Key Account Manager
higher recruitmentChicago (IL)
About the role
Key Account Manager The Key Account Manager is responsible for driving strategic growth and profitability within one of our client’s key accounts. This role provides tactical sales leadership and executes business and marketing strategies to defend existing business while expanding share of wallet by 10%+ annually. The position requires strong cross-functional collaboration, commercial acumen, and the ability to manage complex customer relationships while aligning internal stakeholders to deliver results.
Key Responsibilities:
Account Ownership & GrowthOwn and manage a key account with full responsibility for revenue growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
Execute account strategies to defend existing business and expand share of wallet.
Identify and develop new business opportunities within the account.
Support and participate in negotiations for new opportunities while protecting company interests.
Deliver profitable year-over-year growth.
Strategic & Commercial Leadership:
Manage pricing, margin performance, and overall account profitability.
Drive forecast accuracy and maintain strong pipeline management within CRM.Lead account planning, churn management, and profitability improvement initiatives.
Ensure contractual compliance, including inventory, service, and quality KPIs.
Manage accounts receivable in partnership with the credit team.
Cross-Functional CollaborationPartner with Sales Leadership, R&D, Marketing, Field Service, and Strategic Marketing to support customer initiatives.
Coordinate validation and customer trials.
Support commercialization and onboarding of new business.
Align internal teams to deliver customer-focused solutions.
Cross-Functional CollaborationPartner with Sales Leadership, R&D, Marketing, Field Service, and Strategic Marketing to support customer initiatives.
Coordinate validation and customer trials.
Support commercialization and onboarding of new business.
Align internal teams to deliver customer-focused solutions.
Reporting & Performance Management:
Report monthly sales and marketing performance to business leadership.
Communicate progress against strategic objectives.
Maintain disciplined account planning and reporting processes.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required.5+ years of sales or technical experience (packaging industry preferred).Proven track record of driving profitable sales growth.
- Experience with pricing strategy and commercial negotiations.
- Strong business and financial acumen, including P&L understanding.
- Ability to operate in a fast-paced, complex environment.
- Strong project management and organizational skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
- Willingness to travel up to 60%.What They Value
- Results-oriented mindset
- Accountability and ownership
- Ability to simplify complexity
- Strong relationship builder
- Strategic thinker with tactical execution ability
- Solution-focused approach
Before you apply
Applying takes about a minute. These four things decide how fast it moves after that.
Your profile is current
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Two examples you can talk through
Not a portfolio — just two pieces of work where you can explain the decisions and what you'd change.
A number in mind
What you're on now and what would make you move. We negotiate better when we know both.
Your notice period
Employers plan around it, and it's the question that stalls offers most often.
Once you apply, someone reads it and calls you before anything reaches the employer — usually within two working days.
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