1. Definition

The objective of the Sales Manager- Technical Support position is to preserve customer loyalty by focusing effort on improving customer success / satisfaction with Kongsberg Maritime’s Sensors and Robotics (S&R) products, systems and services. The aim is to grow the business from our established customer base by taking a proactive approach to after-market sales.

The Sales Manager will be the focal point for our customers related to life cycle support of their Kongsberg systems and products to insure optimum system performance and value to the customer over the long term.

Hydrographic survey is one priority market sector, but the Sales Manager will be expected to establish good rapport and become a valuable technical resource to our customers for wide range of applications and products and in different market sectors, including government, commercial and academic.

2. Responsibility / Tasks

• Collaborate closely with the S&R Americas Sales team to achieve optimal customer coverage.
• Visit customers on a regular basis in close cooperation with Sales Managers.
• Proactively assess customer base to identify technical or support issues that could be impeding customer’s experience with Kongsberg.
• Promote value-added services / software and add-on products to enhance performance and maximize value to the customer for the near and long term, for example: training, service agreements, upgrades and enabling technology for remote and autonomous applications.
• Provide market intelligence on sales / upgrade opportunities.
• Work closely with our technical departments to become an expert on Kongsberg’s shallow water hydrographic survey product line.
• Support marketing campaigns to promote new technology, solutions, applications by making presentations or demonstrations for customers or at industry events.
• Provide technical sales support, analysis of customer requirements and competitive comparisons.
• Take on technical challenges and support testing and analysis to resolve customer issues and improve our products by working directly with the product centers.
• Proactively inform customers about KM product lifecycle status including product obsolescence, system improvements and recommended upgrades.
• Utilize Kongsberg Sales and Support CRM system to track opportunities and customer interactions.
• Negotiate, monitor and provide feedback on service and maintenance agreements
• Support product sales through Resellers and OEM customers.
• Prepare and follow up after-market sales quotations.

3. Authority

• Carry out necessary improvements to after-market sales and delivery processes and procedures.
• Request for necessary assistance from other departments to improve KM products.

4. Competence

We are looking for self-driven, quality-minded professional with a proven track record of success dealing directly with end customers in the maritime sector.

Minimum four-year college degree in science or engineering.

Technical background in ocean science, i.e., hydrography, oceanography, or geophysical survey, etc.

Project management, customer support, training or field operations experience.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Focus on fulfilling the customer’s needs and expectations

Experience working on US Government contracts (Plus)

Experience using or supporting KM products or competing products (Plus)

Previous sales experience (Plus)

Determined – do whatever it takes to get the job done

Reliable – penchant for timely follow-up on deadlines without constant supervision

Innovative - continuously improving processes

Collaborative - able to motivate and cooperate with employees on all levels in the business

4. Citizenship

US citizenship is required.