Sales Support Manager

Our client Based on the outskirts of Oxfordshire are currently looking to hire an experienced Sales Support Manager to add to their growing team, which specialise in Safety equipment distribution.

The main purpose of this job is to follow up and qualify all new portable product enquiries received into the business and to nurture existing customers held on our database, with a direct outcome of producing qualified sales leads, in line with sales targets and strategy as directed by the business orbit plan. To support the external sales team through maintaining relationships, identifying and researching sales prospects, or helping to identify a contact within a certain organisation. To support the customer support team by owning low-level technical queries and liaising with the external Product Sales Managers. Consulting with Technical Support on in-depth technical enquiries

THE ROLE:

The Role reports to the Managing Director and will involve the following:

- To take ownership of all portable enquiries to pre-qualify them and consult with other team members as necessary through the sales pipeline to the won/lost stage.

- To ensure all customers whose instruments are nearing end of life are contacted in advance to discuss alternatives.

- Contacting existing customers who have gone cold

- Manage the service reminder process - including adding service instruments not sold by us to our system - along with follow-ups and cleansing of the SAP database.

- To upsell and cross-sell products and services at every opportunity which serve the best interests of our customers

- Manage specific campaigns targeting LinkedIn contacts on product and service offerings

- Where we have exclusivity - focused activity to ensure we are winning/retaining that business.

- Work with the marketing team on activities to nurture our existing customers.

- Provide cover for the external PSMs during periods of holidays or when attending exhibitions/conferences etc

- Create helpful tools and reference materials for the business to utilise in the training/development of the team.

- Explore new technology to help identify its potential for the business and target markets to focus on.

- Gathering knowledge and listening too customers to help with any pre-sales questions they may have.

- Attend site visits with external PSMs to help build relationships with each PSM and to understand the different sales styles.

- Attend manufacturer training courses to help build knowledge of their products.

- Attend conferences/exhibitions to gain knowledge of competitors and to support the exhibition team

- Performing additional duties as and when required.

THE PERSON

For this role we are looking for a candidate who has the following attributes:

- Excellent verbal and written communication skills

- Always working towards the goal of delivering an excellent customer experience at every touch point, always striving to exceed expectations

- Excellent ability to manage expectations of all parties in the pipeline conversation and keep everyone informed.

- Ability to own and manage a sales pipeline and follow up any enquiry or potential lead within an agreed time frame.

- Ability to maintain a sales mindset and continually identify new opportunities in any situation.

- Ability to create, manage, and report meaningfully on sales activities, conversion rates and reasons business is won/lost.

- Ability to demonstrate empathy and keen listening skills to understand customer needs.

- Willingness to undertake sales training with a view to elevating the customer experience by asking pertinent questions and suggesting products or services they may benefit from

- Ability to problem solve and work independently, looking to continually improve processes

- Outstanding attention to detail at all times

- The confidence to question and challenge, use initiative, and feed ideas back to the team.

- Possess a positive, professional attitude and embrace learning new skills and seeking improvement.

- A genuine interest in working within a sales/technical environment and developing relevant skills.

- Confidence in working with multiple complex technical products.

- Possess a proactive yet flexible approach to work.

- An understanding of the sales process to help the qualification process.

BENEFITS

This position offers good terms and benefits including: Good basic salary, 20 days annual leave (increasing with length of service) + Bank holidays + Christmas break, Company Pension, Company Life Assurance, Private Health Care scheme, Staff Wellbeing programme, Company Social Committee and regular, free social events.

WORKING HOURSThis is a full-time position, and normal working hours are Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm and Friday 8:30am to 4:00pm. Flexibility of working hours will be required from any applicants.