Buffalo Grove, Illinois Headquarters position.
Skill Factors
A Senior Executive Sales Support person will be self-directed, self-disciplined, high-energy, forward and creative thinking with high ethical standards. He or she will possess strong leadership skills, self efficacy; planning skills, organization, and plan execution skills. He or she will be a persuasive and effective communicator and will be an enforcer of high ethics.
Skill factors include interpersonal skills, problem solving skills, and the ability to predict how the behavior of individuals is aroused, started, sustained and stopped. A Senior Executive Sales Support person will possess an understanding of character traits of individuals and what’s important to them as well as an understanding of group dynamics, which includes an understanding of what to expect from an individual one-an-one and how this person’s behavior can change when she or he is subjected to group behavior.
Multitasking skills are essential to the job, as is the ability to perform in a work environment where multiple and frequent distractions are commonplace. The incumbent will be clear thinking and be able to prioritize while working in an environment of constant change.
A Senior Executive Sales Support person will possess the ability to teach, develop, and coach field sales persons, which are also known as Senior Area Managers (SAMs): Plus, she or he will be vigilant in creating a work environment whereby SAMs feel at ease to come and express their concerns.
Computer skills and administrative acumen are required.
Education: University degree in marketing or equivalent. The individual will have a solid grasp of business practices and concept s, plus, a grasp of organizational behavior. The incumbent will have strong leadership and people skills.
Experience: Goal setting and identifying the means to attain them is required. Two to three years experience as a SAM operating in the field or someone other than a SAM with one to two years operating in a work environment of kind.
Effort Factors
Physical Demands: The individual will have a presence about her or him that will quickly earn the respect of colleagues and SAMs. She or he will be articulate and will be fluent in English, written and oral.
Mental Demands: A Senior Executive Sales Support person will possess character traits such that he or she responds positively to constant stress brought about by demands of the job. He or she will maintain a positive attitude even during extreme situations.
Working Conditions. The individual will work out of his or her home.
Duties
He or she will liaise with Sales Regional Managers in order to set up training for Senior Area Managers. The mix of SAMs attending sales training will consist of new SAMs, plus some 5AMs that are experienced but need additional help.
She or he will field phone calls from SAMs, listen to their concerns or issues, record SAMs issues and concerns, resolve SAMs issues and concerns to the satisfaction of the SAM without involving a third party if possible. In instances where resolution to a problem is not possible without intervention of a third party, then offer assistance or reassurance to the SAM to the extent possible and liaise with home office or some other third party of significance. He or she will follow through with all parties until such time as the SAM issue or concern has been properly addressed and done so in a timely manner.
SAM issues or concerns will cover a wide spectrum and can range in intensity from low to very high. High meaning the SAM is so distressed that she or he is getting close to making a decision to terminate employment with SMS. SAM issues and concerns can be both business related and personal. The same high level of attentiveness will be given to both categories of complaints.
She or he will submit a report on at least a weekly basis to the Executive Director of Sales. This report will be a summation of data related to the daily phone calls to the Executive Director of Sales. He or she is required to make daily phone calls to the Executive Director to report on all incidents relating to SAMs for that day. Any and all outstanding issues from previous dates will be discussed at the same time.
The Senior Executive Sales Support person is required to liaise with home office Human Resources Department in cases where SAMs have terminated their employment, or other human resources issues. She or he is also required to arrange travel and living accommodations for Regional Sales Managers and Sales Trainers. Also, as part of a resolution to a SAMs concern or issue, she or he will, at times, be required to coach or even mentor SAMs.