Playground Associate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

About us

Next Generation Recreation is a growing commercial recreation design & construction company. We are the exclusive representatives of Playworld playground equipment in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Our company carries a variety of products: playgrounds, protective surfacing, shade structures, park and site amenities, splash pads, dog park equipment, etc. We strive to provide safe, accessible, and unique play spaces in the Midwest. We believe that children and communities thrive when given ample opportunity run and play. .

Our work environment includes:

• On-the-job training
• Growth opportunities
• Relaxed atmosphere
• Commission + Base compensation packages

Next Generation Recreation is seeking outside sales representative to facilitate relationships with schools, parks & recreations, religious organizations, child care centers, etc. This was a well-established territory with extensive sales history and growth potential. This position requires creativity, relationship building, and roll-up-your-sleeves attitude.

Ongoing training, certifications, and facilitation will be provided. The ideal candidate should be able to self-manage and excel with little supervision.

Minimum Requirements:

Must be willing to do frequent travel within assigned territory (some out-of-state conference/training/team travel)

Advanced time-management skills: ability to intake and organize tasks while prioritizing deadlines

Strong verbal, written, and e-mail communication skills

Proven ability to learn new systems quickly and independently

Working knowledge of Microsoft office and Gmail

Must pass full background check as all employees spend ample time in schools and on Military bases.

Looking for candidates who can bring specialized skills or background: playground sales; RFP responses; Industry certifications, athletic or fitness background; landscape architecture or construction experience

Job Duties

• Present, promote and sell products/services using solid arguments to existing and prospective customers.
• Perform cost-benefit and needs analysis of existing/potential customers to meet their needs.
• Establish, develop and maintain positive business and customer relationships.
• Reach out to customer leads through cold calling and stop-ins.
• Expedite the resolution of customer problems and complaints to maximize satisfaction.
• Achieve agreed upon sales goals and outcomes within schedule.
• Coordinate sales effort and project management with team members, vendors, contractors and installation crews.
• Coordinate customer project management from signed contract through required job closeout checklist.
• Analyze the territory/market’s potential, track sales and status reports.
• Keep abreast of new products and be able to answer detailed questions (deck height for equipment, best install practices.
• Continuously improve through feedback.

Daily Tasks

• Maintain and expand client database within your assigned territory.
• Move projects through your pipeline and track progress in Hubspot. Collect and articulate the details of each project appropriately from the client to the processes in place.
• Submit design requests to inside sales support with a minimum of 48 hours for small projects and a minimum of 72 hours for competitive bids.
• Consistently update your Pricing Sheet
• Reach out to vendors for quotes on the project
• Stop ins, cold calls/emails
• Site Meetings with clients

Expectations

• This position requires creativity, relationship building, self-sufficiency, and a roll-up-your-sleeves attitude.
• Create annual prospecting/territory plan and revisit the plan throughout the year
• Hubspot CRM updated at a minimum weekly
• Final One drive folder updated, organized, and clean Includes social media quality photos
• Attendance at weekly meeting – video (preferred) or via the conference line Attendance at quarterly meetings in person
• 24 hr follow up with clients/leads Even if you just tell them you received their communication and will get back to them at a later time
• Prospecting drive time should be out on prospecting visits and/or site visits at least 2 days a week
• 1 week out of the month taking a trip to more remote parts of your territory1-3 hotel nights automatically approved by Next Generation Recreation (if more needed request approval)
• Always loop in multiple site visits, stop-ins, historical customer "Hellos"
• Average mileage during busy month is 700-900 miles.
• Before the end of 1st Qtr – updated list/report that you have contacted all PR/Small Towns via email or phone to see what they have happening upcoming fiscal year
• 2 cold calls/emails/stop ins a week (8 monthly, 96 yearly)
• Give/set up 2 Lunch & Learns a year for large departments or LA agencies
• Read/listen to at least 2 sales or personal/professional development books a year Suggestions – “The Challengers Sales” and “Fanatic Prospecting”
• Forecast sales, develop “out of the box” sales strategies/models and evaluate their effectiveness.
• Attend meetings, sales events, and trainings to keep abreast of the latest developments

Skills Required

• Excellent knowledge of MS Office and computer use competence
• Familiarity with CRM (Hubspot) practices
• Ability to build productive business professional relationships
• Highly motivated and target driven
• “Get the sale” using various customer sales methods (door-to-door, cold calling, presentations etc)
• Advanced time-management skills: ability to intake and organize tasks while prioritizing deadlines
• Ability to create and deliver presentations tailored to the audience needs
• Relationship management skills and openness to feedback
• Strong communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills

Maintain certifications: Inclusive Play Design, CPSI, RISC, and others as needed

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Application Question(s):

• This job requires extensive travel. Are you ok with that?

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: Remote