Inside Sales Specialist (4322)

You have a choice of where you want to work! We invite you along on our journey to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to attract, retain, and energize passionate people, like you, by investing in your professional development and providing opportunities for personal growth.

Do your values align with ours? Accountability, Growth mindset, One team, Care and a fair and inclusive work environment for everyone, everywhere!

We strive to meet the highest standards of corporate citizenship by protecting the health and safety of our team, safeguarding the environment, and creating a long-lasting, positive impact on the communities where we do business. Are you with us?!?

About the Opportunity

The Inside Sales Representative will handle incoming inquiries, work proactively to develop new business, and manage assigned external customers, as well as frequently contact potential new customers to understand their needs with the goal of generating new business. The role of the Inside Sales Representative provides the training and foundation for eventually becoming an external field Sales or Account Manager.

Essential Functions and Primary Responsibilities:

• Must follow Ahlstrom's manufacturing and hygiene processes, procedures and policies, as applicable, to the position's areas of responsibility, in order to meet and maintain the safety, quality, and regulatory compliance requirements for each grade of paper.

• Prospect for potential new customers and handle incoming telephone and internet inquiries.

• Define potential customer's business, organizational structure, and determine key decision makers.

• Identify customer's product needs and technical and service requirements desired. Quantify historic product consumption and provide forecasts of future demand.

• Develop and implement plans to achieve objectives at target accounts in attractive market segments.

• Evaluate customer satisfaction and define customer's degree of satisfaction with Expera on meeting basic needs (product quality, on time shipments, etc.).

• Identify competitive offerings, document pricing and services offered by competitors. Define gaps in competitors' performance to ensure we provide an offering to close these gaps.

• Provide clear justification for assignment of potential account to external sales rep.

• Develop a clear understanding of products features/benefits, value propositions, and business capabilities.

• Work with Marketing/Business Development team to complete research on new product markets and assist in completing competitive analysis projects.

• Coordinate all aspects of customer relationships (pricing, quotes, customer set up, claims/complaint and CAR responses, forecasting, etc.).

• Develop understanding of all functions within sales and marketing (customer solutions, business development, commercial manager/pricing, marketing, scheduling, etc.)

• Utilize, update and maintain customer information in Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.

• Provide timely responses to all prospects and customer.

• Some travel may be necessary & valid driver's license is required.

• All other assignments assigned by management

This is not an exhaustive list of duties or functions and may not necessarily comprise all the "essential functions" for purposes of the ADA.

Minimum Occupational Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree, highly preferred but not required

• Sales experience, preferred

• Direct experience in paper manufacturing industry or converting industry

• Must be able to communicate effectively with internal stakeholders, suppliers, carriers, and customers, as needed

• Experience using CRM system, preferred

• Fluent written and spoken English; Good written and verbal communication skills as well as teamwork skills

• Highly organized and logical; willing to adapt quickly to changing business needs

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced team environment

• Ability to effectively handle pressure situations to meet customer demands

• Proficient in MS Office software

• Ability to travel and must possess valid driver's license and passport

• Ability to work additional hours during the week, on weekends, or outside of regular office hours may be required

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis

• The ability to work in a normal office environment to include: sitting or standing for long periods of time, operating various standard office equipment, carrying paper documents/files, reaching and bending, and speaking

Ahlstrom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal opportunity is a sound and just concept to which we are firmly bound. Ahlstrom will not engage in discrimination against, or harassment of, any person employed or seeking employment with our company based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, non-disqualifying disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.

About Us. Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. Our vision is to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders.

We serve five growing and distinctive end markets, which form the basis for our five divisions: Filtration, Food & Consumer Packaging, Healthcare, Building Materials, and Technical Materials.

Our pro forma net sales 2021 for continuing operations amounted to EUR 2.6 billion and we employ some 7,000 people.

Learn more at www.ahlstrom.com