About this role
Overview
The District Sales Manager (DSM) has overall responsibility for meeting revenue targets fortheir assigned Account List. The Account List will include both paper and tissue mills. TheDSM will develop and maintain strong customer relationships at all accounts and will maintainaccurate, complete and up to date customer information. The DSM must be capable ofprioritizing and handling multiple projects or tasks simultaneously. Results will be measured bysale of targeted products, capital and consumables compared to forecast as well as other, predefinedobjectives.
Responsibilities
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS1. Plan, schedule and execute customer visits, at a frequency that supports the sales forecastand customer relationship. To accomplish this, the DSM must maximize their time in frontof customers by spending at least four days each week with their customers.2. The DSM must demonstrate a strong understanding of all Kadant Solutions products and services.3. The DSM must demonstrate a strong understanding of the customer’s process and be ableto apply Kadant Solutions products as solutions in their process.4. Apply 80/20 strategies throughout the sales process5. Develop and maintain strong customer relationships:a. With Senior Management, Production, Maintenance, Engineering and Purchasingb. By being responsive to customer needs and objections.c. By providing strong value propositions (ROI) to support the proposed solution.d. By utilizing Kadant Solutions Applications, Engineering, Technical Services and Management.e. By facilitating meetings, presentations, seminars, training, etc.f. By providing documentation in support of recommendations.6. Develop and maintain strong internal Kadant Solutions relationships.7. Provide accurate and timely forecasts and reports8. Maintain accurate, complete and up to date customer information in SharePoint andSalesforce.com.9. Safe working practices are critical as paper machines operate at high speed and injuriesmay be serious.10. Adhere to Kadant Solutions Employee Handbook
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES1. Product Knowledge: In-depth mechanical and application knowledge of the KSD productline.2. Judgment / Decision Making: Demonstrate consistent logic, rationality and objectivity indecision making. Achieve balance between quick decisiveness and slower, more thoroughapproaches, i.e. is neither indecisive nor a hip-shooter. Show common sense. Anticipateconsequences of decisions.3. Initiative: Seek out seize opportunities, go beyond the “call of duty”, finds ways to surmountbarriers. Resourceful, action-orientated “doer”, achieving results despite lack of resources.Re-stimulate languishing projects. Shows basis for action (“do it now”). Takes reasonablerisk and learns from mistakes.4. Adaptability: Flexible to new pressures from competition prioritize accordingly. Converthigh self-objectivity into self-correction and personal involvement. Not rigid-intellectually,emotionally, interpersonally. Adjusts quickly to changing priorities. Cope effectively withcomplexity.5. Team Player: Reach out to peers to tear down walls. Overcome “we-they” relationships.Approachable. Earn a reputation for leading peers towards support of what is best for totalcompany. Cooperate with management (but not “yes person”) and establish collaborativerelationship with peers (without being a “pushover”).6. Customer Focus: Regularly monitors customer satisfaction. Meets internal and externalcustomer needs in ways that provide satisfaction and excellent results for the customer.Establishes “partner” relationships with customers. Regarded as visible and accessible bycustomers.
Who is Kadant Solutions Division?
Kadant Solutions, based in Auburn, Massachusetts, develops, manufactures, and markets a wide range of doctoring, cleaning, filtration, and forming systems and related consumables used in process industries worldwide including construction roofing materials, food processing, metals processing, nonwovens, pulp and paper, textiles and fibers, and tissue.
Why consider joining the Kadant team?
- Kadant was named as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies 2021-2026 by Newsweek
- Kadant was named as one of America’s Greatest Companies 2025 by Newsweek
- Kadant was named as one of America’s Greenest Companies 2025 by Newsweek
- 100% of Kadant’s energy comes from renewable sources.
- Kadant serves the pulp and paper industrywhich has recycled 68% of everything produced and 82% of cardboard since 2009, the highest of any processing industry.
- Kadant serves several process industries including lithium-ion battery production, food processing, metals processing, carbon fiber, nonwovens, textiles, and construction roofing materials.
- At Kadant, our customer-focused innovation allows us to deliver Sustainable Industrial Processing™ engineering services and technologies to help our customers create more value with fewer inputs.
*Equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state and local laws.
*Diverse and inclusive workplace.
*Competitive wage.
*All benefits are effective upon date of hire.
Our comprehensive benefit package includes:
*Medical, Dental and Vision insurance with best-in-class premiums.
*10 ½ paid holidays.
*401k with match.
*Company paid life insurance benefit.
*Disability insurance.
*Aflac insurance.
*Lifelock insurance.
*MetLaw legal assistance.
*Employee assistance program.
*Flexible spending.
*Dependent care.
*Educational assistance.
*Employee stock purchase plan.
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Qualifications
WORKING CONDITIONS
Frequent lifting, bending, climbing, standing and/or stooping. The DSM will routinely be exposedto customer facilities and machinery and is expected to adhere to all safety requirements asestablished by the customer as well as Kadant.QUALIFICATIONSBachelor’s degree and/or minimum of five years selling experience in industrial markets. Mustpossess working knowledge of Microsoft Office.SUCCESS FACTORS1. Results orientated.2. Sound judgment and ability to balance time and territory management.3. High energy level comfortable performing multi-faceted tasks in conjunction with day-to-dayactivities.4. Superior interpersonal abilities. Ability to get along with diverse personalities, tactful, mature,flexible and a team player.