Inside Sales/Customer Service Representative

Hankyu Hanshin Express usa•Addison, IL

About The Position

This position supports sales activities in an assigned territory to help achieve company sales objectives and responds to customer requests and inquiries. It provides sales support, assists with account setup and maintenance, builds professional customer and vendor relationships, handles business inquiries, prepares quotations and rates, and participates in departmental sales meetings. Occasional customer site visits may be required. The role also supports operations by coordinating shipment bookings, documentation, compliance, customs clearance and brokerage, notifications, deliveries, and warehouse activity. It monitors shipments, serves as an interface between customers and vendor services, coordinates with company personnel and agents, resolves customer problems, and assists with invoicing. Administrative work includes checking receivables and customer creditworthiness with Accounting, addressing uncollected receivables, helping establish credit terms for new customers in accordance with company policy, and submitting expense reports on time. Additional duties include assigned projects, improving work processes, maintaining ethical standards and communication, complying with company policies, reporting problems, and keeping the work area clean and safe. The role has no supervisory responsibilities and is typically performed in an office environment with moderate noise. Frequent travel by car and plane is required.

Requirements

Associate’s degree (A.A.) or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Two to three years of previous experience in a similar position.
Skills in analysis, attention to detail, written and verbal English communication, confidentiality, customer service, decision-making, dependability, diplomacy, initiative and follow-through, judgment, basic math, monitoring and control, negotiation, office equipment and personal computer use, presentations, project management, problem-solving, teamwork, and vendor relations.
Ability to use general office equipment, including phones, fax machines, copiers, and personal computers.
Ability to use the Windows operating system and MS Office.
Frequent travel by car and plane.

Responsibilities

Support sales staff and assist with new accounts and the maintenance or updating of current accounts and SOPs.
Establish or maintain professional relationships with customer and vendor personnel.
Handle business inquiries by phone, facsimile, and email.
Provide quotations to customers and rates to other branches and overseas offices.
Attend weekly departmental sales meetings to discuss project status and prospective customers.
Occasionally visit customers on site.
Assist operations with booking, documentation, compliance, customs clearance and brokerage, notifications, delivery, and warehouse coordination.
Monitor shipment status and interface between customers and vendor services for shipment of goods.
Coordinate with company personnel and agents to support smooth operations.
Investigate and resolve customer problems.
Assist with invoicing operations, including cross-border shipments, triangle shipments, and distribution accounts.
Check receivables and customer creditworthiness with Accounting A/R, and take responsibility for resolving uncollected receivables.
Help establish credit terms for new customers in accordance with company policy.
Submit expense reports in a timely manner.
Carry out projects and other duties assigned by a supervisor, manager, or senior management.
Seek more efficient and less expensive work processes.
Maintain high ethical standards, communicate with managers, staff, and outside contacts, comply with company policies and procedures, report irregular issues, and maintain a clean and safe work area.