Business Development Specialist

Position Summary: The Business Development Specialist supports sales leadership, customer service, and Territory Managers in driving market growth across assigned territories. This role is responsible for coordinating business development initiatives, supporting sales rep development and ensuring consistency in sales tools, processes and territory transitions: Key responsibilities include; delivering product and sales training (new hires and in-field), supporting adoption of sales tools, managing open territory contracts and projects to support a seamless territory transition.

Sales Rep Development

Facilitate sales and product training for internal staff and new reps
Field visits to reps for training or account development assistance
Perform in-field product evals for existing and potential customers
Update and maintain sales tools and resources
Account database management for transitioning territories; such as contacts, open quotes and order and deliveries and installs
Cover open territories opportunistically by quoting opportunities, traveling as needed for sales calls, product evals, inside deliveries, and ensuring smooth transitioning to the new Territory Manager

Quoting

Support Quoting questions as needed
Review key quotes against competition
Collect and disseminate competitive information
Provide training and support for new quoting tools
Quote opportunities for open territories

Additional Responsibilities:
Field and Event Support:

Execute delivery and setup of mock-ups and shows (5-8 events per year)
Support the warranty team as needed with in-field repairs and evaluation

Sales Operations and Support:

Assist in execution of sales meetings
Collect and summarize feedback from surveys or forms
Assist with product selection for RFPs and bids
Assist reps and customer service with technical phone support on product questions
Be the go-to for Infor CRM Sales Support
Work with customer service to collect incomplete order information
Support customer service as needed to facilitate order placement and fulfillment

Product and Marketing Support:

Support product managers during product launches
Assist in research for new product development
Assist Marketing with lead generation and execution
Partner with Customer Service, Marketing and Logistics to execute the in-stock sample program
Update spec sheets for mock-ups and bids, per engineering and marketing’s direction

Experience and Knowledge Required

Bachelor’s degree in business or related field, or equivalent experience
2–4 years of experience, preferably in field sales or a sales support role with exposure to customer buying processes and competitive landscape
Knowledge of Sauder Education product and the higher education market preferred
Aptitude for understanding and effectively communicating furniture construction techniques
Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with CRM systems
Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
Analytical mindset with solid business and math skills
Ability to travel up to 35% (3–4 days at a time)
Ability to obtain forklift certification

Key Attributes Required:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables
Ability to solve problems in stressful situations
Strong attention to details
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form
Self-starting, goal-oriented individual who takes personal accountability for performance
Communicates effectively in both oral and written forms
Individual will need to demonstrate previous success in excellent organizational, facilitation, and communication skills
Computer skills to help with communication and quoting
Ability to organize information to be support territory, project, and account management

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear and frequently required to walk and sit as well as lift heavy furniture items, occasionally exceeding 80 lbs. Use of hands and fingers will be required for writing, computer use, and phone use. Work in a manner consistent with standard Sauder safety practices and expectations. The employee will also be required to walk throughout the plant at various times during a typical day. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Encompasses the full spectrum from the factory floor, to personal offices, to executive boardrooms to end user meeting rooms and delivery sites. The noise levels in these work environments are usually low to moderate. Personal protective equipment such as eye protection and ear protection may be required in the shop floor environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While traveling for work it is expected to operate under the standard Sauder safety practices.
Sauder Manufacturing Co. is an equal opportunity employer and gives equal consideration for employment to all qualified applicants.