Account Director

WALLACE HIND SELECTION LIMITED; Biddenham; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to £17,500 Annual Bonus

Car Allowance £6,500 per annum

25 Days Holiday

Job summary

Wallace Hind Selection in Bedford is seeking an Account Director to lead a major contract manufacturing partnership. You will act as the senior commercial lead for a circa £20m account, heading a team of three Account Managers, and shaping strategy with senior stakeholders to deliver profitable growth and exceptional service.

This strategic role demands coaching, collaboration and strong commercial acumen. The position is hybrid Bedford-based with a salary of £65,000–£75,000, plus bonus and car

Qualifications

• Experience leading customer-facing teams within contract manufacturing or technical subcontracting.
• Proven track record managing large strategic accounts with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and ability to develop high-performing teams.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and shape long-term business strategy.
• Excellent commercial awareness including forecasting and profitability management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of three Account Managers.
• Own a key £20m account delivering sustainable growth and profitability.
• Build executive-level relationships across customer organisations.
• Champion collaboration across Engineering, Operations, Quality and Commercial.
• Drive account planning, reviews and business development.
• Partner with Managing Director to shape commercial strategy.
• Ensure accurate forecasting, budgeting and reporting.
• Develop succession and performance plans for the team.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching & Development

Stakeholder management

Forecasting & Planning

Strategic account management

Job description

Lead a Major Customer Partnership. Develop High-Performing Teams. Drive Strategic Growth. As an Account Director, you will operate as the business leader for one of our most important customer partnerships. Responsible for a major account worth circa £20m, whilst leading a team of three Account Managers. Your success will be measured through customer retention, commercial performance, long-term growth and your ability to develop a high-performing, customer-focused team. This opportunity will suit an experienced leader who enjoys coaching and developing people, influencing senior stakeholders and shaping long-term business strategy, whilst maintaining a strong focus on delivering profitable commercial outcomes.

BASIC SALARY: £65,000 - £75,000

Benefits

• Up to c£17,500 Annual Bonus
• Car Allowance of £6,500 per annum
• 25 Days Holiday

LOCATION: Bedford - hybrid 50/50

COMMUTABLE LOCATIONS: Luton, Huntingdon, Leighton Buzzard, Stevenage, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Banbury

Job Specification

Account Director, Contract Manufacturing This is a strategic leadership role offering the opportunity to take ownership of one of our most significant customer relationships within the UK Defence sector. Acting as the senior commercial lead for the account, you will be responsible for strengthening customer partnerships, driving profitable growth and ensuring your team is equipped to deliver exceptional service and commercial performance. Working closely with senior leadership, you will play a key role in shaping account strategy, identifying future opportunities and ensuring delivery excellence across multiple functions within the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, inspire and develop a team of three Account Managers, creating a culture of accountability, ownership and continuous improvement.
• Take strategic ownership of a key customer partnership worth approximately £20m, ensuring the account continues to deliver sustainable growth, profitability and long-term value.
• Build and maintain executive-level relationships across customer organisations, becoming a trusted partner and key point of influence.
• Champion collaboration across Engineering, Operations, Quality and Commercial teams to ensure delivery excellence and a seamless customer experience.
• Drive account planning, commercial reviews and business development activity to identify opportunities for growth and increased customer engagement.
• Partner closely with the Managing Director to shape commercial strategy, review performance and support long-term business planning.
• Ensure accurate forecasting, budgeting and performance reporting across the account portfolio.
• Develop succession, capability and performance plans for your team, helping individuals reach their full potential.

Person Specification

Account Director, Contract Manufacturing

To be successful in this role, you will be an accomplished leader who understands how to balance customer expectations, operational realities and commercial performance.

We are particularly interested in speaking with candidates who can demonstrate:

• Experience leading customer-facing teams within a contract manufacturing, or technical subcontract environment.
• A proven track record of managing large, complex strategic accounts with multiple stakeholders and long-term commercial agreements.
• Strong leadership, coaching and mentoring abilities, with evidence of developing high-performing teams.
• The ability to influence senior stakeholders both internally and externally.
• Excellent commercial awareness, including forecasting, business planning, profitability management and growth strategy.
• A collaborative leadership style that brings together cross-functional teams to achieve shared objectives.

Wallace Hind Selection, alongside our client embrace diversity, champion equality, and foster inclusion to create a work environment where everyone belongs and thrives.

REF: MH18661, Wallace Hind Selection