Account Director

Wallace Hind Selection; Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to £17,500 Annual Bonus

Car Allowance of £6,500 per annum

25 Days Holiday

Job summary

Wallace Hind Selection is seeking an Account Director to lead a major customer partnership in the UK Defence sector. You will own business strategy, develop a high-performing team and drive profitable growth with executive-level influence.

Taking strategic ownership of a £20m account, you will shape account strategy, forecast performance, and build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across Engineering, Operations and Commercial functions within a hybrid Bedford-based role.

Qualifications

• Experience leading customer-facing teams.
• Experience managing significant accounts (~£20m).
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and shape strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of three Account Managers.
• Take strategic ownership of a key customer partnership worth ~£20m.
• Build executive-level relationships with customer organisations.
• Champion collaboration across Engineering, Operations, Quality and Commercial.
• Drive account planning, reviews and business development activity.
• Shape commercial strategy with the Managing Director.
• Ensure accurate forecasting, budgeting and performance reporting.
• Develop succession, capability and performance plans for the team.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

People development

Stakeholder management

Account leadership

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:

Account Director, Contract Manufacturing

• 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:

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

• You will be passionate about developing people, building strong internal relationships and creating long-term customer partnerships that deliver value for both parties.

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

• Experience leading customer-facing teams within a contract manufactu