PQ is a leading global provider of silicates, silicas and derivative products. PQ's products are used in a wide variety of industrial processes and many customer products, from decorative paints to green cement, from clean drinking water to green tires and from toothpaste to biofuels and beer.
Ideal candidates resonate with PQ's Core Values of Integrity, Sustainability, People, Customer Focus and Safety. Successful employees embrace and model these values in their behaviors and actions.
Position Overview
The Inside Sales Representative will play a crucial role in maintaining and growing the sales and margin of our existing customer base within the assigned business unit and region, as well as driving new business through lead generation, prospecting, and lead qualification. This is an office-based role that combines customer contact (primarily via email, Teams, and phone) with essential commercial and administrative duties. The role requires effective communication, a proactive approach to problem-solving, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure customer satisfaction and profitability.
Key Responsibilities
Sales and Customer Management
- Manage a portfolio of customers within the assigned business unit and region, ensuring consistent sales and maintaining overall profitability.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for these customers, handling inquiries and addressing any issues or concerns.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with customers through regular communication via email, phone, and Teams.
- Maintain accurate records in our CRM of customer interactions, agreements, and sales activities in company systems.
Lead Generation and Prospecting
- Generate new business opportunities through proactive outbound prospecting via phone, email, and Teams.
- Research and identify prospective customers within the assigned business unit and region.
- Qualify inbound and self-generated leads, converting qualified prospects into new accounts or routing opportunities to the appropriate sales channel.
- Usher accounts through the sales pipeline to closure for your individual portfolio and in concert with account managers as appropriate
Commercial Activities
- For the assigned portfolio of customers, negotiate pricing and terms within established guidelines to meet customer needs and company objectives.
- Monitor market trends, competitor activities, and customer feedback to identify opportunities for growth or areas for improvement.
- Collaborate with Customer Service to ensure efficient order processing, delivery, and invoicing.
Collaboration and Communication
- Act as a liaison between customers, the Corporate Account Manager, Customer Service, and Technical Support to ensure seamless service and issue resolution.
- Provide feedback to internal teams regarding customer needs, preferences, and potential areas for product or service enhancement.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Chemistry, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- Proven experience in a sales, customer service, or commercial role, preferably within the chemical or manufacturing industry.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and manage relationships effectively.
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to handle multiple tasks and priorities.
- Strong capabilities in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook), A.I. and familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and SAP.
- Ability to travel as necessary / occasionally
EHS Responsibilities
- Communicates, promotes and personally demonstrates Safety/Health (including PQP Principles) as #1 priority
- Participation in risk assessment audits as applicable
- Understand PQ Principles (PQP) and how they are implemented in the site organization, rules and procedures
- Completes HSE training requirements identified for the job in a timely manner
PQ is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics. Click on the link to read Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal (eeoc.gov). For more information, please review the link Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (eeoc.gov).
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Chemistry, or a related field, or equivalent experience
- Proven experience in sales, customer service, or a commercial role
- Experience within the chemical or manufacturing industry
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to build rapport and manage customer relationships effectively
- Excellent organizational and time-management skills
- Ability to handle multiple tasks and priorities
- Strong capabilities in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and Outlook
- Familiarity with CRM systems such as Salesforce
- Familiarity with SAP
- Ability to travel occasionally as necessary
PQ Corporation Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about PQ Corporation and has not been reviewed or approved by PQ Corporation.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered fair to good for many plant, operations, and maintenance roles, with some locations citing good pay for the area. Compensation is often viewed as a relative strength even when other aspects of the work are challenging.
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Retirement Support — Standard retirement offerings such as a 401(k) and profit-sharing are part of the package and regarded as solid. These plans are commonly listed alongside base pay as contributors to overall competitiveness for manufacturing roles.
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Healthcare Strength — Multiple medical plan options are available, and health coverage is sometimes characterized as good. Dental and vision coverage further round out the core healthcare offering.
PQ Corporation Insights
What We Do
PQ is a leading global provider of silicates, silicas, and derivative products. Its products are used in a wide variety of industrial processes and customer products, ranging from decorative paints and green cement to clean drinking water, green tires, toothpaste, biofuels, and beer.
