Inside Sales/Customer Service Representative

Job Description

Job Description

General Position Summary

This position is responsible for sales support activities in the assigned territory to achieve the company’s sales objectives and handling various customers’ requests and inquiries.     

Essential Job FunctionsSALES

• Responsible for supporting the sales staff.
• Assists new accounts and maintains or updates current accounts/SOPs.
• Establishes or maintains professional customer/vendor relationships with appropriate customer personnel. 
• Handles business inquiries by phone, facsimile and e-mail.  
• Provides quotations to the customers and rates to other branches/oversea offices.
• Attends weekly departmental sales meeting to discuss project status and prospective customers.
• Occasionally may visit customers on site.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

• Provides assistance in operations as necessary by handling booking, documentation, compliance, customs clearance, customs brokerage, notification, delivery and warehouse coordination.  .
• Monitors status of shipments; Interfaces between customers and vendor services for shipment of goods.
• Communicates and coordinates with other Hankyu personnel and agents to ensure the smooth operation. 
• Investigates and resolves customer problems.
• Assists with invoicing operations (cross-border shipments, triangle shipments, distribution accounts, etc)

ADMINISTRATIVE WORK    

• Checks with Accounting A/R for the receivables position and takes responsibility for the resolving action for uncollected account receivables.
• Checks with Accounting A/R for creditworthiness of assigned accounts. 
• Helps to setup credit terms for new customers in accordance with the company policy.
• Submits expense report in a timely manner.

OTHER & MISCELLANEOUS

• Any project that is assigned by supervisor/manager and/or the Company.
• Seeks constant improvement, more efficient and less expensive ways and means in work processes.
• Performs special projects and other miscellaneous duties as assigned by senior management. 
• Maintains high ethical standards in the workplace.
• Reports all irregular issues and problems to managers for solution.
• Maintains good communication with managers, other staff members and outside contacts.
• Complies with all company policies and procedures. 
• Responsible for maintaining a clean and safe working area.

Job Dimensions (skills, knowledge & abilities)

Essential Job Dimensions 

Analysis, Attention to Detail, Communications: Reading & Writing English, Confidentiality, Customer Service, Decision-making, Dependability/Reliability, Diplomacy, Initiative/Follow Through, Judgment, Math-Basic, Monitoring/Control, Negotiations, Office Equipment Usage, Personal Computer Usage, Presentation, Project Management, Problem-solving, Team Participation, Vendor Relations.

Qualifications

Education & Work Experience

• Associate’s degree (A.A.); or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must have between two and three years of previous experience in a similar position.
• Japanese/English bilingual.  

Tools & Equipment

• General office equipment including phones, fax, copier, personal computer, etc.
• Software includes the use of Windows operating system, MS Office.
• Any tools, equipment, software that are required to be used. 

Certificates / Licenses

• Any certificate or training records that are required by each department, position/title, or government agency. 

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential job functions of this position.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Work is typically performed in an office environment with moderate noise. 

Frequent travel is required by both car and plane. 

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully the essential job functions of this position.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is required to frequently sit and occasionally must stand, walk, use hands and fingers and