External Sales Consultant - Industrial Automation

About the External Sales Consultant - Industrial Automation role

We are looking for an experienced Sales Consultant for our Industrial Automation Division based in Pinetown, KZN. This role works closely with customers to grow and promote the sale of Rubicon products including, but not limited to, generating new business opportunities, qualifying leads, developing long-term customer relationships, implementing strategic plans, and managing assigned customer accounts.

Sales Consultant Responsibilities:

1. Integrate and align sales plans for assigned customers.
2. Prepare action plans for effective search of sales leads and prospects within assigned sales regions.
3. Develop profitable and sustainable sales growth through engagement with current and potential customers within the assigned sales region.
4. Perform B2B sales activities.
5. Strive to meet and exceed sales goals as assigned by the Division Head of Industrial Automation.
6. Schedule regular, in-person customer meetings (set targets to be met).
7. Establish and maintain productive, long-term professional relationships with decision-makers at customer organizations and create action plans for follow-up; Key accounts could require monthly/weekly visits.
8. Close and grow sales through professional communication and interaction with current and potential customers and provide exemplary customer service throughout the sales cycle.
9. Collect and maintain information on the accounts, organization, budget, and preferences of current and potential customers; Be well versed in the customer's problems and goals.
10. Manage and interpret customer requirements – speaking with clients to understand, anticipate, and meet their needs.
11. Maintain high customer satisfaction ratings that meet company standards.
12. Support customers with technical advice.
13. Create and maintain account plans for assigned customers and value opportunities.
14. Communicate sales or service opportunities and customer concerns or suggestions.
15. Identify, investigate, track and resolve customer concerns or complaints, identify trends, implement solutions, and recommend a course of action on how to alleviate these in the future.
16. Coordinate sales team to provide exemplary service to customers and work closely with other company departments to prevent and resolve issues in project designs, stores, or logistics.
17. Research sources for developing prospective customers for information to determine their potential.
18. Expand market awareness of our products and our industry experience by communicating features and benefits of our products and services effectively.
19. Maintain records of customer communications and contact information as required through the relevant internal platforms (e.g. GeoRep; NetSuite).
20. Prepare Quotes.
21. Attend and participate in trade shows, conferences, and other marketing events.
22. Maintain awareness of pertinent client information, payment performance; communicate and client information that may affect company decisions to appropriate departments as needed.
23. Communicate market requirements and market data with sales teams and managers.

In our environment, an excellent sales advisor is energetic and outgoing with excellent interpersonal skills.

Our ideal candidates are able to acquire a thorough knowledge of the company's products and pass that knowledge to customers with great enthusiasm and confidence.

The goal is to facilitate sales and ongoing sales relationships to drive sustainable growth.

Role requirements are:

Essential:

1. At Minimum a Matric / NQF4 equivalent essential.
2. Engineering Qualification is highly advantageous.
3. Proven track record of 3-5 yrs as an External Sales Consultant in the relevant sector.
4. Effective verbal and written communication skills.
5. Own vehicle and valid driver's licence required.

Preferred:

1. Engineering technical background an advantage.