Sales & Service Manager - Kathabar - Alfa Laval Inc

At Alfa Laval, we always go that extra mile to overcome the toughest challenges. Our driving force is to accelerate success for our customers, people and planet. You can only achieve that by having dedicated people with a curious mind. Curiosity is the spark behind great ideas. And great ideas drive progress.

Who You Are

You are a self-motivated team player with the ability to easily network in an international and cross-cultural environment, working in line with Alfa Laval drivers; Action, Interaction, and Satisfaction. You are driven and see solutions rather than problems, effectively prioritizing and executing tasks.

If the above sounds like you, this position might be just what you’re looking for!

About The Job

Join our Kathabar team as a Sales & Service Manager, and use your strong commercial and managerial skills to provide superior support to our customer base. This position is key to securing the required level of sales and technical support for both new and existing customers for the Kathabar business. Kathabar manufactures dehumidification equipment primarily sold to the Food, Beverage, and Pharmaceutical markets within Food & Water Division of Alfa Laval.

As a Part of The Team, You Will

As part of the team, the following requirements will apply.

• Manage and provide strategic direction to the following direct reports.
  • (2) Application Sales Engineers
  • (1) Sales Engineer (focus on both capital sales and after sales)
  • (2) Field Service Technicians
  • (1) Customer Service / Order Handling Representative 

• Achieve financial and non-financial targets by focusing on product management tasks in the following areas.
  • Develop Sales & Service strategies (business plans) for optimum utilization of resources and to maximize business potential.

• New Capital Sales
  • Develop way to market strategies that will best grow the business including sales channel development.
  • Ensure Kathabar is a cohesive team with clear roles and responsibilities, common goals and objectives, and a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Create and/or document standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to quotation creation and support, order handling, customer service and technical help desk related activities.
  • Develop resource plans to best support sales generating activities as well as continuous improvement of internal processes.
  • Maintain existing and create new tools for our sales force to differentiate Kathabar from its competitors and to help them succeed in selling new capital equipment.
  • Coach, lead and develop the team in areas including application knowledge development and commercial orientation.
• Service
  • Respond to daily customer inquiries, quotation requests and parts orders in a timely manner.
  • Provide technical help desk functions.
  • Coordinate service visits and organizes customer support (Service resource management).
  • Primary responsible for managing customer claims to closure with assistance of team while achieving the best customer experience possible.

• Per the business plan:
  • Travel to support sales companies to evangelize and close Kathabar sales.
  • Promote the addition of Kathabar sales channels within the sales companies and support accordingly.

• Product Training:
  • Primary responsible for all aspects of Kathabar training for both internal and external staff and/or customers for both new sales and Service
  • Develop training path materials for Learning Portal to support both new sales and after sales.
• Marketing & Communications
  • Primary responsible to develop Kathabar MarComm initiatives including both promotion and technical documentation for customer use.
• Pricing
  • Primary responsible for establishing Sales & Service pricing strategies.

• Work in close collaboration with the Kathabar Factory Manager.
  • To ensure effective handover of sales to the Factory operations team.
  • To ensure “one team” culture throughout all of Kathabar Product Center.

Educational Experience

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Manufacturing technology, Chemical Engineering, or equivalent industry experience

• Experience in a process industry both selling new capital equipment and having managed a Service organization.
• Experience selling and/or designing dehumidification systems and processes is highly desired.
• Computer skills:  Microsoft Office

Abilities, Knowledge, and Attributes Desired in Candidate:

• Ability to work independently.
• Must be comfortable and skilled at communicating technical information directly with customers and sales channels, both in a group presentation setting and one-on-one.
• Must possess strong presentation and sales skills.
• Dehumidification application experience is highly desirable.

Other Requirements

• Participating member of Kathabar Product Center management team contributing to company direction and initiatives.
• Considerable Domestic and/or international travel (40-50%).

What’s in it for you?

We offer a challenging position in an open and friendly environment where we help each other to develop and create value. Your work will have a true impact on Alfa Laval’s future success. Our benefits-eligible associates enjoy healthcare, dental and vision plans, a robust wellness program, generous 401(k), paid holidays, paid time off benefits, and more.

We offer a challenging position in an open and friendly environment where we help each other to develop and create value. Your work will have a true impact on Alfa Laval’s future success. Our benefits-eligible associates enjoy healthcare, dental and vision plans, a robust wellness program, generous 401(k), paid holidays, paid time off benefits, and more. At Alfa Laval, we carefully consider a wide range of factors to determine your total compensation package. We rely on market indicators and consider your specific job, background, skills, and experience to get it right.  The base salary for this role is typically $120,000 - $165,000.

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