Industrial and Commercial Outside Sales Associate

Turtle and Hughes•La Porte, TX

About The Position

Turtle & Hughes is seeking an experienced outside sales professional to develop and grow profitable industrial and commercial business across the Houston-area and the broader Gulf Coast region. This field-based position manages a combination of industrial and commercial accounts and requires regular customer visits and travel throughout the territory, which has no defined geographic limitation. Compensation is salary plus unlimited commission. The salesperson will develop new accounts, grow existing relationships, identify opportunities early, and sell electrical distribution products, project solutions, MRO support, inventory programs, and related services. The role involves working with customers, contractors, suppliers, and internal teams to understand requirements and deliver appropriate solutions while protecting gross margin. The salesperson will maintain account and opportunity information, follow quotations and projects through to sale, and build sustainable business by serving as a trusted resource to customers. Industrial customers may include manufacturers, refineries, petrochemical and chemical facilities, energy companies, terminals, process facilities, and other large industrial operations. Commercial customers may include electrical and general contractors, developers, facility operators, property managers, and businesses involved in construction and facility operations. The position works with decision-makers across customer organizations and coordinates with Turtle & Hughes inside sales, project management, operations, purchasing, project and lighting teams, and supplier partners. Turtle & Hughes is a long-established, fourth-generation family-owned and three-generation women-owned electrical and industrial distributor founded in 1923. The company offers the resources of an established distributor and the opportunity to directly contribute to the growth of its Gulf Coast business.

Requirements

5–7 years of outside sales experience in the industrial and/or commercial markets of the Gulf Coast.
Established relationships with customers, contractors, industrial facilities, or other decision-makers in the Gulf Coast market.
Demonstrated success developing new business and growing existing accounts.
Ability to sell through relationships, technical understanding, responsiveness, and value rather than price alone.
Strong understanding of the electrical distribution or electrical contracting environment.
Ability to understand customer requirements and translate them into practical product or service solutions.
Strong prospecting, presentation, negotiation, and follow-up skills.
Ability to independently manage multiple customers, opportunities, and priorities.
Strong communication and organizational skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and ability to learn CRM and other sales systems.
Valid driver's license and ability to travel throughout the Gulf Coast region.

Nice To Haves

Experience with an electrical distributor, electrical contractor, manufacturer, or manufacturer's representative.
Existing relationships with electrical contractors, industrial customers, EPCs, engineering firms, or facility operators.
Experience selling electrical products, MRO products, project solutions, automation, lighting, wire and cable, switchgear, controls, or related products.
Experience selling into oil and gas, petrochemical, manufacturing, industrial, commercial construction, or other Gulf Coast markets.
Experience managing larger strategic accounts or complex sales opportunities.
Experience working with project-based and recurring MRO business.

Responsibilities

Develop new industrial accounts and expand existing customer relationships.
Build relationships with decision-makers across industrial customer organizations, including plant managers, maintenance managers, electrical and instrumentation personnel, procurement teams, engineers, project managers, and contractors.
Understand industrial customer operations and identify opportunities beyond individual product transactions.
Sell electrical distribution products, project solutions, MRO support, inventory programs, and other services suited to customer requirements.
Identify plant projects, expansions, turnarounds, maintenance needs, capital projects, and other potential business opportunities.
Help industrial customers improve product availability, reduce downtime, manage inventory, and simplify procurement.
Develop relationships with industrial contractors and engineering firms supporting customer projects.
Coordinate with internal operations, purchasing, project management, and suppliers to support larger industrial requirements.
Protect gross margin while developing long-term customer relationships.
Develop relationships with electrical contractors and commercial construction customers throughout the Gulf Coast.
Identify new construction, renovation, tenant improvement, service, maintenance, and facility opportunities.
Develop relationships with owners, estimators, project managers, purchasing personnel, foremen, and other contractor decision-makers.
Identify projects early and position Turtle & Hughes before final purchasing or competitive bidding stages whenever possible.
Support contractors with product selection, pricing, availability, lead times, and project requirements.
Work with project and lighting teams when opportunities need specialized project support.
Develop recurring business opportunities and monitor competitor activity, pricing, customer requirements, and market conditions.
Follow quotations and opportunities through to the sale and continue managing relationships after orders are placed.
Prospect for new customers and opportunities within the Gulf Coast market, and maintain and grow an assigned customer base.
Develop account plans for key customers and prospects and make regular face-to-face customer visits.
Follow up consistently on quotations, projects, and customer opportunities; understand customer purchasing patterns and future requirements.
Work with inside sales, project management, operations, purchasing, and supplier partners to serve customers effectively.
Maintain accurate customer, opportunity, activity, and forecast information in company systems.
Participate in customer and contractor meetings, job walks, industry events, and supplier meetings.
Represent Turtle & Hughes professionally throughout the Gulf Coast market.