Account Manager Pinetown

Key Account Manager

Leading Packaging company in the KZN area requires the expert skills of a qualified Key Account Manager to join their team. The Account Manager is responsible for achieving the agreed targets of sales and profitability for the assigned customers in his/her region and to maintain and develop a sustainable relationship. The Account Manager drives the development and implementation of the respective customer's strategy.

Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Develop and execute the sales account plans to ensure targets are met.
2. Maintain a sustainable relationship with the customer and open new growth opportunities.
3. Hold ownership for correct pricing and margins, claim handling, payments, and contract negotiations.
4. Responsible for implementing price reviews and driving cost recovery models in place at the customer.
5. Drive cost, value-added, and efficiency initiatives.
6. Support exceptional quality and product delivery.
7. Drive innovation together with Product Management and the customer.
8. Collect market data and develop the yearly account budget.
9. Work closely with the global Sales Account Management team to align overall sales strategy.
10. Responsible for the quality of the information that is fed back into the group.
11. Understand the market drivers, deliverables, and competitors of the customer.
12. Align these to the strategy of the client.
13. Hold responsibility to communicate and drive timelines/critical paths, samples collection, and other tasks in project management.
14. Have ownership for the formalization of customer SLA's.
15. Responsible for pipeline development and ensure it is updated weekly with correct information.
16. Responsible for profit improvement initiatives at the customer.
17. Understand market synergies, trends, and market prices and communicate that information back to EMM market price database.
18. Frequent visits to customers and prioritize time in front of the customer.
19. Responsible for accurate sales forecasting and demand management.

Desired Experience & Qualification:

1. Matric (Grade 12)
2. Sales or Marketing Qualification (Degree preferred)
3. Fluent in English
4. Experience in an Account Management role with proven delivery of new business (essential)
5. Commercial Understanding (pricing methods/margin management)
6. Willing to travel locally (potential for overseas travel occasionally)
7. Advanced ERP and Microsoft Office Skills with strong Excel skills
8. Basic Financial Understanding
9. Manufacturing understanding preferred in the Packaging Industry.

Package & Remuneration: Market Related