Product Application Specialist - Gauteng at Caterpillar Inc.

Job Purpose:

• This position consults with dealers and internal business partners as a recognized product and application expert in the construction and quarry industries (and respective sub-segments). Leverages outstanding products and applications knowledge to improve sales force effectiveness and increase customer loyalty. Supports the engineering teams during the various phases of development in terms of collecting, consolidating, and sharing customer requirements, conducting competitive analysis to represent the regions.
• This is a field-based role for an experienced, individual contributor where assignments are complex, challenging and lend themselves to strategic decisions and recommendations.

Job duties will include, but not limited to:

Training:  

• Increase dealer sales force knowledge of Caterpillar products, technologies, solutions, and applications. 
• Provide local inputs to development of sales training programs. Deliver the sales training regionally or locally.

Customer Value Chain:  

• Deliver business plan by providing product application expertise at point of sale.  Customer consultation will be provided including application, production, and cost studies.
• Support the development and champion the implementation of the various tools that Caterpillar has available to consult our customers. As a result, customers will recognize the maximum value in designed product features.

Competitive Comparisons:

• Organize, conduct, and report on competitive performance tests, feature/benefit comparisons identifying and highlighting the differentiation of the Caterpillar offering.
• Create Value Selling documentation and provide feedback to the engineering teams.

Represent the ‘Voice of Customer’:

• Collect, consolidate, and communicate customer requirements for future product development activities.
• Support definition and value placed on new product features, functional and technical specifications, general product requirements and trade-off discussions.

Marketing Support:

• Support product launch events, trade shows, customer events such as quarry days and heavy construction days and press events.

Background/Experience:  

• Completed degree in engineering, or similar field of study.
• 10 years of progressive industry experience, with a good technical understanding of capital equipment (construction, agriculture, on-highway truck, etc)
• Expert knowledge of company products, product applications, and the full customer value stream in the assigned industry.  
• Good interpersonal and communication skills are critical.
• Commercial experience is advantageous.
• Fluency in English is critical and French or Arabic is a plus.
• Travel requirements: 40% of time.