Customer Service Representative - Chemical

SUMMARY:

An established chemical distributor is seeking a Customer Service Representative responsible for providing excellent customer service within the business, including managing customer inquiries, maintaining supplier relationships, and handling the placement of supplier purchase orders as well as shipment and order tracking. The ideal candidate will ensure smooth order fulfilment and maintain effective communication between internal teams and external partners.

POSITION INFO:

Minimum requirements for the role:

• Must have a National Senior Certificate (Matric)
• Minimum 2-3 years’ working experience within the relevant industry
• Customer service experience is highly desirable
• Self-motivated and able to thrive in a fast-paced work environment
• Comfortable working in an open-plan office setting and able to adapt to team dynamics
• Experience within the chemical industry is a strong advantage

• Maintaining and developing relationships with existing customers via telephone contact and together with Market Managers.
• Taking, processing, and managing all aspects of customer orders on Sage Evolution.
• Coordinating and communicating logistics needs for all orders with logistics partners to ensure on-time delivery of all customer orders.
• Collating proof of delivery confirmations and processing invoices for all completed orders and deliveries.
• Assisting in maintaining customer delivery notes and open/back-order schedules.
• Constantly being aware of customer requirements and updating customers on their open orders.
• Ensuring all month-end processing is completed on time and according to finance-related timeframes.
• Providing customers with quotations, as directed by Market Managers, upon request.
• Gathering market and customer information both independently and as requested/directed by Market Managers.
• Providing product, promotion, and pricing information by clarifying customer requests, selecting appropriate information, forwarding information, and answering questions.
• Assisting with shipping disbursement instructions, developing relationships with certain suppliers as well as local service partners.
• Evaluating cost optimization strategies on all incoming purchase orders, warehouse handling preferences, and regional stock allocation considerations.
• Maintaining various shipping and supplier open order schedules.
• Checking quantities of goods in stock and assisting finance with stock forecast review processes.
• Assisting in preparing sales, inventory, and other reports and summaries together with finance.
• Assisting in customer account collections in reference to overdue account details from finance.
• Monitoring appointed customer accounts for non-payment and delayed payment.
• Assisting with calculation and cost selection of import orders and maintaining pricing schedule details.
• Forwarding samples by entering requests, arranging shipments, and notifying customers.