Employment Type: Regular Full-Time

Shift: 1st Shift

Work Status: Remote

Position Summary: 

The Product and Application Instructor develops, designs and delivers effective and persuasive technical and sales presentations for Taco’s trade customers. They prepare and present highly technical educational programs for Taco’s manufacturer’s representatives and Taco’s Sales, Technical Services and Customer Care teams, as well as for live online programs such as Taco Tuesday and Taco After Dark. They collaborate with Product Management, Engineering, Operations and Sales to provide field input and to assist in the design, modification and improvement of new and existing products. As a subject matter expert in Taco’s residential and light commercial products, they submit technical papers and articles to various industry associations and media outlets. They develop sales training strategies and play a key role in Sales and Marketing developing their strategies for new products. The Product and Application Instructor is a very high-profile role that represents Taco at industry trade shows nationally and serves as a guest speaker at professional and industry gatherings. Through online, field and factory training efforts, this role reaches and influences tens of thousands of customers annually.

Measures of success:

• Develop and deliver target number of factory training programs
• Develop and deliver target number of field training programs
• Develop and deliver target number of online training programs
• Develop and deliver new training programs in conjunction with new product launches
• Develop and deliver online training content, including live, after-hours programs

Responsibilities: 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Creates, develops and delivers application-based training programs to promote sales in assigned regions.
• Works in conjunction with Taco Manufacturer’s Representatives and Regional Sales Managers to develop and implement a training and sales strategy for assigned region.
• Develops and delivers in-person, online and social media presentations on Taco products and their applications in their markets and nationally. Delivers online content, including live, after-hours programs, on platforms such as YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.
• Serves as a Taco ambassador to various online communities and is a key influencer to these trade customers.
• Creates and updates all electronic and written documentation related to product and sales training, including speaker notes.
• Trains manufacturer’s representatives and Taco sales personnel on professional training techniques, technical product information and technical support issues, as well as competitive sales strategies and competitive products.
• Assists the application and product support team in providing technical support to internal customers, the Taco sales team, reps, distributors, and trade customers on all Taco wholesale products, as well as selected commercial products.
• Provides product management, engineering, tech services and project management teams with field service issues and assists in developing resolution and messaging.
• Manages the training function for all manufacturers’ reps in the region. Develops and presents messaging on strategic products in each market.
• Represents Taco at local and national trade shows and serves as a guest speaker at trade shows and other industry events.
• Authors technical papers and industry trade magazine articles.
• Cross-trains staff members and remains current with technical specifications of all existing and new products, understands theory, operation and application of all company products and of residential hydronic heating and plumbing systems.
• Communicates quality trends to Quality/Product Management teams and participates in product development utilizing a full database of historical and current technical issues. Assists Quality and each division to develop and implement short- and long-term corrective actions for technical issues.
• Continuously monitors customer support needs and identifies value-added services through face-to-face customer meetings, online group discussions and Taco Trade Council sessions. Ensures that training efforts and customer support services provided are in line with the needs and requirements of internal and external customers.
• Provides on-site troubleshooting of field application and/or equipment problems. Identifies product and system evaluation criteria, design protocols, initiates tests with customers, coordinates testing parameters with Engineering and Lab Services, and reports findings to customers in a confidential, standard format.
• Represents the company in a professional and knowledgeable manner that provides assurance to customers of the company’s capabilities. Promotes and maintains positive customer relations, responds to customer and representative inquiries by telephone, e-mail, or other identified communication channels, and provides continuous and timely technical support and feedback on all products. Answers all product technical questions and assists staff and others to do the same.
• Assists in customer business development, new product evaluation, and testing, current product line extension development, and determination of true product differential advantages.
• Provides technical product training to the technical services team, technical input for customer questions, and works with Sales and Marketing to resolve customer technical issues and to develop product literature and instruction sheets. Provides technical support and configuration guidance to other departments.
• Participates in New Product Development Gate Reviews. Provides training to customers and sales representatives in sizing, equipment operation, and maintenance responsibilities.
• Consults the Quality team on customer returns and exchanges by examining warranty claims. Communicates with the customer concerning returned goods as needed.
• Communicates trends and necessary improvements to Engineering and Quality teams based on experiences in the field. Works closely with both teams to keep them informed of field and product problems.
• Performs other related duties as required or directed.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business or related field; significant applicable experience may be accepted in lieu of a degree.
• 10+ years of experience in residential hydronics and plumbing systems
• 8+ years of experience in developing and delivering technical presentations and public speaking
• Proficient in Microsoft Office tools with advanced PowerPoint skills
• Advanced technical proficiency in residential and light commercial hydronic heating, cooling and plumbing systems and their individual components
• Practical field experiences in the plumbing and heating industry a plus
• Task-oriented self-starter with professional time management and project prioritization skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Extremely polished in public speaking, presentation and teaching skills
• Extensive travel is required – minimum of 75% of the time to company locations, customer sites, trades shows, etc.
• Must live and work in the assigned area of the United States:
  • West: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NV, NM, OR, Western SD, UT, WA, WY

Work Environment

This position works primarily in a home and/or office environment using computers and technology.  Verbal and auditory capability are required.  Occasional exposure in product plant where large equipment and noise are prevalent. Safety gear is required in these areas.

This position is remote and extensive travel is required. Must be able to travel short and long distances as needed in various modes of transportation which may require sitting for long periods of time and/or being in confined spaces.

This position has no direct reports.