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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Sales Support

💰 $45,000 - $65,000

SalesAdministrativeBusiness DevelopmentCustomer SupportOperations

🎯 Role Definition

The Sales Support role is a pivotal function that acts as the backbone of a high-performing sales department. This position serves as the central point of contact and operational hub for the sales team, handling a wide array of administrative, logistical, and customer-facing tasks. By managing the critical details of the sales cycle—from lead qualification and data management to order processing and post-sale follow-up—the Sales Support professional enables Account Executives and Sales Managers to dedicate their focus to building client relationships and closing deals. This role is essential for maintaining operational efficiency, ensuring data integrity within the CRM, and delivering a seamless experience for our customers.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Administrative Assistant
  • Customer Service Representative
  • Recent Graduate (Business, Marketing, or Communications)

Advancement To:

  • Inside Sales Representative
  • Sales Operations Analyst
  • Junior Account Manager / Account Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

  • Marketing Coordinator
  • Project Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Act as the primary administrative and operational point of contact for the field sales team, handling inquiries and requests promptly to facilitate the sales process.
  • Meticulously prepare, format, and review sales-related documents such as quotes, proposals, contracts, and presentations to ensure accuracy, branding consistency, and professionalism.
  • Process incoming sales orders with a high degree of accuracy, verifying pricing, terms, and product information before entering them into the company's ERP or order management system.
  • Maintain the integrity of the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) by creating new accounts, updating contact information, and logging all sales activities.
  • Coordinate the entire sales cycle from an administrative standpoint, including scheduling client meetings, product demonstrations, and follow-up appointments for the sales representatives.
  • Serve as a liaison between the sales department and other internal teams such as Finance, Legal, Logistics, and Marketing to resolve issues and ensure smooth execution of sales agreements.
  • Respond to initial customer inquiries, qualify leads based on established criteria, and route them to the appropriate Account Executive for further development.
  • Generate and distribute regular sales reports, dashboards, and pipeline summaries to provide the sales team and management with visibility into performance metrics and key trends.
  • Assist in the creation and management of sales collateral, including brochures, case studies, and data sheets, ensuring the sales team has access to the most current materials.
  • Manage and track the inventory of demonstration equipment or product samples, coordinating shipments to and from client sites or trade shows.
  • Onboard new clients by gathering necessary documentation, setting up accounts in internal systems, and facilitating a smooth handoff to the account management or customer success team.
  • Provide post-sale support to customers by addressing inquiries about order status, delivery, invoicing, and initial product use, ensuring a positive customer experience.
  • Conduct basic research on prospective clients and target markets to provide the sales team with valuable insights for their outreach and engagement strategies.
  • Track sales commissions and bonuses for the sales team, compiling necessary data and reports for payroll and finance departments.
  • Proactively monitor the sales pipeline for stalled deals or data inconsistencies, flagging them to sales representatives for immediate attention and follow-up.
  • Assist with the planning and coordination of sales team meetings, training sessions, and annual sales kick-off events.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist in compiling and analyzing data for weekly, monthly, and quarterly sales performance reviews presented to senior leadership.
  • Contribute to the continuous improvement of sales processes by identifying bottlenecks and suggesting more efficient workflows or tools.
  • Help coordinate the logistics for industry trade shows, customer events, and other marketing initiatives where the sales team is involved.
  • Provide backup support for other administrative or operational team members during absences or periods of high workload to ensure business continuity.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • CRM Proficiency: Advanced skills in using and maintaining Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms, such as Salesforce, HubSpot, or Zoho CRM, for data entry, pipeline management, and reporting.
  • MS Office Suite Mastery: Expertise in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), particularly using Excel for data manipulation and creating reports, and PowerPoint for formatting sales presentations.
  • Order Processing Systems: Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or specific order management software (e.g., SAP, NetSuite) for accurate order entry and tracking.
  • Quoting Software: Familiarity with CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) tools or the ability to quickly learn and generate complex quotes and proposals.
  • Data Entry & Management: High level of speed and accuracy in data entry, with a keen eye for detail to ensure the integrity of customer and sales data.
  • Reporting & Analytics: Ability to generate, interpret, and present data from CRM and other systems to create insightful sales reports and dashboards.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional Organization & Time Management: Proven ability to manage multiple competing priorities, tasks, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment without sacrificing quality.
  • Proactive Problem-Solving: The capability to anticipate challenges, identify issues within the sales process, and take initiative to find and implement effective solutions.
  • Superior Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally and clearly with clients, sales personnel, and internal departments.
  • Attention to Detail: A meticulous and thorough approach to all tasks, from data entry to document proofreading, ensuring complete accuracy and professionalism.
  • Team-Oriented Mindset: A strong collaborator who enjoys supporting a team's success and works effectively as a liaison between different departments.
  • Adaptability & Resilience: The flexibility to adapt to changing sales strategies, new technologies, and evolving customer needs while maintaining a positive and composed demeanor.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School Diploma or equivalent. An Associate's Degree is often a strong asset.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Business Administration
  • Marketing
  • Communications

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 1-3 years of experience in an administrative, customer service, or support role.

Preferred:

  • Prior experience directly supporting a sales team or working within a sales operations environment. Experience within the same or a similar industry is highly advantageous.
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