Every day, we get opportunities to make a positive impact – on our colleagues, partners, customers and society. Together, we’re pioneering the solutions of the future and unlocking the full potential of precious resources. Trusted to act on initiative, we challenge conventional thinking to develop world-leading technologies that inspire progress in vital areas, including energy, food, water and shipping.

As we push forward, the innovative, open spirit that fuels our 140-year-old start-up culture and rapid growth also drives our personal growth. So, as we shape a more resourceful, less wasteful world, we build our careers too.

About the job
Reporting to the Sales Manager, the Commercial Sales Intern supports the Water Separation Sales team and plays an active role day‑to‑day commercial activity. You will assist with customer inquiries, help prepare and follow up on quotes, and learn how to navigate the full inside‑sales process within a technical, customer‑focused environment. This role offers hands‑on exposure to sales operations, CRM tools, and product knowledge while contributing to the promotion of Alfa Laval’s water‑separation solutions and services.

This is a role based in Richmond, VA.

As a part of the team, you will:

• Learn and follow established sales processes, gaining hands‑on experience with how Alfa Laval promotes and sells its products and services.

• Develop the ability to identify customer needs by learning how to investigate and determine the correct parts, components, or products for each inquiry.

• Assist in preparing transactional quotes and practice following up with customers to understand their requirements and decision‑making process.

• Explore upselling opportunities by learning how to recognize additional products or services that may benefit the customer.

• Engage with customers under guidance, helping ensure they understand the value of the proposed solution and that it aligns with their needs.

• Build confidence using CRM and sales tools, learning how consistent, high‑quality data supports the sales process and informs business decisions.

What You Know

You are a college student pursuing a degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or a related field, and you bring:

• Interest in sales and customer engagement, especially in a technical or industrial environment.

• Strong communication skills and comfort interacting with customers and internal teams.

• Attention to detail when preparing quotes, reviewing product information, or entering data.

• Basic familiarity with CRM tools or a willingness to learn digital sales platforms.

• Curiosity and a proactive mindset with a desire to understand customer needs and support the sales process.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast‑paced, customer‑focused environment.

We care about diversity, inclusion and equity in our recruitment processes. We also believe behavioral traits can provide important insights into a candidate's fit to a role. To help us achieve this we apply Pymetrics assessments, and upon application you will be invited to play the assessment games.

What’s in it for you?

At Alfa Laval, we carefully consider a wide range of compensation factors to determine your compensation. We rely on market indicators to determine compensation and consider your specific job family, background, skills, and experience to get it right. These considerations can cause your compensation to vary and will also be dependent on your location. The hourly rate for this role is $22 to $27 USD per hour.

Alfa Laval is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, or business need, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

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