Outside Sales Representative - Motors & Drives (Kansas City)

The Opportunity

ESR Motor Systems is looking for an experienced industrial outside salesperson to develop and grow our territory throughout the Greater Kansas City area and surrounding markets. This home-based, field-sales position is supported by our experienced inside-sales team and network of stocking locations.

Candidates must live in the area and be able to travel regularly throughout their assigned territory.

The primary focus is new-account development: identifying prospective industrial customers, understanding their operations and applications, solving problems, and converting opportunities into profitable, long-term business.

ESR is a premier U.S. industrial distributor with one of the country’s strongest electric motor brand lineups. Our excellent inventory, industry-leading tools, technical knowledge, responsive support, and strong growth trajectory give salespeople the resources to solve difficult customer problems, win business, and build successful territories.

Why Join ESR?

• Guaranteed minimum total compensation for the first 12 months with uncapped earning potential
• High autonomy and ownership of your assigned territory
• Fast, experienced inside-sales and quoting support
• Direct access to company leadership and responsive decision-making
• Manufacturer-supported technical and product training
• Opportunity to expand ESR’s geographic footprint and advance into sales or branch leadership

Responsibilities

This is a consultative, problem-solving sales role—not an order-taking position. You are responsible for turning ESR’s products, expertise, tools, and service capabilities into meaningful customer results.

• Develop and execute a territory plan, consistently prospect for new industrial customers, and generate profitable, long-term growth.
• Spend meaningful time at customer facilities learning their operations, critical equipment, maintenance practices, production priorities, and recurring problems.
• Look beyond the initial request to identify root causes, prevent future problems, and uncover opportunities to improve reliability and uptime.
• Continually develop and apply knowledge of ESR’s offerings, providing customers with valuable information about products, applications, alternatives, and services they may not have considered.
• Respond with urgency, communicate next steps clearly, keep customers informed, and follow through from the initial conversation through delivery and after-sale support.
• Coordinate ESR’s inside-sales team, technical resources, and manufacturer partners while remaining personally accountable for the customer experience.
• Prepare solution-based proposals, negotiate terms, close profitable business, and earn loyalty by consistently solving problems and delivering results.
• Maintain an accurate CRM pipeline, document customer activity, and provide reliable forecasts and follow-up.

Required Qualifications

• Three or more years of successful outside sales experience in an industrial or technical market.
• Experience selling industrial equipment, electrical products, automation, MRO products, power transmission equipment, or related technical products.
• Demonstrated ability to prospect independently, open new accounts, and generate profitable business.
• Technical curiosity and the ability to understand customer operations, ask effective questions, and translate problems into practical solutions.
• A strong sense of urgency, personal accountability, responsiveness, and follow-through.
• Ability to independently organize and manage a geographically defined, home-based sales territory.
• Strong communication skills, CRM proficiency, and the ability to work with customers at all organizational levels.
• A valid driver’s license, regular travel availability, and Kansas City area residency or willingness to relocate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct sales experience with electric motors, variable frequency drives, gearboxes, or related industrial electrical products.
• Existing relationships with industrial customers in the Kansas City region.
• A consistent record of meeting or exceeding sales and gross-profit objectives.

• 100% employer-paid employee-only medical and dental premiums
• Choice of an HSA medical plan or a traditional copay plan, with employer-funded HRA support
• Voluntary vision coverage
• Company-paid life insurance with voluntary supplemental coverage available
• 401(k) plan with employer matching and profit-sharing contributions
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays

Compensation and Earning Potential

• Base salary of $75,000–$100,000, based on relevant sales experience, technical expertise, and demonstrated performance
• Expected first-year total compensation of $110,000–$150,000
• Guaranteed minimum total compensation for the first 12 months, beginning at $100,000 and determined individually
• Uncapped commission based primarily on gross profit, plus additional bonuses for meeting and exceeding performance targets
• Full reimbursement of reasonable business-related expenses, plus a company-provided phone and laptop
• Eligibility for a company vehicle based on sustained sales performance

Long-term earning potential is substantial. ESR sales representatives with mature, high-performing territories regularly earn $150,000–$200,000 or more.

If you are a driven industrial salesperson who enjoys solving difficult customer problems, developing new accounts, and building a territory, we want to hear from you.

ESR Motor Systems is an equal opportunity employer.