Sales Development Program

Position Overview:

The Sales Development Program is a 12–18 month rotational development program designed to prepare participants for a career in outside sales with Palmer-Donavin. Participants gain hands-on experience across our sales, distribution, and manufacturing operations while developing the product knowledge, customer relationship skills, and business acumen needed to succeed as an Outside Sales Representative.

Throughout the program, participants will rotate through our Building Materials Headquarters in Grove City, OH and our Production Headquarters in Etna, OH, gaining exposure to inside and outside sales, operations, purchasing, credit, pricing, and other key areas of the business. Participants will also work alongside experienced sales professionals through mentorship, customer interactions, ride-alongs, sales activities, and structured development opportunities.

Upon successful completion of the program, participants must be willing to relocate to a Palmer-Donavin market based on available outside sales opportunities and business needs.

Responsibilities:

• Develop a strong understanding of Palmer-Donavin’s products, customers, markets, and sales processes through hands-on training and cross-functional rotations.
• Learn the fundamentals of inside sales, including quoting, order entry, product availability, pricing, procurement, and order tracking.
• Assist customers with questions regarding products, pricing, availability, applications, credit terms, and delivery expectations.
• Partner with Outside Sales Representatives to support current customers, identify prospective customers, develop sales opportunities, and build relationships.
• Participate in customer visits, sales calls, ride-alongs, product demonstrations, and other field-based sales experiences.
• Recommend products and solutions based on customer needs and interests.
• Prepare estimates, quotes, and bids in partnership with experienced sales representatives.
• Develop an understanding of Palmer-Donavin’s warehousing, distribution, and manufacturing operations and how each contributes to the customer experience.
• Gain exposure to purchasing, credit, and strategic pricing to understand their impact on sales and profitability.
• Monitor market conditions, product innovations, competitor activity, and customer needs.
• Support sales mentors through special projects, reporting, trend analysis, administrative support, and customer outreach.
• Complete assigned training, reading, self-study, role plays, presentations, and other development activities.
• Learn and apply Palmer-Donavin’s strategic selling approach while developing consultative selling and relationship-building skills.