in at least one of the following: color, pretreatment, electrocoat, primer, basecoat, clear coat, adhesives and sealants, battery coatings, mobility products or water treatment
• Process and Product Conformance: Uses product and application knowledge to adjust PPG products as needed.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma is required. A Bachelor's degree or global equivalent in a related discipline is preferred.
• 2 or more years of professional experience in a manufacturing or chemical setting.
• Working knowledge of automotive coatings products, technologies, and application processes.
• Proficient with MS Office products and CRM/ERP software.
• Demonstrated problem-solving abilities with a proven track record of collaborating effectively across all levels of an organization.
• Basic math skills required to support operational decision-making.
• Good public speaking skills, including the ability to translate complex information into clear, audience-appropriate messaging.

PPG offers comprehensive benefits such as Health, Dental, Life, Retirement Plan, Paid Vacation & Holidays, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Disability/Leave, and other Voluntary benefit offerings.

PPG provides equal opportunity to all candidates and employees. We offer an opportunity to grow and develop your career in an environment that provides a fulfilling workplace for employees, creates an environment for continuous learning, and embraces the ideas and diversity of others. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, pregnancy, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, disability status, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

If you need an adjustment due to a disability, please email [e-mail].

About Us

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD

Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and color, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com and follow @PPG on X.

The PPG Way 2030

We are customer champions

Proactive. Bold. Trustworthy. Everything we do starts with our customers. We listen, move fast and don’t stop until we solve their biggest challenges. When our customers win, we all grow.

We act with purpose and speed

Agile. Data-driven. Empowered. We take smart risks to stay ahead of the competition. We work proactively with agility, using quality data to develop solutions that create value.

We are excellent operators

Productive. Collaborative. Accountable. No matter our role, we identify problems, take ownership and always bring solutions. We are both proactive and responsive to drive continuous improvement and deliver results. We support our frontline, the faces of PPG to our customers.

We compete to win

Future-focused. Driven. Ambitious. We are passionate about growing our business and winning with our customers. We deliver results, embrace new technologies and leverage agility and speed as strengths.

We are PPG proud

Strong. United. Passionate. We work safely, act with integrity and value our diverse perspectives. We celebrate achievements and take pride in the positive impact we create together to protect and beautify the world.

At PPG we use AI in the hiring process to make the process more efficient. AI tools do not make hiring decisions. You can learn more by going to https://careers.ppg.com/us/en/candidate-resources.

PPG provides equal opportunity to all candidates and employees. We offer an opportunity to grow and develop your career in an environment that provides a fulfilling workplace for employees, creates an environment for continuous learning, and embraces the ideas and diversity of others. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, pregnancy, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, disability status, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

If you need an adjustment due to a disability, please email [e-mail].

PPG pay ranges and benefits can vary by location which allows us to compensate employees competitively in different geographic markets. PPG considers several factors in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, qualifications and education, licensure and certifications, and other organizational needs. Other incentives may apply.

Our employee benefits programs are designed to support the health and well-being of our employees. Any insurance coverages and benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents. Benefits will be discussed with you by your recruiter during the hiring process.

PPG values your feedback on our recruiting process. We encourage you to visit Glassdoor.com and provide feedback on the process, so that we can do better today than yesterday.