Job Description

University of Utah Job Description

Job Summary

Provides extensive technical expertise within the department to sales associates and to individual customers. Offers input on purchasing, pricing, inventory and display of products. Stays current on product information and industry trends and developments.

Qualifications

Associate degree in Computer Science, or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience); two years experience in selling, configuring, installing and servicing computers, both hardware and software; and experience communicating and negotiating with vendors required.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Disclaimer

This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Essential Functions

1. Consults with customers on the sales floor, as well as departmental representatives, to provide expert technical consulting on complex computer systems, and ensure customers receive systems that perform as expected.
2. Assists sales associates by providing technical answers to product questions as they arise, which are beyond the scope of their training to enhance the scope of their knowledge and enable them to provide better customer service.
3. Evaluates new products by testing and reading associated literature to make informed decisions pertaining to products the department should purchase and stock, which will meet potential customer needs.
4. Trains sales associates by answering technical questions, acquiring and making vendor manuals accessible, keeping price sheets current, and condensing information in printed form for quicker retention.
5. Maintains a current price list to enable prompt access and provide immediate response for bids on volume purchases and customer inquiry.
6. Advises and consults with management to correctly identify products with which they may not be familiar, identify compatibility or incompatibility among groups of products, and avoid buying products that will not sell.
7. Coordinates and oversees all activities associated with the Bookstore in-house computer system by installing compatible hardware, systems software, utilities, etc, and to ensure proper functioning and continuous performance.
8. Meets with departments to determine their needs; and with vendors to ascertain product line changes and developments.
9. Maintains resource materials to answer more complex technical problems, product specifications, and information on competitive products so customers can make informed decisions.
10. Stays current with market trends by attending seminars to see up-coming versions of software and testing some products to ensure it has application for customer needs.

Problem Solving

The Computer Sales Specialist has the authority to change pricing of products, either in solving customer relations problems, or in bidding volume purchases without consulting the supervisor. He/she may approve refunds or exchanges of products that do not fall within standard refund/exchange guidelines of the Bookstore, and determine who is eligible to purchase computers and computer-related merchandise from the Bookstore.

Instances where a price change would result in selling merchandise below cost, which merchandise to advertise on sale, and customers who dispute eligibility problems are referred to the supervisor.

Challenges encountered by the incumbent include helping customers buy compatible systems to serve their needs and prevent returns; resolving problems with damaged or malfunctioning equipment returned by a customer; determining eligibility of a customer to purchase from the Bookstore; resolving availability and delivery date of the product with the vendor, if it is not in stock; and keeping current with the technical information available on all new products.

The incumbent directly supervises 1 non-exempt employee and 7 Hourly and part-time employees, indirectly.