Quotations Specialist

Be part of a growing, successful company in an exciting and challenging field. Border States is 100% employee-owned, which means you're empowered to make decisions, find solutions and receive rewards for your hard work.

 
This position will be located in: Rochester , MN
Job Summary Provides specialized knowledge and skills to enhance the operations of the Quotations. Performs takeoffs of bids and pricing functions. Proactively works with engineers and customers to meet their changing business needs and resolve issues. Develops quotations and requests bid and/or performance bonds for customers within company profit objectives and guidelines. Actively participates in coordinating, analyzing, and acting upon information and feedback of customer needs, pricing, products, competition, and procedures.
Responsibilities Essential Functions Performs takeoffs of bids and pricing functions that could include products such as motor control centers, motor drives, control components, fixtures, lighting, lamps, dimming systems, switchgear, duct systems, apparatus and specialty equipment.  Utilizes senior level knowledge and experience to make judgment and discretionary decisions to determine what product specifications, applications, and pricing are necessary for a specific project. Proactively works with engineers and customers to meet their changing business needs and resolve issues. Provides guidance and may participate in the completion of the quotation process for each assigned project.  Provides customers with timely follows-up on specialized or technical inquiries and requests. Develops quotations and requests bids for customers within company profit objectives and guidelines. Provides consistent, responsive, quality service to our customers. Actively participates in coordinating, analyzing, and acting upon information and feedback of customer needs, pricing, products, competition, and procedures. Coordinates with BSE staff to resolve customer billing issues resulting from errors in the quotations process, pricing, shipping, deliver or other customer service/credit areas. Maintains an active log of wins/losses for project bids that includes vendors and contractors quoted. Non-essential Functions Provides input and market intelligence, as required. May place orders and hold orders on secured projects, prepare submittal drawings, and release hold orders after submittal approval. May obtain orders and provide sales support for the BSE outside sales force. May provide guidance in purchasing functions, product evaluations and code descriptions, inventory management, pricing development, and other related services. Attends sales meetings and training programs, as required. Participates in sales meetings and trade shows, as needed. Qualifications Minimum of a business or trade degree preferred or the equivalent in work experience.  Minimum of four years of prior customer service, quotation or sales experience with strong knowledge of electrical products and systems preferred. Comprehensive knowledge of product lines and applications, alternate product substitutes, and supplier pricing policies preferred. Ability to read, write and speak in English preferred. Prefer strong working knowledge of PC for Windows, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word and PowerPoint), Internet, Email and SAP software.  Skills and Abilities Strong technical ability to understand electrical systems and product applications with prior electrical distribution experience preferred. Technical ability to read blueprints. Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication, reading, and customer service skills are preferred with the ability to effectively plan and organize. Excellent customer service skills include being competent, accurate, responsive and engaged. Physical Requirements Frequency at which you would carry/lift in a typical day:
Occasionally 0 – 33% Frequently 34 – 66% Continuously: 67 – 100%
Lift from Waist: 10 to 25 lbs. - Not at all 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all 100+ lbs. - Not at all Lift from Floor: 10 to 25 lbs. - Frequently 26 to 50 lbs. - Occasionally 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all 100+ lbs. - Not at all Carried for Distance: 10 to 25 lbs. - Not at all 26 to 50 lbs. - Not at all 51 to 75 lbs. - Not at all 75 to 100 lbs. - Not at all 100+ lbs. - Not at all Physical Activity Frequency at which you would do the following in a typical day: Sitting (a continuous period of being seated) - Continuously Standing (for sustained periods of time) - Frequently Walking (moving about on foot to accomplish tasks) - Frequently Bending/stooping (downward and forward) - Occasionally Crawling (moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet) - Not at all Climbing/Walking Stairs (ascending or descending) - Frequently Reaching (extending arms in any direction) - Frequently Crouching/squatting (bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine) - Occasionally Kneeling (bending legs at knee to come to rest on knee(s)) - Occasionally Balancing (maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling) - Occasionally Repetitive motion (substantial movement (motions) or the wrists, hands, and/or fingers) - Continuously Pivoting (movement in any direction with one foot, keeping the other in contact with the floor) - Occasionally Pushing/Pulling (using upper extremities to press against or draw or tug) - Occasionally Grasping (Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm) - Continuously Fingering (picking, pinching, typing; working with primarily fingers and not whole hand) - Continuously Talking (expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word) - Continuously Driving (the control and operation of a motor vehicle) - Occasionally Desk work (work usually performed at a desk) - Continuously Use of a computer - Continuously Use of a telephone - Continuously Hearing (Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels) - Continuously Exposure (to adverse weather & temperature conditions) - Occasionally Travel (travel needed to perform job duties) - Occasionally Additional Information This job description is a summary of the job duties and responsibilities and is not intended to cover all possible job duties and is subject to change at the employer's discretion. Employees must be able to perform the essential job duties and satisfy job requirements either with or without a reasonable accommodation.
Our History Border States is a leader in the electrical supply distribution industry with over 120 locations in 31 states. Our employee-owners are second to none in delivering top-notch customer service and in demonstrating extra-ordinary people skills. We are one of the largest independent electrical distributors in the United States providing products and services to the construction, industrial and utility industries. Border States has a competitive benefit package and is a 100 percent employee-owned company. Employee-ownership is a significant part of our culture and our success stems from the dedication of our employee-owners. We practice open-book management and our employee-owners are empowered with clearly defined levels of authority to be innovative and decisive, allowing us to respond quickly to the needs of customers. Employee-owners understand their roles in the success of the company and care about customers' needs, which drives our focus on adding value to everything we do. We recognize that not all customers are the same and each has specific requirements. Our employee-owners understand these diverse needs and have the commitment, resourcefulness and flexibility to outperform all others.
Values
As a Border States employee-owner, you're responsible for living our mission, service philosophy and service standards.
Our Purpose
We believe unstoppable businesses shouldn't go it alone. We are owners - of relationships, of outcomes, of every moment these unstoppable businesses need to deliver.
Service Philosophy
We earn customer loyalty and confidence by caring about their needs and adding value to everything we do.
Service Standards
Border States employee-owners are competent, accurate, responsive, and engaged .
Your career
Join an experienced team at one of the largest electrical distributors in the United States. What are you waiting for?
Border States has a competitive benefits package which includes but is not limited to: Health, Dental and Vision Benefits
Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity
FSA & HSA
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
Disability Benefits
401(k) Retirement Plan
Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Paid Holidays
Paid Volunteer Time
Personal Leave time and more!
Border States provides bonuses to their employee-owners upon the achievement of branch and company goals.
Equal Opportunity For All It's not just the law. It's something we've believed in since our founding. We value the diversity of all of our employee-owners and will always be an equal opportunity employer.
Drug Free/Smoke Free workplace