Careers in Industrial Distribution

Sales

Vice President Sales
Salary Range: $152,000 - $255,000**

Plans and directs all aspects of an organization's sales policies, objectives, and initiatives; responsible for the profit and loss of the company; develops long term strategy.
Represents company to the industry; interacts with senior level managers of distribution channel.
Manages all aspects of the sales function including inside sales, outside sales and customer service teams.
Coordinates with organization executives to plan sales objectives and develop sales policies.
Responsible for ensuring maximum sales volume of an organization's products.

National/Corporate Sales Manager
Salary Range: $124,000 - $181,000**

Typically manages regional sales managers and/or manufacturers’ reps from corporate headquarters.
Acts as liaison between sales and other departments inside the company.
Represents company at industry association meetings and trade shows to promote product.
Interaction with mid- to senior- level managers of distribution channel.
Prepares monthly sales reports containing sales volumes, potentials, trends, and general market data.
Implements strategic direction.
Responsible for the profit and loss of the division.
Holds quarterly sales meetings with outside sales staff.

Manages the promotion and direction of the sales or service activities among customers or prospects in a particular geographic area.
Responsible for the profit and loss of the district or region.
Holds sales meetings and ensures that representatives keep informed of changes in territories that might affect product sales.
Makes forecasts on anticipated market sales. Analyzes sales statistics to formulate policy and assist in promoting sales.

Branch Sales Manager
Salary Range: $49,000 - $93,000*
Learn more about the skill sets and training resources for this position.

Senior Account Manager
Salary Range: $59,000 - $107,000*

Supervises the daily activities of associated with outside sales representatives.
Possesses superior interpersonal communication skills.
Forms long-term personal relationships with many customers, including at the executive level of each customer.
Manages lower level account managers.
Responsible for the profit and loss of the territory.
Works closely with inside sales to manage customer accounts effectively.

Product Specialist
Salary Range: $71,000 - $91,000**
Learn more about the skill sets and training resources for this position.

Monitors all aspects of a product lifecycle, including long and short-term development and marketing.
Stays abreast of trends in the marketplace to ensure the product's competitive position.
Interfaces with project managers and clients to determine the product's future direction.

Performs the daily activities of associated with outside sales representatives engaged in promoting and selling a product face-to-face.
Ensures that products consistently meet customer needs.
Forms personal relationships with many customers.
Ability to manage multiple accounts simultaneously with ability to respond quickly to customer requests.
Responsible for the profit and loss of the division.

Customer Service Representative/Supervisor
Salary Range: $31,000 - $48,000*
Learn more about the skill sets and training resources for this position.

Respond to customer inquiries regarding product selection, placement of orders for standard products and services, requests for prices and quotations, and handle customer credits and complaints.
Expedite orders and requests for literature or other information.
Coordinate activities with internal company departments, vendors and common carriers.
Access, update and maintain records for individual accounts.
Analyze individual solutions and take appropriate action to ensure customer needs are met.

Under supervision, perform duties to provide technical and product assistance to customers in order to generate new and repeat sales.
Describe products or services and assist customers in the selection of the best products suited to their needs.
Quote prices, terms of sales, availability, delivery dates and related information and process orders.

Warehouse
Salary Range: $24,000 - $32,000*
Learn more about the skill sets and training resources for this position.

Receive and unpack items to be stocked in the warehouse verifying counts and recording data manually or using computer; mark stock items using identification tags, electronic bar-coding, or other labeling equipment while storing items in an orderly and accessible manner in the warehouse.
Pack items securely to be shipped from the warehouse preparing bills of lading and recording freight costs incurred.
Cycle count stock to verify inventory records to physical counts, and investigate discrepancies or adjust errors; examine and inspect stock items for wear or defects, reporting any damage to supervisors.
Clean and maintain supplies, tools, equipment, and storage areas in order to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

Driver
Salary Range: $25,000 - $38,000*
Learn more about the skill sets and training resources for this position.

Make deliveries in the most efficient manner and route any expedite orders first while obeying traffic laws and transportation procedures.
Load and unload trucks verifying the contents of inventory loads against shipping papers.
Collect payments for goods delivered and turn in receipts and money received from deliveries.
Inspect vehicle for proper working condition, complete Truck Maintenance Log on a weekly basis, and make Manager aware of any problems.