Manager - Quotations (Solution Specialist Manager)

As a Manager – Quotations (Solution Specialist Manager), you will manage a team who is responsible for the development of proposals, bids, quotations, or other documents describing organizational products and services in response to requests from prospective clients. You will collaborate with members of the Sales, Marketing, Finance, Legal, or product teams to ensure content is complete, accurate, and timely. You will recommend enhancements to the organization's products or services based on inquiries from prospects and provides input to strategic decisions that affect the functional area of responsibility.

This position may be based near any Wesco/Anixter location within the United States, with preference for candidates located in the Eastern or Central Time Zones.

Responsibilities:

• Leads quotation department and project quotation activities by setting goals for work group, manages execution, measures results, and works with sales generation to identify potential projects for bid and opportunities to expand value beyond the initial customer request.
• Manages and develops quotations staff, defines each employee’s primary and secondary responsibilities, manages performance and professional development through ongoing coaching and training, and how each relates to others within group.
• Reads and interprets specifications and communicates with suppliers to discuss material specifications, clarifies and confirms bill of materials, negotiates pricing and identifies alternatives and value-added lighting and controls solutions for special or custom orders.
• Develops and maintains cooperative relationships consistent with good commercial policies with regard to selected suppliers and coordinates pricing negotiations with suppliers. 
• Coordinates receipt of information for preparation of final quotation submittal.
• Communicates with customers to resolve problems with projects during bidding process.
• Communicates and follows up with account representatives and account executives and inside sales representative and appropriate leadership on key issues, risks, opportunities, and decisions to ensure quotes and resulting orders are complete.
• Monitors and oversees transition to project management and sales execution teams after acceptance of quotation.
• May identify new sales opportunities within current customer base by uncovering additional customer needs and solution opportunities.

Qualifications:

• High School Degree or Equivalent required; Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• 3 years required / 5 years preferred of large capital project quotations.
• 3 years required / 5 years preferred of departmental management, with a preference for direct people management and employee development experience.
• Broad knowledge of product line and pricing. 
• Ability to deal with customers and factory representatives to obtain pricing information and their cooperation. 
• Strong communication and organization skills. 
• Strong computer and mathematical skills.
• Ability to research market and inventory positions to support sales staff in maximizing margins.
• Ability to multi-task while maintaining attention to detail and deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to travel up to 25%
  
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