Account Representative I - Kansas City, KS

reliance•Kansas City, KS

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This job is in the Inside Sales job family, which covers positions responsible for promoting and maintaining sales by originating and developing leads and performing sales remotely, over the phone or email. This role also includes providing customer service, serving as a customer service point of contact, and marketing functions related to the collection, analysis, and dissemination of information on market trends and Phoenix products. The Account Representative is responsible for the maintenance, development, and growth of new and established customer accounts through face-to-face and virtual communication, entertainment, and office work. They serve as the primary contact for customers, maintain customer relationships, and address all issues with their assigned customer base. The role involves managing assigned customer accounts, building relationships to grow business opportunities, and partnering with customers to identify needs and provide solutions. The representative will generate new business, drive repeat business through customer satisfaction, and conduct limited visits to assigned accounts. They will analyze historical trends, educate customers on value-added services, and assist with inventory management. The role requires highlighting product features, answering customer questions, developing and maintaining customer relationships, monitoring customer satisfaction, and promoting feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement. Additionally, the representative will develop and provide formal quotations, negotiate pricing and agreements, facilitate the execution of accepted agreements, and acquire knowledge of the metals industry and company products. Collaboration with sales and operations teams is expected to increase sales and contractual opportunities. The role also involves developing a vendor database for buyout opportunities and adhering to safety processes and protocols.

Requirements

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
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.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

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.