Position Title:

Application Specialist

Department:

Inside Sales

Reports to Role:

Inside Sales Manager

Location:

Spartanburg

Position Summary:

The function of the Application Specialist is to provide direct support to the customer, both internal and external. This role is a customer facing position that is the primary liaison between customers, distributors, subsidiaries, and field sales. Responsibilities include both commercial and technical competencies, providing verbal and written quotations, following up on quotation revisions, as well as works closely with Field (Outside) Sales to close orders.

Principle Duties (includes, but may not be limited to):

• Read, analyze, and understand and customer request-for-quotes (RFQs), specifications and requirements to enable building of proposals.
• Contribute to pricing decisions through analysis of competitive factors that must be considered and negotiated.
• Processes customer orders and projects in a timely and accurate manner. Manages all change orders, order cancellations, existing sales orders updates, and expedites.
• Initiates and plans technical review meetings for clarification and communication of special-order requirements.
• Proactively advising customers of re-schedules or delays affecting promised ship date.
• Supplies information to customers concerning pricing, delivery, technical inquiries, shipment details, etc.
• Reviews and validates quoted delivery with appropriate Production personnel prior to order entry. Prepares written response to customer if delivery situation has changed.
• Analyzes project wins and losses.
• Work closely with the internal team members and external sales and production teams to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Process and investigate RMA, work closely with accounting to ensure credits and debits are resolved in a timely manner.
• Provide product and technical support and solutions to customers by collaborating with Technical Support, Business Line Management, and Engineering and other appropriate departments.
• Offer alternate solutions to meet customer's delivery expectations.
• Assists Business Line Managers in the execution of business models.
• Supports Sales Managers in account management (local, regional, and global).
• Partners with Account Managers in providing pre-sale and post-sale technical support.
• Participates actively in the OpEx and Quality processes including project team involvement, problem solving, and recommending solutions to enhance and improve the quality of departmental and/or company-wide business activities.
• Performs other duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE:

Essential Criteria:

• BS/BA in Engineering/Business or related field preferred
• Minimum 2-year experience in an Inside Sales capacity in a manufacturing plant preferred.
• Strong organizational skills and able to work effectively in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Effectively interact with customers via the phone, e-mail, other written and verbal communication mediums.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to work with all levels of personnel.
• Willing to take direction and work both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and situations to achieve superior, proactive order management and customer satisfaction.
• Excellent time management, verbal, and written communication skills.

 Preferred Criteria:

• Experience working with all phases of solicitation processes such as requests for information, pricing, and negotiation.
• Export experience a plus.
• Critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office, ERP and CRM software.