Technical Inside Sales Manager

For someone with a background in applications engineering, technical sales, engineered products, project management, or custom manufacturing , this is an opportunity to use both your technical and customer-facing strengths while stepping into a key leadership role. If your background sits somewhere between technical sales, applications engineering, project management, and customer solutions , don't worry if your current title doesn't say "Technical Sales Manager.”

The Professional Division of Spherion Mid Ohio is partnering with a growing manufacturer in Ashland, Ohio to find a Technical Inside Sales Manager to join their team. This is a newly created position driven by significant company growth and an opportunity to step into a role with real influence across Sales, Engineering, and customer projects.

Salary: $85,000–$90,000 base, with flexibility for the right candidate
Additional Compensation: Commission + bonus eligibility
Schedule: 1st Shift, Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Ashland, Ohio | On-site
Employment Type: Direct Hire

This is not a traditional sales management role.

The Technical Inside Sales Manager will serve as the bridge between customers, the sales team, and engineering. You will help take complex customer requests and turn them into clear, workable opportunities, making sure the right information gets to the right people before a project moves forward.

For someone with a background in applications engineering, technical sales, engineered products, project management, or custom manufacturing, this is an opportunity to use both your technical and customer-facing strengths while stepping into a key leadership role.

What You'll Be Doing

• Serve as a technical resource for customers and the sales team, helping determine the right conveyor, material handling, and engineered product solutions
• Review customer RFQs, specifications, drawings, and application requirements to identify what is relevant and what information is still needed
• Act as a liaison between Sales and Engineering so technical requirements are clearly understood before quoting and project execution
• Lead and develop a small Inside Sales team, helping improve how customer information is gathered, quotes are prepared, and opportunities move through the organization
• Manage multiple customer projects and opportunities from initial inquiry through quoting, order execution, shipment, and installation
• Coordinate with Engineering, Production, Sales, vendors, and customers to keep projects moving and resolve issues as they arise
• Review layouts, application drawings, and customer specifications and work with technical teams on custom configurations
• Support quoting and estimating for engineered-to-order equipment while keeping material, labor, freight, and margin in mind
• Track schedules, milestones, commitments, and customer communication throughout the project lifecycle
• Work directly with customers when technical questions or more complex applications require additional support
• Visit local customer locations as needed
• Help improve internal processes, product selection tools, quoting practices, and communication between Sales and Engineering

What We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who can understand the technical side of a product and communicate effectively with customers and internal teams.

A strong candidate may come from applications engineering, technical sales, project management, inside sales leadership, or a combination of those areas.

Preferred experience includes:

• 2+ years of technical sales, applications engineering, inside sales, or related experience
• Strong project management experience within manufacturing or engineered products
• Experience working with mechanical products, equipment, metal fabrication, assembly manufacturing, automation, material handling, or similar environments
• Strong mechanical and technical aptitude with the ability to understand drawings, specifications, and customer applications
• Experience with AutoCAD and/or SolidWorks drawings is helpful
• Strong customer communication, organization, and follow-through
• Experience with ERP and CRM systems
• Leadership experience is preferred, but previous direct management is not required for the right candidate who is ready to take that next step
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Electrical Engineering or a related discipline is preferred; equivalent relevant experience will also be considered

Manufacturing equipment or material handling experience would be a strong advantage, but it is not a requirement.

Candidates coming from adjacent industries such as custom equipment, automation, metal manufacturing, engineered products, or industrial equipment are encouraged to apply.

The Environment
This company is growing quickly, and with growth comes change.

The right person will be comfortable joining an organization where processes are evolving, responsibilities are shifting, and long-established ways of doing things are being adjusted to support the next stage of the business.

We're looking for someone who is patient, flexible, adaptable, and steady through change. You should be able to respect the knowledge and experience already within the organization while helping teams improve how work gets done.

If you enjoy walking into a growing business, solving problems, bringing people together, and helping create better processes rather than simply maintaining what's always been done, this could be an excellent fit.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Newly created position driven by company growth
• $85,000–$90,000 base salary with flexibility for the right candidate
• Commission opportunity in addition to base salary
• Bonus eligibility tied to company performance
• Direct Hire opportunity
• Monday–Friday, first-shift schedule
• Opportunity to lead and develop an Inside Sales team
• High visibility across Sales, Engineering, Operations, and leadership
• Ability to help shape a brand-new role as the organization continues to grow
• Medical options including PPO and HSA plans
• Dental and prescription coverage
• 401(k) with 4% company match
• Short-term and long-term disability benefits

If your background sits somewhere between technical sales, applications engineering, project management, and customer solutions, don't worry if your current title doesn't say "Technical Sales Manager.” We're interested in the experience behind the title and your ability to connect the technical and commercial sides of a growing manufacturing business.