Position Summary
The Application Safety Specialist serves as a strategic subject matter expert (SME) dedicated to driving growth, profitability, and value-added solutions within Vallen’s Safety and Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) product categories. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, this role requires exceptional self-management skills to effectively balance territory planning, client consultations, and cross-functional internal collaboration. This position acts as a critical liaison between internal sales teams, manufacturing partners, and clients to identify cost-saving opportunities and implement process improvements. By leveraging deep technical expertise, the Specialist independently prioritizes their schedule to expand market share, secure new business, and deliver high-impact safety solutions across their assigned region.
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Territory & Time Optimization: Independently manage and optimize daily schedule, travel routes, and client prioritization to maximize territory coverage and revenue impact.
- Drive Revenue Growth: Accelerate sales of Safety & MRO Core Plus Supplier lines within existing and prospective customer accounts.
- Support Key Accounts: Provide dedicated technical and strategic support to Integrated Supply and Key Industrial Account customers.
- Strategic Alignment: Partner with the national accounts team to align regional growth strategies with targeted national objectives.
- Internal Capability Building: Design and deliver comprehensive product and service training for Vallen sales associates within assigned markets.
- Stakeholder Management: Cultivate robust, influential relationships with key customer stakeholders and decision-makers to expand product vertical penetration.
- Supplier Partnerships: Foster collaborative partnerships with Core Plus Suppliers to co-develop market strategies and maximize mutual growth.
- On-Site Safety Assessments: Lead and execute comprehensive on-site hazard assessments to evaluate client facilities and recommend tailored, compliant safety solutions.
- Value Creation: Identify, present, and execute documented cost-savings initiatives and operational process improvements for clients.
- Performance Autonomy: Maintain proactive communication with Vallen leadership regarding territory pipeline, active projects, and strategic growth goals, driving initiatives forward with minimal day-to-day oversight.
Job Qualifications
- Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly applicable industry experience.
- Self-Management Capabilities: Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, meet tight deadlines, and maintain accountability in a remote or field-based environment.
- Sales Expertise: Proven track record in B2B sales or technical consulting specifically within Safety and MRO products and services.
- Industry Acumen: Strong understanding of manufacturing plant floor operations, industrial environments, and key facility stakeholders is highly preferred.
- Project Management: Exceptional project management capabilities with a demonstrated ability to lead initiatives from assessment through implementation.
- Communication Skills: Superior verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to confidently present technical solutions to both internal teams and external executive clients.
- Mobility: Possession of a valid driver's license and a clean driving record.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
- Travel & Scheduling: High mobility position requiring regular travel to and from customer sites within the assigned region (expected travel >50%), requiring strong self-directed routing and travel management.
- Field Environment: Work is frequently conducted on-site within heavy manufacturing and industrial environments, with routine exposure to elements such as dirt, smoke, heat, and cold.
- Safety & PPE: Strict adherence to safety protocols is mandatory; must wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including hand, foot, and eye protection, while performing field duties.
- Physical Demands: Ability to lift and move up to 50 lbs. during facility inspections, operate handheld testing and measuring devices, and maintain the visual acuity necessary to perform detailed site hazard evaluations.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent combination of education and directly applicable industry experience
- Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and remain accountable in a remote or field-based environment
- Proven B2B sales or technical consulting experience in Safety and MRO products and services
- Strong understanding of manufacturing plant-floor operations, industrial environments, and facility stakeholders
- Exceptional project management skills and ability to lead initiatives from assessment through implementation
- Superior verbal and written communication skills, including presenting technical solutions to internal and executive customer audiences
- Valid driver's license and clean driving record
- Ability to travel more than 50% within the assigned region
- Ability to wear required personal protective equipment while performing field duties
- Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds
- Ability to operate handheld testing and measuring devices and perform detailed site hazard evaluations
Vallen USA Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Vallen USA and has not been reviewed or approved by Vallen USA.
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Retirement Support — Feedback suggests the 401(k) plan includes a company match (e.g., $0.50 per dollar up to 6% of pay), and employer-paid life and disability insurance add to perceived financial security.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid vacation that accrues from 80 to 160 hours based on seniority, sick time, eight scheduled holidays, and two floating holidays are often highlighted as comprehensive.
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Healthcare Strength — Standard medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with FSAs, an EAP, and a wellness program, are described as reliable core offerings.
Vallen USA Insights
What We Do
Vallen is a leading provider of indirect industrial supplies—all those materials that are not part of the products our customers manufacture. From earplugs to specialty tools, to abrasives and cutting tools, we cover the vast majority of our customers’ maintenance, repair, operations and production-related needs. Vallen is also a leader in safety services with offerings that include equipment inspection, maintenance, certification and solution design. Many of our customers look to us for integrated supply solutions and vendor-managed inventory, with Vallen associates on-site, bringing local knowledge and expertise to the specific needs of individual facilities.
