Account Manager

Be part of a growing, successful company in an exciting and challenging field. Border States is 100% employee-owned, which means you’re empowered to make decisions, find solutions and receive rewards for your hard work.
 
This position will be located in: Chicago , IL  

Supports the functions of the Sales & Marketing Departments within BSE in managing assigned customer account relationships and focuses on opportunity prospects and accounts. Promotes Border States Electric’s products, services and capabilities to maximize customer sales potential.  Regularly calls on assigned accounts, develops new accounts, inputs cost savings documentation, coordinates sales strategies with preferred vendors, actively manages and directs company sales and support resources, and provides input to the pricing and purchasing departments on competitive issues related to price, margin strategy product evaluations, electrical code requirements, inventory requirements and other related sales, marketing and service functions.

Essential Functions

• Meets or exceeds the sales goals which are established.  
• Penetrates and grows current and prospect medium opportunity accounts by identifying new capabilities and cross-sell opportunities. 
• Meets and exceeds daily outreach expectations through a consistent process in a structured account planning environment.
• Identifies targeted opportunities that align to active promotions and new / increased capabilities.
• Prospects, validates, and converts new opportunity prospects by identifying and targeting appropriate influencers and positioning company appropriately vs. competition.
• Understands customer business objectives & translates into a company differentiated advantage.
• Translates customer business objectives into a company differentiated advantage by understanding desired customer business outcomes.
• Keeps current with company offerings, value advantage, & competitive landscape.
• Guides high opportunity accounts to Senior Account Manager when appropriate.
• Ensures quality customer support, through expediting, pricing, follow-up, returns, and other services, as required.  
• Provides customers with timely follow-up on technical inquiries and requests; this may be needed after business hours as well.
• Inputs TCCM cost savings documentation that is relevant to the assigned customer base. 
• Directs the use of marketing tools, technical specialists, and company capabilities/services in support of a broad spectrum of products and services to facilitate a coordinated sales strategy for each assigned customer.  
• Coordinates sales strategies with preferred vendors to maximize customer sales potential.
• Actively manages and directs company sales and support resources to maximize the sales and profit potential in support of all products, markets and specialist team opportunities for BSE. 
• Participates in and advises sales management on the implementation and success of marketing plans and strategies. 
• Provides input to other sales and marketing staff on customer needs and concerns regarding pricing, products, customer service and support, competition, procedures and market / customer potential.
• Provides strategic input to the pricing and purchasing departments on competitive issues related to price / margin strategy, product evaluations, electrical code requirements, inventory requirements, and other related sales, marketing and service functions.

Non-essential Functions

• Advises CFS staff on changes in customer credit worthiness.  
• Advises CFS in any changes in customer management or ownership.
• Penetrates and grows rest of market opportunity as needed.
• May develop quotations for customers within the company profit objectives and guidelines.  
• Leads and attends sales and product meetings and technical training programs, as required.  
• Attends and assists with sales meetings, trade shows and training programs, as needed.
• Coordinates with the Customer Financial Services staff to resolve customer billing issues resulting from errors in pricing, shipping, delivery or other credit areas, as needed.  
• Entertains clients as needed.

• Four-year business, sales, marketing or trade degree or the equivalent in related work experiences.  
• Two-years of prior distribution, customer service, marketing, quotation or sales experience preferred. 
• Experience with contract negotiation.
• Experience with presenting in front of a large group.
• Ability to read, write and speak in English required.  
• Prefer strong working knowledge of PC for Windows, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access, and PowerPoint), Internet, Email and SAP software. 

• Consistently provides responsive, quality service to meet and exceed customer expectations.  
• Technical competence in understanding electrical systems. 
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to effectively plan and organize. 
• Excellent customer service skills include being competent, accurate, responsive and engaged.
• Ability to read a one-line diagram (electrical drawings).

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. - Frequently
  • 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

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

• Sitting (a continuous period of being seated) - Continuously
• Standing (for sustained periods of time) - Frequently
• Walking (moving about on foot to accomplish tasks) - Frequently
• Bending/stooping (downward and forward) - Frequently
• 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) - Continuously
• 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 - Continously
• 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

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.

Our History

Border States is a leader in the electrical supply distribution industry with over 100 locations in 24 states. Our employee-owners are second to none in delivering top-notch customer service and in demonstrating extra-ordinary people skills. We are one of the largest independent electrical distributors in the United States providing products and services to the construction, industrial and utility industries. Border States has a competitive benefit package and is a 100 percent employee-owned company. Employee-ownership is a significant part of our culture and our success stems from the dedication of our employee-owners. We practice open-book management and our employee-owners are empowered with clearly defined levels of authority to be innovative and decisive, allowing us to respond quickly to the needs of customers. Employee-owners understand their roles in the success of the company and care about customers’ needs, which drives our focus on adding value to everything we do. We recognize that not all customers are the same and each has specific requirements. Our employee-owners understand these diverse needs and have the commitment, resourcefulness and flexibility to outperform all others.

Values
As a Border States employee-owner, you’re responsible for living our mission, service philosophy and service standards.

Mission
Border States provides value to our customers by delivering innovative product and supply chain solutions.

Service Philosophy
We earn customer loyalty and confidence by caring about their needs and adding value to everything we do.

Service Standards
Border States employee-owners are competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged .

Your career
Join an experienced team at one of the largest electrical distributors in the United States. What are you waiting for?

Border States has a competitive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity
FSA & HSA
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
Disability Benefits
401(k) Retirement Plan
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Paid Holidays
Paid Volunteer Time
Personal Leave time and more
Border States provides bonuses to their employee-owners upon the achievement of branch and company goals.

Equal Opportunity For All

It’s not just the law.  It’s something  we’ve believed in since our founding.  We value the diversity of all of our employee-owners and will always be an equal opportunity employer.

Drug Free/Smoke Free workplace