Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions.
Job Summary
Xylem is seeking a driven, technically curious Sales Representative to grow the Flygt business across the Chicago-area municipal and industrial wastewater markets.
This is not a transactional sales role. You will manage a defined territory, develop long-term customer relationships, identify complex operational challenges, and position Flygt pumping, mixing, monitoring, controls, and aftermarket solutions that improve system reliability and performance.
You will work directly with municipalities, wastewater utilities, industrial facilities, consulting engineers, contractors, and other industry partners. You will manage opportunities throughout the full sales cycle, from prospecting and early project development through technical evaluation, proposal strategy, negotiation, closing, and post-sale support.
The right candidate will be a self-motivated, competitive sales professional who enjoys building a territory, solving technical problems, and becoming a trusted advisor to customers. You will have the autonomy to manage your market while being supported by experienced application engineers, service professionals, operations teams, product specialists, and sales leadership.
Responsibilities:
Develop and Grow the Territory
Build and execute a strategic sales plan for the Chicago-area municipal and industrial markets
Identify new customers, projects, and applications through prospecting, networking, referrals, market research, and field activity
Expand relationships within existing accounts while developing new sources of revenue
Maintain a healthy, accurate pipeline of short- and long-term opportunities
Use market intelligence, customer data, and competitive insight to prioritize accounts and allocate selling time effectively
Consistently achieve or exceed annual order, revenue, margin, and growth objectives
Build Trusted Customer Relationships
Develop strong relationships with utility leaders, operators, engineers, contractors, maintenance professionals, procurement teams, and industrial decision-makers
Learn each customer's system, operational priorities, capital plans, and long-term challenges
Serve as a trusted technical and commercial resource throughout the customer relationship
Conduct regular account reviews, site visits, and follow-up activities to identify emerging needs and future opportunities
Deliver a high level of responsiveness, professionalism, and customer service
Represent Xylem and Flygt with integrity while protecting long-term customer and company interests
Sell Technical Solutions
Evaluate customer needs and recommend appropriate pumping, mixing, controls, monitoring, service, and aftermarket solutions
Translate technical product capabilities into clear operational and business value
Conduct effective technical presentations, product demonstrations, lunch-and-learns, and customer training sessions
Review plans, specifications, operating conditions, and application requirements in collaboration with internal technical resources
Develop solution strategies that differentiate Flygt based on performance, reliability, lifecycle value, service support, and application expertise
Build persuasive proposals that address both the technical and commercial requirements of each opportunity
Manage Projects and the Sales Process
Manage opportunities from initial identification through quotation, negotiation, award, delivery, startup, and post-sale follow-up
Develop account strategies and project-specific pursuit plans for significant opportunities
Coordinate pricing, commercial terms, proposal development, approvals, and contract requirements
Negotiate effectively while maintaining appropriate value, margin, and risk discipline
Maintain accurate sales activity, account information, forecasts, and opportunity data in Salesforce or other required systems
Provide timely and reliable forecasts to sales leadership
Monitor project schedules, customer commitments, competitive activity, and potential risks
Collaborate Across the Organization
Work closely with application engineering, service, operations, customer support, marketing, product management, and leadership
Coordinate internal resources to provide customers with timely and technically sound solutions
Engage product and application specialists when opportunities require additional expertise
Share customer feedback, market trends, competitive intelligence, and product needs with internal stakeholders
Support team initiatives and contribute to the overall growth of the regional business
Help ensure a smooth customer experience from initial engagement through delivery and ongoing service
Develop Industry and Product Expertise
Build a strong understanding of municipal and industrial wastewater systems, processes, applications, and purchasing practices
Develop expertise in Flygt pumps, mixers, controls, monitoring systems, aftermarket products, and service capabilities
Stay current on market conditions, competitors, regulatory drivers, infrastructure funding, and emerging technologies
Participate in technical training, sales development programs, conferences, trade associations, and customer events
Continuously strengthen consultative selling, negotiation, account management, and technical communication skills
What Success Looks Like
Successful Sales Representatives at Flygt take ownership of their territory and operate with a strong sense of urgency, accountability, and customer focus. They are comfortable working independently, but they know when to engage technical and operational resources to deliver the best outcome.
