PURPOSE:

The Sales Manager is responsible for sales forecasting, creating and executing sales strategies that drive increased revenue, maintaining, expanding and developing new relationships with assigned channel partners within the Industrial Safety Business Group. The candidate will execute sales strategies that contribute in achieving business goals inclusive of sales and profitability.

EDUCATION:

A four-year degree in Business or Engineering or equivalent professional certification in the safety industry.

EXPERIENCE:

Must have at least 5 years in a marketing, key account management or sales role in the personal protective equipment (PPE) market. Specific experience with distributors and end customers located in the Western US Pacific and Mountain time zones required. Candidates ideally will live within this territory.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Must be able to perform the following:

• Establish strong relationships at the management/executive level with current and prospective customers to positively posture GENTEX Corporation in the current business environment
• Communicate effectively and demonstrate solid sales abilities in all facets of sales and marketing
• Develop an understanding of the Channel routes-to-market (RTM), understand the distributors/agent/representative structure and the way they operate and strategy to succeed.
• Strong presentation skills are essential to engage the attention of both customers and colleagues.
• Possess a strong power of persuasion
• Possess ability to train as necessary in product portfolio
• Excellent communicator including strong verbal and written abilities, excellent listening and feedback skills and the ability to provide strong direction
• Working knowledge and use of Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Familiarity with CRM tools such as Salesforce.com

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Management of key Channel Partners to drive increased sales located in the Western US.
• Establishes productive, professional relationships with Channel Partners
• Contribute to and deliver consistent growth to annual business revenue plan execution and realization
• Development and management of 5Q sales forecast within assigned geographical region. Participate as needed in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) processes to facilitate achievement of lead time and on-time delivery objectives.
• Coordinate the involvement of Gentex personnel inclusive of sales support, product management, and business development management resources to achieve objectives
• Proactively manage tactical execution to meet assigned sales targets that support strategic objectives with Channel Partner(s) within assigned geographical region.
• Proactively lead, support, analyze joint partner planning process that develops mutual performance objectives and goals associated with a productive partner relationship. Likely will have to develop a regional strategy according to geographic business constructs and market situation.
• Proactively manage internal and external customer satisfaction continuous improvement
• Manages pricing decision criteria and parameters as established in authorized price books
• With support of Channel, create an internal mapping of the accounts the channel is selling into, what products, mixes, and timing which will support out-year planning efforts
• Deliver Voice of the Customer (VOC) input to the product management function to enable alignment between product portfolio and market needs.
• Recommend cost effective participation in advertising, website entries, industry shows/exhibits, forums, give-away’s to MarComm group for implementation
• Ensures the partner maintains compliance with partner agreement.
• Evaluates potential and timing for channel partner expansion and/or remove/replacement of Channel Partner(s)
• Analyzes sales statistics to formulate policy and to assist partners in promoting sales

SUPERVISION: Channel Partner(s)

CONTACT WITH OTHERS:

Provides constant contact with both internal and external customers at all levels of the organization. Must be able to perform at the highest level of professionalism with respect to communication and interaction with internal and external customers. Extensive external customer contact is necessary.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

Employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee may lift and/or move up to 50 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The individual must have a high level of comprehension, and a high level of general, verbal, and numerical intelligence. Must be able to travel regularly within the United States and internationally using a variety of methods of transportation.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Works majority of the day in a climate controlled environment, with the exception of occasionally performing work in the warehouse, which is subject to moderate changes in temperature. Must be able to work remotely and on the road as needed. Due to time zone and holiday differences the candidate may be required to be available/participate during non-standard hours (time flexibility).

TRAVEL:

Regular travel required

At Gentex, we don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products and our community. Gentex Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran status or on the basis of disability. Gentex is an E-Verify Participant. Pre-employment drug/alcohol/background screening is required. If you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Gentex, please call our Human Resources department at (570) 282-3550.