Sales Support Representative
💰 $45,000 - $65,000 (Based on Experience)
🎯 Role Definition
The Sales Support Representative is a crucial liaison between our sales team, our valued clients, and our internal operational departments. You will be the central hub for all administrative and operational sales activities, from initial lead processing to post-sale customer care. Your primary objective is to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the sales force by managing complex workflows, maintaining pristine data in our CRM, and resolving issues with speed and professionalism. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented individual who excels at building relationships and wants to make a tangible impact on business growth.
📈 Career Progression
Typical Career Path
Entry Point From:
- Customer Service Representative
- Administrative Assistant
- Junior Sales Associate
Advancement To:
- Sales Operations Analyst
- Inside Sales Representative
- Account Manager
- Team Lead, Sales Support
Lateral Moves:
- Marketing Coordinator
- Project Coordinator
Core Responsibilities
Primary Functions
- Serve as the primary administrative and operational point of contact for the field sales team, providing timely and effective support to facilitate the sales cycle.
- Process a high volume of complex sales orders, quotes, and purchase orders with exceptional accuracy, ensuring all data is correctly entered into the CRM and ERP systems.
- Manage the end-to-end order fulfillment process, from initial client request to final delivery confirmation, coordinating with logistics, warehousing, and finance teams.
- Maintain and meticulously update the CRM database (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) with all customer information, sales activities, pipeline status, and lead data to ensure data integrity.
- Respond promptly and professionally to customer and sales team inquiries regarding order status, product availability, pricing, and shipping information.
- Prepare and customize sales proposals, client-facing presentations, and formal quotations, ensuring they are polished, accurate, and aligned with company branding.
- Act as a knowledgeable resource on company products and services, providing basic information to both internal teams and external clients.
- Assist in qualifying and distributing inbound leads generated by marketing campaigns, routing them to the appropriate sales executive for prompt follow-up.
- Collaborate directly with the finance and accounting departments to resolve any client billing issues, credit holds, or payment discrepancies.
- Manage the creation and renewal of sales contracts and service agreements, ensuring all documentation is complete, compliant, and filed correctly.
- Coordinate the logistics for sales-related events, including trade shows and conferences, by managing registrations, shipping materials, and tracking event leads.
- Handle customer issues and complaints with empathy and efficiency, escalating complex problems to senior management while maintaining ownership of the resolution process.
- Generate and distribute regular and ad-hoc sales reports, performance dashboards, and pipeline analytics for sales leadership to support strategic decision-making.
- Provide essential onboarding support and system training for new sales team members, helping them acclimate to internal processes and software.
- Support the sales team by managing calendars for key client meetings, coordinating complex schedules, and occasionally arranging travel and accommodations.
- Manage and track the inventory of sales collateral, product samples, and demonstration equipment, ensuring the sales team is always well-equipped.
Secondary Functions
- Conduct post-sale follow-up with customers to gauge satisfaction, gather feedback, and identify potential opportunities for upselling or cross-selling.
- Assist the sales operations manager in identifying process inefficiencies and recommending improvements to enhance the sales support function.
- Collaborate with the marketing department to ensure the sales team has access to the most current marketing materials, case studies, and campaign assets.
- Monitor sales team activity and pipeline progression, proactively following up on aging quotes and stalled opportunities to help drive deals forward.
- Support the administration of sales incentive programs and contests, including tracking performance and communicating results to the team.
- Maintain an organized digital library of sales resources, product specifications, and competitive intelligence for easy access by the entire sales organization.
Required Skills & Competencies
Hard Skills (Technical)
- CRM Proficiency: Advanced experience with CRM platforms such as Salesforce, HubSpot, or Microsoft Dynamics 365 is essential.
- Microsoft Office Suite Expertise: High proficiency in MS Office, particularly Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, formulas), PowerPoint, and Word.
- ERP/Order Management Systems: Hands-on experience with ERP systems like SAP, Oracle, or NetSuite for order processing and inventory management.
- Data Entry & Management: Exceptional speed and accuracy in data entry and a strong understanding of data integrity principles.
- Reporting & Analytics: Ability to generate, analyze, and interpret sales data and create clear, concise reports for management.
Soft Skills
- Exceptional Communication: Superior written and verbal communication skills for clear, professional interaction with clients, sales staff, and internal teams.
- Meticulous Attention to Detail: An unwavering focus on accuracy and precision, especially when handling orders, contracts, and sensitive data.
- Organizational & Time Management: World-class organizational skills with the ability to prioritize a heavy workload and manage multiple competing deadlines in a fast-paced setting.
- Problem-Solving Mindset: A proactive and resourceful approach to identifying issues, troubleshooting problems, and implementing effective solutions.
- Customer-Centric Attitude: A genuine passion for providing outstanding service and building positive, lasting relationships with customers.
- Team Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively and harmoniously as part of a team, supporting colleagues to achieve common goals.
- Adaptability & Resilience: The capacity to thrive under pressure, adapt to changing priorities, and maintain a positive, can-do outlook.
Education & Experience
Educational Background
Minimum Education:
Associate's Degree or equivalent relevant work experience.
Preferred Education:
Bachelor's Degree.
Relevant Fields of Study:
- Business Administration
- Marketing
- Communications
- Economics
Experience Requirements
Typical Experience Range:
2-4 years of experience in a sales support, sales administration, customer service, or operations role.
Preferred:
Direct experience supporting a B2B sales team within a technology, manufacturing, or fast-growth company is highly desirable.