What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sales Associate - Permanent Mold and Sand Mold Operations position at Le Sueur Incorporated?
The Position:
The Sales Associate is responsible for driving revenue growth by developing new business opportunities and expanding relationships with new customers for cast metal products produced through permanent mold, and sand mold casting operations. Ensures customer requirements are translated into successful casting solutions while maintaining profitability and customer satisfaction. The position requires strong technical knowledge of foundry processes, casting design, metallurgy, and manufacturing operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Identify and develop new business opportunities in target markets including automotive, agriculture, construction, industrial equipment, and OEM manufacturing.
- Generate and manage a sales pipeline to achieve annual revenue and profitability objectives.
- Coordinate with engineering, quality, production, and purchasing teams to prepare competitive proposals.
- Present foundry capabilities, manufacturing processes, and value-added services to prospective customers.
- Provide technical support regarding dry sand molding, permanent mold casting, machining, finishing, and secondary operations.
- Participate in contract negotiations, pricing discussions, and long-term supply agreements.
- Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and industry developments.
- Maintain CRM records, sales forecasts, and customer activity reports.
- Represent the company at trade shows, foundry conferences, and industry events.
Technical Responsibilities
- Understand casting processes including dry sand molding, permanent mold casting, core making, gating, and casting quality requirements.
- Collaborate with engineering teams to recommend cost-effective casting solutions.
- Evaluate casting feasibility, tooling requirements, and production capabilities.
- Assist customers in converting fabricated or machined components into cast solutions where appropriate.
- Communicate technical benefits, quality standards, and manufacturing capabilities to customers.
Education / Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, Metallurgy, or related field preferred.
- Equivalent industry experience may be considered.
- 5 years of industrial B2B sales experience.
- Experience in metal casting, foundry operations, machining, or manufacturing preferred.
- Knowledge of dry sand, permanent mold, or related foundry processes strongly preferred
- Technical foundry sales roles commonly require expertise in these casting processes.
Required Skills
- Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, and customer relationship management skills
- Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and negotiation skills
- Strong technical and consultative selling abilities
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications
- Basic understanding of manufacturing processes and cost drivers
- Strong organizational, time-management, and multitasking skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
- Strong problem-solving skills with a customer-focused mindset
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Number of qualified leads generated
- Gross margin performance
- Sales revenue growth
- Quote-to-order conversion rate
- Customer retention and satisfaction
- On-time quote completion
- New customer acquisition
- Account growth and profitability
Preferred Industry Background
- Metal casting and foundry operations.
- Aluminum, iron, steel, or non-ferrous casting manufacturing.
- Permanent mold casting operations.
- CNC machining and value-added manufacturing services.
Salary : $100,000 - $160,000