Inside Sales Representative

Hydraulic Controls, Inc. is a premier fluid power distributor with territories throughout the Western United States. Our Employee-Owners, along with our quality suppliers, have built our 50-year-strong reputation on ethical business practices, value-added customer service and local inventory.  

SUMMARY: 

Inside Sales Representatives manage a portfolio of select OEM, resale and user accounts, serving as the go-to contact within HCI for those clients, overseeing their orders from processing to delivery and responding to all their concerns with professionalism. In addition to handling select accounts, provides excellent service to all customers (see Customer Service Representative job description). 

 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Serves as HCI’s key contact to designated customer accounts, responsible for providing support and promptly responding to requests for information or assistance. 
• Ensures designated customers’ orders are processed correctly, that order acknowledgements are sent both internally and externally, and that delivery issues and other matters of concern are promptly addressed and shared with outside sales personnel and management. 
• Troubleshoots and resolves order issues through sourcing parts to meet/exceed customer requirements, drop-shipping orders, stock-transferring product, and buying for customer orders or branch inventory when permitted.  
• Maintains margins, aware of competition and alert to margin erosion in accounts with set-pricing. 
• Handles credit memos and warranty part returns. 
• Routinely suggests additional products of interest to customers when taking sales orders. 
• Generates sales leads for Outside Sales personnel to pursue. 
• Enters and maintains CRM data, forwarding opportunities as directed. 
• Performs all support functions of a Customer Service Representative. 
• Performs other related duties as assigned by management.

 QUALIFICATIONS: 

• High school diploma or equivalent required, and some college or trade school preferred.  
• Good mechanical and mathematical aptitude is essential, with a basic understanding of hydraulic, electronic, and power transmission systems. 
• One-year minimum experience with customer service and hydraulic sales.  
• Recognition of basic hydraulic components and understanding of vendor part numbering and function along with familiarity with HCI's top twenty product lines and ability to independently research answers using vendor and HCI tools. 
• Excellent customer service: commitment to getting customer their needed answers on the first call, or staying in constant communication while researching. 
• Reliable, constructive, and positive assistance to operations manager and outside sales personnel who service designated accounts; clear and frequent oral and written communication is essential. 
• Ability to develop key contact relationships within vendor companies in order to get quick answers on quotes and expedites.
• Ease in dealing with customers and vendors from a variety of backgrounds and  knowledge levels.  
• Ability to gauge profitability of all transactions; good business instinct in regards to pricing. 
• Ability to evaluate sales orders for items ordinarily in need of commonly sold accessories. 
• Ability to recognize strategic opportunities to capture potential new sales by Outside Sales personnel. 
• Ability to analyze the following reports: Writby, Review Open Sales Order, and Purchase Order Expedite. 
• Adherence to HCI Company policy regarding sales, purchases, returns and credits.  
• Team player: positive interaction with coworkers at the branch and across HCI branches, and good relationships with administration and management. 
• Literacy in TrulinX or significant ERP experience.
• Literacy in MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Outlook. 
• Ability to solve problems independently.  
• Ability to multi-task. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. 
• Strong work ethic and commitment to job. 
• Forklift certification required at some branches.

 PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

• Frequently required to stand 
• Frequently required to walk 
• Frequently required to sit 
• Frequently required to utilize hand and finger dexterity 
• Continually required to talk or hear 
• Frequently/Continually utilize visual acuity to read technical information, and/or use a keyboard 
• Occasionally lift/push/carry items up to 20 pounds; Required to seek assistance from warehouse for items over 20 pounds  

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The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.