Quotations Specialist

Be part of a growing, successful company in an exciting and challenging field. Border States is 100% employee‑owned, which means you're empowered to make decisions, find solutions and receive rewards for your hard work.

This position will be located in: Maple Grove, MN

Final date to receive applications:

Please note that the position may be filled before or after the listed Final date to receive applications. Applications will only be accepted while the posting remains active.

The Quotations Specialist provides specialized knowledge and skills in quoting equipment and packages to customers. Performs takeoffs of bids and pricing functions. Proactively works with engineers and customers to meet their changing business needs and resolve issues. Develops quotations and requests bid and/or performance bonds for customers within company profit objectives and guidelines. Actively participates in coordinating, analyzing, and acting upon information and feedback of customer needs, pricing, products, competition, and procedures.

Essential Functions

• Performs takeoffs of bids and pricing functions that could include products such as switchboards, panel boards, transformers, safety switches, motor control centers, variable frequency drives, switch gear, duct systems, and specialty equipment or products such as fixtures, lighting, lamps, and dimming systems.
• Utilizes knowledge and experience to make judgment and discretionary decisions to determine what product specifications, applications, and pricing are necessary for a specific project.
• Provides guidance and may participate in the completion of the quotation process for each assigned project.
• Provides customers with timely follow‑up on specialized or technical inquiries and requests.
• Develops quotations and requests bids for customers within company profit objectives and guidelines.
• Provides consistent, responsive, quality service to our customers.
• Actively participates in coordinating, analyzing, and acting upon information and feedback of customer needs, pricing, products, competition, and procedures.
• Coordinates with Border States staff to resolve customer billing issues resulting from errors in the quotations process, pricing, shipping, delivery or other customer service/credit areas.
• Maintains an active log of wins/losses for project bids that includes vendors and contractors quoted.
• May provide value engineering and expedited ship options per customer's specific project needs.

Non‑essential Functions

• Provides input and market intelligence, as required.
• May place orders and hold orders on secured projects, prepare submittal drawings, and release hold orders after submittal approval.
• May obtain orders and provide sales support for the BSE outside sales force.
• May provide guidance in purchasing functions, product evaluations and code descriptions, inventory management, pricing development, and other related services.
• Attends sales meetings and training programs, as required.
• Participates in sales meetings and trade shows, as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Minimum of a business or trade degree preferred or the equivalent in work experience.
• Minimum of four years of prior customer service, quotation, or sales experience with strong knowledge of electrical products and systems preferred.
• Comprehensive knowledge of product lines and applications, alternate product substitutes, and supplier pricing policies preferred.
• Ability to read, write and speak in English preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of PC for Windows, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint), Internet, Email and SAP software preferred.
• Prior experience working in switch gear manufacturer quotations software (i.e. Eaton Bid Manager) may be preferred.

• Strong technical ability to understand electrical systems and product applications with prior electrical distribution experience preferred.
• Technical ability to read blueprints and specifications.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication, reading, and customer service skills are preferred with the ability to effectively plan and organize.
• Excellent customer service skills include…