Account Representative I - Birmingham, AL

Inside Sales Position

This job is in the Inside Sales job family, which covers positions the duties of which are to perform or supervise work involved in promoting and maintaining sales by originating and developing leads and performing sales remotely, over the phone or email. This job family also includes positions providing customer service and serving as customer service points of contact as well as marketing positions responsible for collection, analysis, and dissemination of information on movement, demand, prices, marketing trends, and other facts relating to the marketing of Phoenix products.

Physical Requirements: Stand or Sit (Stationary position), Walk (Move, Traverse), Use hand/fingers to handle or feel (Operate, Activate, Use, Prepare, Inspect, Place, Detect, Position), Talk/hear (Communicate, Detect, Converse with, Discern, Convey, Express oneself, Exchange information), See (Detect, Determine, Perceive, Identify, Recognize, Judge, Observe, Inspect, Estimate, Assess), Repetitive Motion

Function in the Job: Sedentary Work- Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Job Function:

• Responsible for maintenance, development, and growth of new and established customer accounts by means of face to face and virtual communication, entertainment, and office work.
• Serves as the primary contact for customers, maintains customer relationships and addresses all issues with assigned customer base.
• Manages assigned customer accounts and builds customer relationships to continue to grow business opportunities with the customer.
• Partners with customers within assigned territories to proactively identify long and short-term needs and provide mutually beneficial solutions for products and/or services.
• Generates new business and drives repeat business by ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Schedules and completes limited visits to assigned customer accounts.
• Analyzes historical trends of material usage to better understand customer needs and identify opportunities to improve service.
• Educates customer about additional value add services such to ensure their goals are better met.
• Assists with inventory management and developing inventory levels based on current market forecasts.
• Highlights product features based on a technical knowledge of product capabilities and limitations.
• Answers customers' questions about products, prices, availability, and product uses.
• Develops/maintains effective relationships with customers, providing customer service and complaint resolution.
• Regularly inquires and monitors customer satisfaction regarding quality of products, services and deliveries.
• Promotes feedback mechanisms for customers to influence the continuous improvement of operations and/or production and makes recommendations for potential product enhancements or modifications to increase sales.
• Develops or enters formal quotations into appropriate system or format and provides them to customers.
• Negotiates certain pricing and/or agreements, following established guidelines and/or approvals.
• Follows up with all quotes in a timely manner and according to policy.
• Facilitates execution of accepted agreements, coordinating with operations to ensure all terms are followed.
• Acquires and regularly updates general knowledge of the metals industry and business trends through trade association events and industry publications.
• Continually upgrades and maintains working knowledge of company products, services, equipment, programs and corporate policies & procedures to successfully communicate and sell to new and existing accounts.
• Interacts with other members of the sales and operations team to assist in penetrating specific territory or market to increase sales levels and contractual opportunities.
• Develops vendor database for buyout opportunities. Buyouts defined as products that are standard items and those that do not have corresponding price pages.
• Responsible for adhering to safety processes and protocols.

Required Skills:

• Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience or any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities required.
• High School diploma/GED required; Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Previous experience in sales, customer service, or other related field preferred.
• Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services required.
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service required.
• Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, and other techniques for maximizing the effective processing and distribution of material required.
• Knowledge of company product(s) and their uses required.
• Knowledge of the metals industry required.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and manage time effectively required.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, customers, and the public required.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, particularly a strong virtual presence and listening skills required.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills required.
• Ability to apply mathematical concepts such as fractions, multiplication, ratios and proportions to practical situations required.
• Ability to make independent, sound decisions based on a combination of factors including analysis, knowledge and experience, and judgment required.
• Ability to initiate and maintain cooperative relationships with co-workers and customers required.
• Strong computer proficiency and working knowledge of Microsoft applications required.