Inside Sales Representative @ Aston Carter

Job Title: Inside Sales RepresentativeJob DescriptionThe Inside Sales Representative plays a key role in driving profitable growth, strengthening customer relationships, and supporting complex sales processes for fasteners and industrial hardware, with a strong focus on aerospace, defense, and government contract customers. This position manages customer accounts, responds to inquiries, prepares quotations, and ensures accurate order processing while adhering to federal, defense, and commercial fastener requirements and related contract clauses. The role requires a blend of technical product knowledge, excellent customer service, and strong analytical skills to improve customer experience, increase retention, and support the overall sales strategy.

Responsibilities

• Meet all established Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to sales performance, customer service, and account management.
• Follow company guidelines to establish selling prices and profit margins, actively researching and addressing profitability concerns.
• Support objectives related to customer acquisition, activation, and retention through proactive communication and seamless customer support.
• Represent the company professionally and courteously in all interactions with customers, vendors, and internal teams.
• Apply a moderate to expert technical understanding of fasteners and industrial hardware when supporting customers and preparing quotations.
• Understand and follow Federal Government, Defense, and Commercial fastener requirements, ensuring compliance in all relevant transactions.
• Understand and follow FAR and DFARS clauses as they relate to contracts, applying this knowledge when reviewing and processing customer orders.
• Ensure customer retention by providing proactive support, troubleshooting order fulfillment issues, and delivering a smooth customer experience.
• Serve as an escalation point for non-routine customer solutions and support, partnering with leadership on complex or sensitive matters.
• Work to improve customer experience by providing solutions for one-time buys and driving efficiency to enhance service and profitability.
• Provide support and mentorship to other members of the discrete/unplanned Inside Sales team, including offering training opportunities.
• Perform accurate data entry, quote support, record management, research activities, logistics coordination with the warehouse, and shipment scheduling in line with defined processes.
• Effectively manage all customer master data, including shipping conditions, blanket order requirements, customer contact information, CRM data, prior day invoicing, and order entry.
• Proactively drive account management while executing tasks that support the sales process and move opportunities forward through the pipeline.
• Collaborate professionally with cross-functional teams to identify and resolve customer issues and improve overall customer satisfaction.
• Manage customer portals for demand, quote requests, and corrective actions, ensuring information is current, accurate, and complete.
• Maintain and build strong customer relationships to become a trusted consultative advisor for assigned accounts.
• Exercise excellent judgment and decision-making skills when handling customer requests, pricing, and problem resolution.
• Think strategically and use creative, innovative problem-solving approaches in diverse situations involving customers and internal processes.
• Proactively contact customers to assist with upcoming requirements, forecast needs, and identify opportunities for additional products or services.
• Learn to read and decipher customer prints and drawings using available training, and apply that knowledge to quotations and product recommendations.
• Provide leadership by recommending and identifying internal process improvements that enhance efficiency, service quality, and profitability.
• Respond promptly to requests via phone, fax, email, or chat, ensuring timely and accurate communication.
• Supply customers with professional written, computer-generated, or verbal quotations and recommendations that reflect technical and commercial requirements.
• Analyze data related to customer activity, pricing, and product usage to make informed decisions that positively impact the customer and the business.
• Support vendor management activities and vendor management systems as needed to ensure timely sourcing and procurement of industrial hardware.
• Assist in sourcing and procuring industrial hardware and fasteners to meet customer demand and contractual obligations.
• Contribute to a positive team environment by keeping colleagues motivated, supporting collaboration, and helping to resolve conflict when necessary.

Essential Skills

• Minimum 35 years of customer service, inside sales, or related experience.
• Experience with government contracts or related backgrounds.
• Understanding of FAR and DFARS clauses preferred, with the ability to apply them to contracts and customer requirements.
• Intermediate to advanced experience using Microsoft Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills for data analysis, reporting, and pricing.
• Ability to read, analyze, and understand customer purchase orders, drawings, and vendor-supplied reference material.
• Experience in sourcing and procuring industrial hardware.
• Intermediate technical understanding of fasteners and industrial hardware.
• Strong customer service orientation with the ability to manage inside sales and account management activities.
• Ability to analyze data to make decisions that positively impact the customer and the business.
• Capability to up-sell products and services in a consultative manner.
• Ability to prepare and deliver professional written, computer-generated, or verbal quotations and recommendations.
• Clear and concise verbal communication skills for phone and in-person interactions.
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills in customer and internal matters.
• Ability to establish credibility, respect, and trust with internal colleagues and external customers.
• Ability to keep employees motivated, foster a team environment, and assist in resolving conflict.
• Customer service, inside sales, and account management experience in aerospace and defense environments.
• Proficiency with general sales support activities and vendor management.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail for data entry, record management, and CRM updates.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, or move up to 25 lbs.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Prophet 21 (P21) or similar ERP systems is a plus.
• Experience working with vendor management systems.
• Prior exposure to aerospace and defense inside sales environments.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills across Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Comfort working with customer portals for demand, quote requests, and corrective actions.
• Ability to learn and apply training related to reading and interpreting customer prints and drawings.
• Demonstrated ability to provide mentorship and training to team members.
• Strategic thinking skills with a track record of creative and innovative problem solving.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, data-driven sales support environment.

Work EnvironmentThis role is fully onsite in Roanoke, Virginia, working a standard schedule of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The position is part of a dedicated Defense and Aerospace inside sales team of approximately 15 people, offering a collaborative environment with close cross-functional interaction. The culture is described as close-knit and engaging, with the feel of a family-oriented, privately held organization despite the companys larger size. Employee engagement is a priority, with regular activities and events that foster connection, such as social outings and team-building activities.

The work involves regular use of computers, Microsoft Office applications, ERP and CRM systems, and communication tools for phone, email, fax, and chat. The environment supports professional attire appropriate for an onsite office setting and may occasionally require lifting or moving items up to 25 lbs in coordination with warehouse and logistics activities.

Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Roanoke, VA.

Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $28.00 - $43.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision

Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital

401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available

Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 9, 2026.

Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Roanoke,VA.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.