Application Specialist - Wisconsin / Minnesota

Job Title: Applications Specialist

Department: Sales

Reports to: Managing Director

Classification: Exempt

Location: Wisconsin and Minnesota 

Travel: Travel Required

GWS is the North American leader in the design and manufacturing of custom cutting tools. Servicing industries including Aerospace, Automotive, Medical, Energy, and general Engineering. As the fastest growing company in our industry, the career opportunities are numerous and the pathways for advancement are nearly limitless.

Job Summary: Main task involves understanding customers' needs in metalworking, as well as educating customers, prospects, and distributors of GWS Tool Groups products and capabilities. It is essential for the applications specialist to effectively provide detailed information on various products, programs or services offered by GWS Tool Group, but also clearly and effectively communicate what the customer needs back to the GWS Tool Group team.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Scheduling appointments, meeting existing customers in order to review customer applications and product requirements and to determine opportunities.
• Effective planning to conduct sales presentations by meeting customers physically on a daily basis.
• Liaising between the company and the customers for up-to-date conditions on pricing, service, and latest product release launches.
• Generating and developing prospect accounts to increase revenue, by partnering with the distribution chain.
• Continuously updating all customers on company product modifications, changes, and enhancements.
• Enhancing up to date knowledge on new products, procedures, services, and tools by attending departmental and training meetings.
• Maintaining professionalism, diplomacy, sensitivity, and tact to portray the company in a positive manner.
• Effectively attending conferences and trade shows.
• Using marketing data to maximize sales effectiveness and efficiency by using relevant sales management tools.
• Organizing joint sale calls and attending them with distributors.
• Preparing reports for sales and marketing and maintaining expense accounts.
• Updating and maintenance of customer accounts including contact names and numbers for future sales.
• With the help of inside sales support, provide product quotes to customers as needed.
• Ensuring follow-up after passing leads to managers with complete profile customer information, calls-to-action, sources, dates.

Education and Experience:

• Knowledge of tooling and manufacturing processes is preferred but not required.
• Strong Manufacturing background with a focus in Milling, Turning, Grooving (minimum of 2 years) is required.
• Job shop experience is high in regard.
• Experience in designing special tools is highly regarded.
• Experience processing customer parts from drawing to finished product is preferred.
• Account management experience is preferred.
• Proven ability to develop new customers is ideal.
• Degree in any field of sales and marketing is highly regarded.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Capable of preserving confidential or sensitive information.
• Ability to assist customers with processing parts and correct applications of tools.
• Effective time management, organization and multitasking skills.
• Special people skills to deal with customers and an outgoing personality.
• Ability to assist customers with proper speeds and feeds for materials used.
• Able to prospect new accounts.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Very good team player and should work well under pressure.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, genetic information, or any other factors prohibited by law.