Technical Sales Specialist – ZERUST – Louisville, KY – Remote

Job Title: Technical Sales Specialist – ZERUST
Location: Home-office based in Louisville, KY (Territory: Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia)
Travel: 50%+, including overnight travel within the territory
Job Type: Full-time

Introduction:

Steel rusts. We stop it. You will spend your days on plant floors across the Midwest and Mid-South — automotive, heavy equipment, steel, oil and gas, electronics, and more — figuring out why a customer’s parts are corroding in transit, in the warehouse, or between operations, and then selling the system that fixes it. This is a technical, consultative sales role with a real product behind it. If you like solving problems in person and you would rather be in a plant than at a desk, keep reading.

Northern Technologies International Corporation (NTIC) is a global developer, manufacturer, and marketer of corrosion and cleaning management solutions — packaging, coatings, cleaners, services, and systems. NTIC operates three platforms: Zerust® Industrial, ZERUST® Integrity Solutions, and Natur-Tec®. Your focus will be on the Zerust® Industrial division.

Our product line includes Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI) polyethylene film, VCI paper, diffusers and emitters, rust preventative liquids, wash chemistries, hydrostatic testing products, and rust removers. Customers use them to protect metal during transportation, warehousing, in-process handling, and long-term lay-up.

Role and Responsibilities:

You own the territory. You are the face of Zerust to every customer and distributor in it — the person who walks the line, runs the trial, writes the recommendation, and closes the order.

• Own the sales plan for Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia — forecast, prospect, quote, and close with both direct customers and distribution partners.
• Walk customer plants and diagnose corrosion problems: analyze the manufacturing and packaging process, identify where and why the corrosion is occurring, and specify the right combination of film, paper, diffusers, or liquid chemistry.
• Run on-site product trials, corrosion surveys, and fluid testing, and document the results in a clear written recommendation.
• Train distributor sales teams and customer personnel on corrosion fundamentals and correct product use — a poorly applied VCI product is a lost account, so this matters.
• Build relationships at every level of the account: purchasing, engineering, manufacturing, quality, and plant management.
• Provide day-to-day customer service and problem resolution for accounts in your territory.
• Submit written visit reports and a monthly territory and forecast update.
• Support technical marketing of products and services, and represent Zerust at trade shows and industry conferences.
• Work independently, with regular coaching and support from your Regional Manager.

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science in chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, industrial technology, or a related technical field. Equivalent hands-on industrial experience will be considered.
• 0–5 years of experience. New graduates are genuinely encouraged — we will teach you corrosion. Candidates with 10 or more years in technical or industrial sales are also welcome to apply and will be considered at a level that fits their background.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. You will write recommendations that engineers read and quotes that purchasing acts on.
• Willingness and ability to travel more than 50% of the time, including overnight stays.
• Valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record.
• Comfort working in active manufacturing environments and wearing required PPE (safety glasses, steel-toe footwear, hearing protection).
• Authorization to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

Skills and Competencies:

• A chemistry degree, or coursework in corrosion, materials, or surface chemistry.
• Any exposure to technical, industrial, or consultative selling — including internships and co-ops.
• Familiarity with automotive, heavy equipment, steel, oil and gas, or electronics manufacturing.
• Working knowledge of metalworking fluids, parts washing, or industrial packaging.
• Comfort with CRM, Excel, and ERP systems such as SAP.
• A self-starter with a sense of urgency, strong organizational habits, and no hesitation about walking up to a stranger on a plant floor and starting a conversation.

What to expect:

• Months 1–3: Product, corrosion, and application training. Ride-alongs with experienced reps and your Manager. Introductions to your existing accounts and distributors.
• Months 4–6: Running plant surveys and product trials with support. Managing your own call schedule and visit reports.
• Months 7–12: Owning the territory forecast, driving new business independently, and being the person your accounts call first.

Zerust North America is growing and restructuring at the same time. We are adding sales headcount across the U.S., and two senior members of the team are retiring within the next year — which means the person we hire into this seat has a visible path to a larger territory and greater responsibility, not a decade-long wait. Recent wins in heavy-duty engines and consumer products show where the momentum is. You will have room to build.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Vehicle allowance; all business travel expenses covered; laptop & computer accessories provided.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage; 401(k) with company match; paid time off and holidays.

ISO

Every employee is expected to support the NTIC Quality Management System (QMS) in accordance with our Quality System Manual and Quality Control Procedures. This position oversees internal processes for the end sale and implementation of client projects, as well as promoting awareness of the ISO system, including the use of internal standards and methods (as related to ISO) that are needed to ensure effective project execution.

Interested candidates should send cover letter and resume via email to jobs@ntic.com or fax to 763-225-6645. No telephone calls, recruiters, or agencies please.