Customer Service Manager

Vallen Distribution Inc.•Houston, TX

20d•Onsite

About The Position

The Customer Service Manager leads the team supporting the full Customer Service function for Encon Safety Products. This role is responsible for leading a responsive, accurate, and technically competent support across customer orders, quotations, order tracking, technical product inquiries, bid and project support, complaint resolution, and after-sales service. The manager coordinates with the General Manager when coaching and developing, the Customer Service, Solution Support, and Technical Customer Service teams while working closely with Sales, Production, Engineering, Product Management, Marketing, Purchasing, Accounting, and other business partners to ensure customer needs are met and company policies, pricing guidelines, service standards, and performance goals are achieved.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent combination of education, customer service, inside sales, technical support, manufacturing support, or leadership experience may be considered.
Five or more years of customer service, inside sales, sales operations, technical customer support, project support, or manufacturing customer support experience preferred.
Three or more years of supervisory or people leadership experience preferred, including coaching, performance management, training, scheduling, and workload prioritization.
Experience using ERP systems required; Epicor Manufacturing or similar manufacturing ERP experience preferred.
Experience with CRM systems, project tracking, quote management, order entry, and customer documentation required.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, required.
Ability to understand and interpret customer specifications, drawings, technical requirements, product information, procedure manuals, operating instructions, and commercial terms.
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, commissions, percentages, proportions, pro-rata amounts, sales order dollars, areas, and volumes.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including professional phone and email communication with customers, associates, and cross-functional partners.
Strong data entry accuracy, documentation discipline, and ability to use computers, scanning devices, copier, fax, telephone, and related office equipment.
Ability to handle difficult customer situations with diplomacy, urgency, sound judgment, and a customer-responsive mindset.

Nice To Haves

Degree, diploma, certificate, or training in a STEM, technical, engineering, manufacturing, business, or related field.
Mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, industrial product, or related technical aptitude is strongly preferred. This is a product and manufacturing-focused technical support environment, not an IT-focused role.
Experience with project estimation, takeoffs, formal bids, technical quotations, or value-engineered product recommendations.
Experience supporting safety products, industrial products, engineered systems, manufacturing, distribution, or business-to-business customer environments.
Experience reviewing technical drawings, submittals, specifications, code-related requirements, or BIM-related information.
Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills.

Responsibilities

Lead team in accordance with company policies and applicable laws, including interviewing, onboarding, training, planning, assigning and directing work and coaching.
Develop associate skills, product knowledge, technical competency, system capability, and customer service behaviors through training, coaching, feedback, and team performance expectations.
Create a motivating, accountable, and customer-focused work environment that supports associate growth, engagement, cross-training, and succession planning.
Manage the team in resolving customer complaints quickly and appropriately, including coordinating Customer Feedback Response processes for technical product or service concerns.
Make sound decisions regarding customer issue handling within company policy, escalating complex pricing, contractual, technical, or service issues when appropriate.
Promote strong customer relationships across multiple market segments by ensuring consistent service standards, proactive communication, and thorough follow-through.
Provide leadership for customer requests requiring review of technical data, specifications, drawings, application requirements, and product options in order to develop accurate quotations and recommendations.
Coordinate with Sales, Production, Engineering, Product Managers, Sales Managers, Marketing, and customers to provide technical product specification and pricing information.
Guide the team in offering value-engineered Encon alternatives that meet application needs that are customer focused.
Manage budgetary and formal bid request activity, including review of product specifications, bid parameters, qualifications, stipulations, due dates, and project requirements.
Document customer service performance against service KPI goals, quote responsiveness, order accuracy, customer issue resolution, productivity expectations, and digital utilization goals.
Identify process, system, communication, training, and workflow improvements that increase customer satisfaction, reduce errors, accelerate response times, and improve team productivity.
Partner with Sales, Production, Engineering, Product Management, Marketing, Purchasing, Accounting, and other business partners to implement strategic initiatives and resolve cross-functional customer service issues.
Keep the customer service team current on changes in pricing, products, program parameters, business processes, and customer requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance for Single, Employee + Spouse or Children, and Family Coverage
401(k) with discretionary company match of $0.50 on the $1.00 up to 6% of pay (U.S. positions only)
Employer-paid Basic Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Dependents
Employer-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Benefits and Parental Leave (and any leave required under federal, state, and local laws)
Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Paid Time Off (Vacation and Sick Days): 80–160 hours of vacation time based on seniority, accrued monthly and prorated from date of hire. 40–56 hours of sick time per year based on seniority and advanced upon hire.
Paid Time Off (Holidays): 8 scheduled holidays plus 2 floating holidays
Employee Assistance Program
Employee Resource Groups for networking and team building
Tuition Reimbursement Program
Employee Referral Program
Safety shoe and safety glasses reimbursement (based on position)
Employee discounts through BenefitHub
Advancement opportunities