Product Manager - Switchgear

Job Summary

Supports the day-to-day operations of Branches, Account Managers, Quotations Teams, Customer Service Reps, and customers by providing product, application, and technical support and service. Regularly calls on branches along with customer accounts and makes joint sales calls with Account Managers to secure orders and perform other sales support functions for technical products and services, by providing customers field support, application support, training, and other services as required. 

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Works closely with Border States’ sales and marketing staff to meet and exceed sales and gross profit objectives.  
• Regularly calls-on customer accounts and makes joint sales calls with Account Managers to secure orders and perform other sales support functions for technical products and services, by providing customers field support, application support, training, and other services as required.  
• Consults with customers on product and system applications.  
• Supports BSE Quotations teams with timely follow-up on technical inquiries and other requests. 
• Provides continuous contact and interaction with customer’s engineering staff, contractors and consultants. 
• Provides specific or specialized product support for branches and customers.  
• Actively participates in the marketing, planning, and sale of Border States’ technical products and services.  
• Participates in and advises management on the implementation and success of marketing plans and strategies.  
• Consistently provides responsive, quality service to meet and exceed customer expectations.  
• Provides input to other sales and marketing staff on customer needs and concerns regarding pricing, products, competition, procedures, and market potential.
• Evaluates new products and makes recommendations on stock levels for new and existing products.  
• Provides input to the pricing and purchasing departments on product evaluations and code descriptions, inventory management, pricing developments, and other related functions. 
• Leads customer and BSE employee training on new and existing technical product lines and applications in specified product areas.  
• Works with associated manufacturing agents/vendors as a liaison on all strategic issues related to planning, marketing, new products, launch and training.

Non-essential Functions

• Evaluates demo equipment and makes suggestions for new products in specified product areas.  
• Inputs TCCM cost savings documentation that is relevant to the assigned customer base. 
• Ensures existing demos are in functional condition.  
• Performs product updates and new product launches for branches and customers as required.  
• Attends and assists with sales meetings, trade shows and training programs as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor or designate.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a four-year technical or engineering degree preferred or the equivalent in work experience. 
• Prefer the knowledge and technical competence in understanding electrical and hi-tech industrial products and applications including industrial automation software and hardware.  
• Minimum of four-years of prior customer service, marketing, quotation or sales experience preferred. 
• Minimum of three-years of prior electrical distribution and quotations experience preferred with a comprehensive knowledge of BSE product lines and applications, alternate product substitutes, and supplier pricing policies.  
• Ability to read, write and speak in English preferred.  
• Prefer strong working knowledge of PC for Windows, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access and PowerPoint), Internet, Email and SAP software. 
   

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication and customer service skills are preferred with the ability to effectively plan and organize. 
• Excellent customer service skills include being competent, accurate, responsive and engaged.

Physical Requirements

Frequency at which you would carry/lift in a typical day:
Occasionally 0 – 33% Frequently 34 – 66% Continuously: 67 – 100%

• Lift from Waist:
  • < than 10 lbs. - Not at all
  • 10 to 25 lbs. - Not at all
  • 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all
  • 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
  • 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
  • 100+ lbs. - Not at all
• Lift from Floor:
  • < than 10 lbs. - Frequently
  • 10 to 25 lbs. - Frequently
  • 26 to 50 lbs. - Occasionally
  • 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
  • 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
  • 100+ lbs. - Not at all
• Carried for Distance:
  • < than 10 lbs. - Not at all
  • 10 to 25 lbs. - Not at all
  • 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all
  • 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all
  • 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all
  • 100+ lbs. - Not at all

Physical Activity

Frequency at which you would do the following in a typical day:

• Sitting (a continuous period of being seated) - Frequently
• Standing (for sustained periods of time) - Frequently
• Walking (moving about on foot to accomplish tasks) - Frequently
• Bending/stooping (downward and forward) - Occasionally
• Crawling (moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet) - Not at all
• Climbing/Walking Stairs (ascending or descending) - Frequently
• Reaching (extending arms in any direction) - Frequently
• Crouching/squatting (bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine) - Occasionally
• Kneeling (bending legs at knee to come to rest on knee(s)) - Occasionally
• Balancing (maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling) - Occasionally
• Repetitive motion (substantial movement (motions) or the wrists, hands, and/or fingers) - Continuously
• Pivoting (movement in any direction with one foot, keeping the other in contact with the floor) - Occasionally
• Pushing/Pulling (using upper extremities to press against or draw or tug) - Occasionally
• Grasping (Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm) - Continuously
• Fingering (picking, pinching, typing; working with primarily fingers and not whole hand) - Continuously
• Talking (expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word) - Frequently
• Driving (the control and operation of a motor vehicle) - Frequently
• Desk work (work usually performed at a desk) - Frequently
• Use of a computer - Continuously
• Use of a telephone - Frequently
• Hearing (Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels) - Continuously
• Exposure (to adverse weather & temperature conditions) - Occasionally
• Travel (travel needed to perform job duties) - Frequently

Additional Information

This job description is a summary of the job duties and responsibilities and is not intended to cover all possible job duties and is subject to change at the employer’s discretion. Employees must be able to perform the essential job duties and satisfy job requirements either with or without a reasonable accommodation.