Automation Specialist

Automation Specialist

Schedule: Monday - Friday

Location: This position can be based in a Viking Electric East Region Wisconsin location

(Oshkosh, Wausau, Green Bay, Sheboygan)

This position is responsible for supporting the sales efforts for automation related product lines. While they may have no assigned customer accounts, the primary specialist responsibility is sales and bottom line growth. This is achieved by providing application problem solving, customer technical support, customer training, in-house training and marketing support.

Primary job responsibilities include:

Direct sales-based activities:

• Joint and individual calls with line sales people to introduce new products.
• Presentations to groups of customers to describe technical features.
• Can break-down complex technology into simple words simple terms.
• Application needs evaluation in order to develop “customized solutions” to the customer’s problems.
• Build quotations and bills of material for technical products.
• Assist salespeople in identifying high-potential target accounts.
• Indirect sales-based activities:
• Develop and conduct “in-house” how to sell my products training for sales and customer service groups.
• Advise on proper descriptions in company business system.
• Manage catalog and support materials for sales activities.
• Provide catalog assistance to customer service and inside sales groups.

Customer technical support:

• Provide customer-based product training or seminars.
• Assist customers with needs and application analysis.
• Assist customers in trouble shooting activities.
• Act as “front line” support for programming, configuration or set-up questions.
• Attend manufacturer and industry led technology updates as needed.
• Internal technical support:
• Answer technology questions from sales and customer service people.
• Develop and conduct technology training and product training classes for sales and customer service departments. Automation Specialist Lead 2 Job Description Revision 5/14
• Keep abreast of new standards and government regulations.

Vendor relations:

• Attend vendor planning/review/targeting meetings.
• Coordinate sales and technical support activities with local vendor team.
• Suggest training topics for local vendor sales people.
• Provide information to management team for vendor rating meetings as needed.
• Assist in negotiating special pricing on sample and demos.
• Secondary responsibilities:
• Assist marketing in developing the appropriate marketing materials for sale brochures, events and other promotions.
• Review all inventory slated for scrapping for potential salability or use as demo equipment.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor Degree or equivalent experience.
• Strong presentation and coaching skills (groups & 1-on-1).
• Skilled with necessary aspects of computers. Understanding of product features, applications and problem solving.
• Ability to recognize and assume responsibility of sales team. Understanding of competitive positioning, market level prices, product mixes. Ability to seek out new technologies and recruits suppliers.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have a valid driver’s license
• Limited travel