Account Manager

Gardner Aerospace; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing company in the East Midlands is seeking an Account Manager to join their Derby team. The role involves ensuring delivery performance, developing customer relationships, and supporting project coordination. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in customer service, experience with Tier 1 aerospace suppliers, and excellent leadership skills. This position offers a competitive salary ranging between £35,000 and £40,000 depending on experience, along with great work-life balance and additional benefits.

Benefits

Competitive pay

Pension

25 Days Annual Holiday plus 8 statutory days

BUPA Healthcare

Long Service awards

Death in Service

Free onsite Parking

Qualifications

• Experience as an Account Manager.
• Strong customer focus combined with business development skills.
• Ability to understand engineering drawings and aerospace specifications.

Responsibilities

• Ensure delivery performance is maintained at a World Class level.
• Develop a customer relationship management strategy.
• Conduct regular performance and forecasting reviews.

Skills

Organisational skills

Customer service

Leadership

Negotiation

Problem analysis

Job description

Are you an organised, people‑focused Account Manager who thrives in a busy environment? We’re looking for a proactive and driven individual to join our manufacturing team at our Derby site, where no two days are the same. This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in customer relationships, project coordination, and supporting a dynamic production environment. Working Hours: Enjoy a great work‑life balance with an early Friday finish: Monday - Thursday: 8.00am – 4.45pm; Friday: 8.00am – 12.30pm. At Gardner, client relationships are our top priority. The ideal candidate will need to have experience as an Account Manager and exceptional customer service. We are looking for a dedicated and personable manager to act as the main point of contact for a senior client with the assistance of a direct report.

Responsibilities

• Ensures that Delivery Performance is maintained at a World Class level of performance for all customers
• Develop a Customer Relationship Management strategy and business plans which support the business
• Provide a focal point for the customer within the business identified contracts and optimise the working relationship with the customer, through regular meetings, telephone contact and formal reporting
• Ensure customer satisfaction and 98% OTIF delivery
• Conduct regular performance and forecasting reviews with the customers for dissemination into the SIOP and ERP systems
• Ensure all Sales Orders are loaded, checked and verified
• Maintain, improve and stabilise the Customer demand signals into the Gardner Group
• Maintain sales order integrity via Paragon/customer order book, updating where required and notifying customer of any delivery date/quantity changes
• Ensure contract review procedure is followed (through liaison with relevant departments ref quote, contract review checklist (GMF3021) for any orders received – both for electronic and manual purchase orders)
• Populate customer progressing sheet (ie YM26/Senior Critical List etc) with promise dates/comments and return to customer in timely fashion
• Ideally have a strong track record in Tier 1 Aerospace Suppliers
• Manage and develop Personal Development Plans for direct reports
• Generate visual business metric, which enable business performance to be tracked on a regular basis and targets achieved
• Continually review all aspects of the operation so that methods, procedures and efficiency can be improved
• Create and maintain an innovative environment that encourages employee participation through continuous improvement, raising quality and effective team working, sharing best practice where possible
• Develop an “Early Warning System” for issues that could affect GAE’s ability to supply parts to its customer base
• Work within cross‑functional teams to support business development, growth and improvement projects as required
• Lead by example and ensure appropriate standard of behaviour and conduct are maintained within the business in line with company policies
• Any other duties within your capabilities as requested by the Gardner Senior Management Team

Core Skills / Attributes Needed

• Safety – work in line with all accredited company safety standards to provide a safe working environment for all
• Quality – support the quality accreditations across the business to ensure the delivery of a “right first time” performance
• Cost – support continuous improvements in cost reduction activities across the company to deliver increased profitability and value for money to our customers and stakeholders
• Delivery – drive improvement in delivery performance to continually exceed customer expectations and targets
• People – support organisational capability and influence cultural change by embracing diversity, inclusion, wellbeing and community

Measurable Performance Indicators / Objectives of Role

• Delivery of specific business improvement projects
• Achievement of targets in line with business plan
• Extensive knowledge of production processes and Customer Relationship Management preferably within the aerospace or automotive industry or similar
• Ability to understand and interpret engineering drawings and aerospace specifications
• First class leadership and motivational skills
• Problem analysis and decision making
• Strong customer focus combined with business development skills / commercial awareness
• Can coach and mentor, and lead by example
• Excellent communicator with good negotiation skills
• Resilience and tenacity
• Willing to travel across the Gardner sites as required
• Ability to work under pressure, as part of a team but often on their own initiative
• MRP management
• Lead Time Analysis
• Capacity Management, development and introduction

Problem Solving

Problem Solving

Salary

£35,000 - £40,000, depending on experience

Why Join Us?

• Work in a busy, hands‑on manufacturing environment
• Be a key point of contact for valued customers
• Join a supportive and experienced team
• Early Friday finish to kick‑start your weekend
• Competitive salary with room to grow

If you enjoy building strong relationships, keeping projects moving, and being at the heart of a thriving manufacturing operation, we’d love to hear from you.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Pension
• 25 Days Annual Holiday plus 8 statutory days
• BUPA Healthcare
• Long Service awards
• Death in Service
• Free onsite Parking