They are persistent without being transactional, technically credible without overcomplicating the message, and commercially disciplined without sacrificing the customer relationship. They build trust over time, develop opportunities before they become formal projects, and consistently create value for both the customer and the business.
High-Impact Behaviors
Results-Driven Performance
Sets ambitious goals, maintains focus on the highest-value opportunities, and consistently follows through on commitments. Uses data, planning, and disciplined execution to deliver measurable territory growth.
Customer Focus
Invests the time required to understand customer operations, challenges, and priorities. Builds lasting relationships by providing responsive, honest, and practical support.
Ownership and Accountability
Takes responsibility for territory performance, customer relationships, opportunity development, forecasting accuracy, and project follow-through. Identifies issues early and works proactively to resolve them.
Collaboration and Teamwork
Engages the right internal resources, communicates clearly, and values the technical and operational expertise of colleagues. Understands that complex sales are won through effective teamwork.
Continuous Professional Development
Actively develops technical knowledge, industry expertise, and sales capability. Seeks feedback, adapts quickly, and remains informed about market trends, customer needs, and competitive activity.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, engineering, environmental science, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience
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Demonstrated experience in outside sales, territory management, business development, account management, or technical sales
Ability to develop new business and manage complex, relationship-driven sales opportunities
Strong communication, presentation, negotiation, and closing skills
Ability to understand technical concepts and communicate them clearly to both technical and nontechnical audiences
Strong organizational, analytical, and time-management skills
Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and maintain accountability for territory results
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Proficiency with Salesforce or a comparable CRM platform
Ability and willingness to travel regularly throughout the assigned Chicago-area territory
Preferred Qualifications
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Experience selling into municipal utilities, industrial facilities, consulting engineering firms, contractors, or public-sector organizations
Experience with pumps, rotating equipment, water or wastewater systems, process equipment, controls, instrumentation, capital equipment, or engineered solutions
Knowledge of municipal procurement, engineering specifications, capital improvement projects, and construction-related sales cycles
Mechanical aptitude or the ability to quickly develop technical product and application expertise
Established relationships within the Chicago-area water, wastewater, engineering, construction, or industrial markets
Why Join US
Flygt solutions support some of the most demanding water and wastewater applications in the world. As a Sales Representative, you will have the opportunity to build meaningful customer relationships, solve complex infrastructure challenges, and represent a trusted portfolio of products, services, and technical expertise.
You will join a team that values performance, collaboration, customer commitment, and professional growth. You will be given meaningful responsibility for your territory, access to experienced technical resources, and the opportunity to make a visible impact on the business and the communities our customers serve.
Join the global Xylem team to be a part of innovative technology solutions transforming water usage, conservation, and re-use. Our products impact public utilities, industrial sectors, residential areas, and commercial buildings, with a commitment to providing smart metering, network technologies, and advanced analytics for water, electric, and gas utilities. Partner with us in creating a world where water challenges are met with ingenuity and dedication; where we recognize the power of inclusion and belonging in driving innovation and allowing us to compete more effectively around the world.
At Xylem, you'll not only contribute to solving water issues but also have the chance to make a difference through our paid Volunteer Program, Xylem Watermark. We prioritize our employees' well-being through inclusion and belonging as well as our Employee Resource Groups (ERG). Proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (including disability and veterans) and Affirmative Action workplace, Xylem fosters an inclusive environment free from discrimination or harassment.
Please note that the information in this job description outlines the general nature of the position and is not an exhaustive list of duties. Xylem is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to enable all employees to perform their essential job functions. We reserve the right to modify this job description and assign additional duties as needed. Embrace the opportunity to be part of Xylem's transformative journey in shaping the future of water technology! #XylemCareers #GlobalImpact #WaterInnovation
