Job Title: Inside Sales Support Specialist
Department: Sales
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Reports To: CEO (for the first six months), transitioning to our Aftermarket Sales Manager / VP of Sales thereafter.
General Purpose of the Position
The Inside Sales Support Specialist plays a critical role in supporting the sales team by providing timely vendor coordination, pricing research, quote development, and opportunity management. This position serves as a key liaison between vendors, suppliers, and the sales organization, ensuring rapid response to customer opportunities and helping drive revenue growth through accurate, professional, and efficient sales support.
The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and thrives in a fast-paced environment where urgency, communication, and problem-solving are essential.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Sales Team Support
- Partner closely with outside sales representatives to support customer opportunities from initial inquiry through proposal submission.
- Assist sales personnel in gathering information, preparing quotations, and developing customer solutions.
- Prioritize and manage multiple requests while maintaining a sense of urgency and responsiveness.
- Track open opportunities and proactively follow up on outstanding items to ensure timely completion.
Vendor & Supplier Management
- Serve as a primary point of contact for vendors and suppliers regarding pricing, availability, lead times, and product specifications.
- Request and obtain vendor quotations for customer opportunities.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with manufacturers, suppliers, and distributor partners.
- Coordinate with vendors to resolve pricing discrepancies, delivery concerns, and product-related questions.
Research & Quotation Development
- Research products, applications, specifications, and competitive offerings to support customer requirements.
- Analyze vendor proposals and pricing to identify the most competitive solutions.
- Prepare accurate customer quotations, proposals, and supporting documentation.
- Verify pricing, margins, and contractual requirements before submission.
Opportunity & Project Coordination
- Support the sales team in managing opportunities through CRM and other business systems.
- Maintain detailed records of vendor communications, quotations, and project documentation.
- Coordinate internal resources to ensure customer requests are addressed promptly and accurately.
- Assist with bid preparation, project tracking, and special sales initiatives.
Customer Service & Communication
- Provide professional and timely communication with internal and external stakeholders.
- Respond to customer inquiries when requested by the sales team.
- Help ensure a positive customer experience by supporting rapid response times and accurate information delivery.
- Escalate critical issues and opportunities to the appropriate sales personnel.
Skills, experience, and education needed to perform the job
Required:
- Associate degree or equivalent work experience preferred.
- 2+ years of experience in sales support, inside sales, customer service, purchasing, or a related business function.
- Strong organizational and multitasking skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and Microsoft Teams.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
Preferred:
- Experience working with vendors, distributors, or manufacturers.
- Experience preparing quotations, proposals, or bid documents.
- Knowledge of CRM systems and ERP/business management software.
- Background in industrial equipment, material handling, construction, manufacturing, or B2B sales environments.
Key Competencies
- Sense of urgency
- Relationship building
- Vendor Management
- Research and analytical skills
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Communication and collaboration
- Attention to detail
- Customer focus
- Adaptability
Success Factors
- Enable the sales team to respond to opportunities quickly and professionally.
- Consistently obtain accurate vendor information and competitive pricing.
- Improve quote turnaround times and proposal quality.
- Maintain strong vendor relationships that support business growth.
- Act as a trusted resource for both sales representatives and customers.
- Take ownership of opportunities and drive tasks to completion with minimal supervision.
Physical Demands
This position is primarily sedentary and performed in an office environment. The role requires the ability to sit for extended periods while working at a computer, frequently use hands and fingers for typing and operating standard office equipment, and communicate effectively through speaking and hearing.
Occasional standing, walking, bending, and reaching may be required, along with the ability to lift and carry light items such as files or office supplies (up to 10–15 pounds). Visual acuity is necessary to read computer screens and printed materials. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.
Terms and Conditions
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employee(s) will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.
A review of this position has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties. All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent(s) will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.
