About the role
Inside Sales Representative – Account Growth & Retention
Location: Vernon Hills, IL (100% On-site)
About Us: We are a growing manufacturer of specialized fastener solutions. Our business thrives on engineering excellence and deep customer trust. We are seeking an Inside Sales Representative to manage, support, and expand our active portfolio of small to mid-tier repeat accounts.
Position Overview: This is a high-touch sales role based daily out of our Vernon Hills IL facility. You will serve as the primary point of contact for our established customer base, ensuring excellent service, technical accuracy, and initiative-taking account growth.
You will manage incoming repeat orders, identify upselling opportunities, and coordinate with our engineering team when customers require specialized fastening solutions. Keeping and expanding sales with existing clients, recapturing lapsed business, and attaining new business are expectations of this role.
Key Responsibilities: * Account Management: Serve as the main contact for a portfolio of established small to mid-tier accounts. * Account Growth: Proactively communicate with existing clients to capture recurring revenue and expand product usage. * Identify New Opportunities by prospecting potential users in our key vertical markets. * Technical Liaison: Identify when a client needs specialized engineering support and smoothly bridge the gap between the client and our internal technical team. * Data Management: Utilize HubSpot daily to log customer interactions, manage pipelines, and update account details and tasks. * Occasional Travel: Visit key clients or attend regional industry trade shows as needed (minimal travel required).
Qualifications: * Must have 4+ years of experience in inside sales, account management, or customer support within a manufacturing, industrial, or distribution environment. * Proficiency with HubSpot CRM or equivalent CRM is required. * Should have working fastener knowledge: thread types and classes, grades and property classes, materials and finishes, common nut styles (prevailing-torque, nylon-insert, all-metal locknuts) and industry standards. * Must have excellent communication skills, including phone and email with the ability to talk comfortably with both purchasing agents and manufacturing engineers. * Associate or bachelor’s degree, or equivalent work experience. * Use of A.I. tools for sales opportunity identification is helpful. * Prior use of the Sandler sales methodology is helpful. * Must have ability to work on-site daily in Vernon Hills, IL, and travel occasionally.
How Success Is Measured:
In year one, success means every account has an owner and the book is growing. Targets are set with the CEO at hire.
Timeframe Milestone First 90 days Identify responsible accounts (~300), everyone contacted, tiered; CRM records complete. 6 months Call cadence running on schedule; lapsed accounts identified with win-back plans 12 months Account retention rate, year-over-year revenue growth in the book, new part numbers per account and quote win rate at or above agreed targets
What We Offer: * Competitive base salary $60,000-$75,000 plus a performance-based bonus structure. * Ongoing sales training and coaching. * Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits. * 401(k) with company match. * Paid time off and holidays. * A small, collaborative work environment with room for professional growth.