Title: Inside Sales Representative

Reports to: VP of Sales

Job Type: Hourly, Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Location: Hawthorn Woods, IL

Apex Landscaping, founded in 1991, has grown from a single summer route into one of Chicagoland’s leading full-service landscaping companies, serving areas from Kenosha, WI to Bolingbrook, IL and west to Elgin. Headquartered in Hawthorn Woods, Apex operates over 200 team members and 40 crews daily in the summer, while also providing full-service snow and ice management in winter. With decades of steady expansion, Apex offers residential, commercial, and multi-family clients comprehensive landscaping, construction projects exceeding $10,000, and year-round maintenance services, backed by the resources and stability of a company built for continual growth.

Job Summary: The Inside Sales Representative plays a key role in identifying, qualifying, and securing new business opportunities for Apex Landscaping. This role focuses on generating leads, building relationships with HOAs, property managers, and commercial businesses, and converting prospects into long-term clients. Success in this position requires landscaping industry experience and strong plant identification knowledge, enabling the representative to speak confidently about services, materials, and horticultural solutions.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Answer incoming sales calls, written inquiries, and faxed requests.

• Assist with client work orders, site visits, and photo documentation as directed by sales team members.

• Support property measurement using measuring software and input data into estimating systems.

• Assist production teams in the field during seasonal projects to gain operational knowledge.

• Perform clerical and administrative duties to support sales and operations.

• Promote and effectively sell company products and services using established sales techniques.

• Clarify customer needs and present appropriate product and service options, including pricing.

• Coordinate with internal personnel to meet customer delivery and service requirements.

• Follow established sales policies and procedures to ensure consistent customer treatment.

• Process sales paperwork including contracts, prints, and related documentation.

• Resolve customer concerns promptly and professionally.

• Maintain accurate records and support the sales team with follow-up tasks.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

What we offer:

• Competitive Compensation

• Insurance: Medical, Dental, & Vision

• 401K Retirement Plan

• Paid Time Off

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Professional Development Opportunities

Core Competencies

• Strong oral and written communication skills

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service abilities

• Professionalism and diplomacy in all interactions

• Strong organizational and time-management skills

• Ability to negotiate and present information clearly

• Math aptitude and accuracy in data entry

• Ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast-paced environment

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; Bachelor’s degree preferred.

• 3-5 years of landscaping industry experience required.

• Strong plant identification knowledge required.

• Prior sales experience preferred.

• Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record

• Must pass a pre-employment drug test

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

• Prolonged periods of sitting in a vehicle when traveling to customer sites

• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds as needed

• Ability to travel as required

Work Environment: This role involves a combination of office work, phone-based customer interaction, and occasional on-site property visits. Inside Sales Representatives work closely with sales and operations teams and may be exposed to outdoor conditions during site visits.

Schedule: Inside Sales Representatives are expected to maintain regular office hours as established by management. Seasonal workload or client needs may require occasional adjustments to standard.