Specialty Sales Associate II (IVP)

Specialty Sales Associate II (IVP)

Work Location:

Schedule:

Location: Lisle, IL (hybrid/remote work agreement by arrangement - IVP is currently unable to employ remotely in California or Missouri or outside the United States)

Pay: $46,000-$50,000 annually
Status: Full time (40 hrs/week)/Salaried, Exempt  

Supervise others: No 

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES  
 

Personal: 

• Be a maturing disciple of Jesus Christ: growing in love for God, God's Word, God's people of every ethnicity and culture, and God's purposes in the world. 

Specialty Sales and Account Management

• Build, maintain, and develop strategic partnerships within assigned accounts.
• Sell IVP titles including frontlist, backlist, and seasonal promotions (across all imprints) to accounts within assigned territory.
• Effectively manage (and grow) established accounts by developing and implementing clear and executable strategies. 
• Maintain current and accurate client information within IVP databases.
• Aggressive cold calling (100 Phone Calls Per Day) to reach and sell into new accounts and markets.
• Generate aggressive phone and e-mail follow up with established customers and prospects.
• Motivated by hunting and closing new business.
• Navigate new accounts through the sales process including the introduction of InterVarsity's standard discount structures.
• Serve as the primary contact for IVP authors to place orders.
• Serve as the primary contact for InterVarsity campus and field staff to place orders.
• Collaborate across departments to ensure that author orders are received, processed, and shipped in a timely manner.
• Keep accounts informed about new titles, special offers, publicity, social media pushes, and other efforts to provide customer service and increase sales.
• Generate reporting of account performance, including new opportunities and challenges.
• Show the ability to quickly grow and adapt within our evolving company.
• Access customer’s needs and present creative ideas and product solutions to meet those needs.
• Create weekly reporting for SMP leadership showing initial contacts, follow-up communication, weekly sales, and a communication plan for the following week.

Professional Development: 

• Stay up to date on industry trends and innovations in book publishing, sales development, and customer engagement, to continually improve outreach strategies and tactics. 
• Attend training events and conferences to remain current in the above areas. 

QUALIFICATIONS  

• Annually affirm InterVarsity’s Statement of Faith. 
• Bachelor’s degree and/or relevant work experience required.
• Minimum 2 years of sales experience with a demonstrated track record of sales goal achievement.
• Cold call sales experience Is a must.
• Publishing experience Is preferred.
• Excellent written and spoken command of the English language.
• Familiarity with InterVarsity Press and its titles, authors, and other publishing partners is preferred. 
• Excellent analytical, communication, and project management skills, and the ability to translate ideas into results.  
• Ability to prioritize, multi-task, meet deadlines, and work independently and collaboratively with a team. 
• Superior oral, presentation, and written communication skills. 
• Demonstrated execution, follow-through, and tenacity with client development and retention.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS  

Experience required as described in the section below (dependent on the level of the position posted). Relevant higher education will be taken into account and may reduce the experience required. 

LEVELS IN JOB FAMILY (POSTING WILL STATE THE RELEVANT LEVEL AT THE BEGINNING OF THE POSTING) 

Sales Associate – Grade 5 – non-exempt, hourly

The Sales Associate I is more focused on administrative sales tasks including IVP art licensing supervision, oversight of incoming shipment quality, support of production work, mailings, and other administrative requests to fulfill departmental needs.  Therefore this role may not cover all of the above listed responsibilities. This level may focus on specific markets. It may be an entry-level role.

Sales Associate II – Grade 6 - exempt

The Sales Associate II is responsible for all of the above and does more independent work that requires judgment. They handle account development and management rather than discrete administrative work alone.  The Sales Associate II will have at least two years of relevant and successful sales experience and will typically have a bachelor’s degree. 

Senior Sales Associate – Grade 7 – Exempt

The Senior Sales Associate will be responsble for all of the above, will handle more complex tasks, and may have a broader scope to assist various market segments.  The Senior Sales Associate will have at least five to seven years of relevant and successful sales experience and will typically have a bachelor’s degree.

External Candidates:  Please see visit the Careers Hub at ivpress.com/jobs-and-internships to complete your online application.

For Internal Candidates Only:  Please apply through the Jobs Hub on Workday.

Benefits:

We offer a competitive benefits package, including health care and retirement savings with a match. Eligibility is based on employee type and hours worked.  Benefits include the following:

• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan

• 403(b) matching contributions

• Dental insurance

• Employee assistance program

• Employee discounts

• Flexible work schedule

• Flexible spending accounts

• Health insurance

• Health savings account

• Life insurance

• Paid time off

• Parental leave

• Professional development assistance

• Vision insurance