What are the responsibilities and job description for the PPE Specialist - Outside Sales position at Hahn Group?
Outside Sales PPE Specialist
Position Title: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Specialist (Product Safety Specialist) - Outside Sales
Position Summary
The PPE Specialist is responsible for driving revenue growth by developing new business opportunities and expanding existing customer relationships through the sale of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and workplace safety solutions. This role serves as a trusted safety advisor to customers by identifying hazards, recommending compliant PPE programs, and providing product expertise across multiple industries, including manufacturing, construction, transportation, utilities, healthcare, and distribution.
The PPE Specialist is responsible for driving revenue growth by developing new business opportunities and expanding existing customer relationships through the sale of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and workplace safety solutions. This role serves as a trusted safety advisor to customers by identifying hazards, recommending compliant PPE programs, and providing product expertise across multiple industries, including manufacturing, construction, transportation, utilities, healthcare, and distribution.
The ideal candidate combines strong consultative sales skills with a deep understanding of workplace safety regulations, PPE applications, and industry best practices.
Key Responsibilities:
Business Development
- Prospect and develop new business opportunities within assigned territories.
- Identify customer safety challenges and provide tailored PPE solutions.
- Build and maintain a robust sales pipeline through cold calling, networking, referrals, and customer visits.
- Meet or exceed monthly, quarterly, and annual sales goals.
Customer Relationship Management
- Establish long-term relationships with safety managers, purchasing agents, operations leaders, and decision-makers.
- Conduct on-site safety assessments and PPE evaluations.
- Provide product demonstrations, training, and implementation support.
- Serve as a trusted resource for regulatory compliance and safety best practices.
Product Expertise
- Maintain comprehensive knowledge of PPE categories, including:
- Head Protection
- Eye and Face Protection
- Hearing Protection
- Respiratory Protection
- Hand Protection
- Protective Clothing
- Fall Protection
- Foot Protection
- High-Visibility Apparel
- Stay current on OSHA, ANSI, NIOSH, and industry-specific standards.
- Recommend products and programs that improve safety, compliance, and productivity.
Territory Management
- Develop and execute strategic territory plans to maximize growth opportunities.
- Track activities, opportunities, and customer interactions within CRM systems.
- Prepare proposals, quotes, presentations, and business reviews.
- Analyze market trends, competitive activity, and customer purchasing patterns.
Collaboration
- Partner with branch operations, vendor representatives, customer service, and leadership teams to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Assist with vendor programs, product launches, and safety-focused marketing initiatives.
- Support customer training events, safety seminars, and industry trade shows.
Qualifications:
Required
Required
- 3 years of outside sales experience, preferably in PPE, industrial distribution, safety products, or related industries.
- Strong prospecting and business development skills.
- Exceptional communication, presentation, and relationship-building abilities.
- Ability to conduct field-based customer visits and territory travel.
- Proficiency with CRM software and Microsoft Office applications.
Preferred
- Experience selling PPE, industrial supplies, or safety solutions.
- Knowledge of OSHA regulations and workplace safety programs.
- Professional safety certifications or training.
- Experience working with manufacturing, construction, logistics, or industrial customers.
Key Competencies
- Consultative Selling
- Customer Focus
- Safety Expertise
- Business Development
- Strategic Planning
- Relationship Management
- Problem Solving
- Negotiation Skills
- Time Management
- Results Orientation
Performance Expectations
- Achieve territory revenue and gross profit objectives.
- Generate consistent new customer acquisition and market penetration.
- Increase PPE program adoption among existing accounts.
- Maintain high customer satisfaction and retention levels.
- Demonstrate leadership as a subject matter expert in workplace safety and PPE solutions.
Success Profile
The successful PPE Specialist is a proactive, highly motivated sales professional who understands that safety is more than a product category. They act as a trusted advisor, helping customers build safer workplaces while delivering measurable business results through PPE expertise, exceptional service, and strategic account management.
Work Environment and Physical Demands:
This role routinely travels in a car or van. This role also works in an office environment with some time spent in a warehouse environment, routinely using standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. While performing the duties of this role, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. Travel requirements are up to 75% of the role, no overnight travel is required.
ProFast Supply is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ProFast does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
The successful PPE Specialist is a proactive, highly motivated sales professional who understands that safety is more than a product category. They act as a trusted advisor, helping customers build safer workplaces while delivering measurable business results through PPE expertise, exceptional service, and strategic account management.
Work Environment and Physical Demands:
This role routinely travels in a car or van. This role also works in an office environment with some time spent in a warehouse environment, routinely using standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. While performing the duties of this role, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. Travel requirements are up to 75% of the role, no overnight travel is required.
ProFast Supply is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ProFast does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.