Key Account Lead

Elevation Recruitment Group; Doncaster; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Elevation Recruitment Group are pleased to be representing an established manufacturing business with a strong reputation built over 30 years. They’re now looking for a Key Account Lead to take ownership of their largest customer relationship, representing around a third of the business's total revenue.

This role combines hands-on account management with strategic sales leadership across the UK, requiring you to build collaborative, commercially focused partnerships based on trust, communication

Qualifications

• Proven track record in leading national key accounts.
• Experience with major customers and growth opportunities.
• Strong people-management and coaching skills.
• Commercial mindset with ability to challenge customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of National Account Managers focused on one major customer.
• Build long-term relationships with a major national customer.
• Oversee orders, queries, and site-level issues.
• Identify opportunities to grow the account and cross-sell.
• Collaborate with customer sites across the UK.
• Share knowledge and best practice across the team.
• Balance operational priorities with the bigger commercial picture.

Skills

Sales leadership

Key account management

Relationship building

Coaching & people development

Commercial mindset

Strategic sales planning

Negotiation

Job description

Doncaster / Field-based – National travel, typically 2–3 days per week to customer sites

Ready to take ownership of a £multi-million customer relationship?

This is a role where your leadership, commercial thinking and approach to customer relationships will genuinely make a difference.

Elevation Recruitment Group are pleased to be representing an established manufacturing business with a strong reputation built over 30 years. They’re now looking for a Key Account Lead to take ownership of their largest customer relationship, representing around a third of the business's total revenue.

This isn't just about managing an account. The business is looking for someone who can change the way the relationship works. You’ll have the opportunity to build a more collaborative, commercially focused partnership based on trust, communication and finding solutions, rather than simply firefighting problems. You’ll need to be commercially confident and comfortable challenging the customer when needed, while also being able to listen, understand their challenges and find the right solutions.

What will you be doing?

You’ll lead a small dedicated team of National Account Managers, all focused on this key customer, with a 50/50 split between hands-on account management and strategic sales leadership.

You’ll be:

• Leading, coaching and developing a team of National Account Managers
• Building strong, long-term relationships with a major national customer
• Overseeing day-to-day account activity, including orders, customer queries and site-level issues
• Identifying opportunities to grow the account and introduce new products and services
• Working closely with customer sites across the UK
• Sharing knowledge and best practice across the team
• Balancing operational priorities with the bigger commercial picture

What are we looking for?

• A strong sales background, ideally with formal sales training
• Experience within the pallets, packaging or recycling industry would be highly advantageous
• Experience managing or developing relationships with major key customers
• Strong people-management and coaching skills
• A commercial mindset with the ability to spot opportunities for growth
• The confidence to operate at both operational and strategic levels
• A collaborative, relationship-led approach to sales

If you're an experienced sales leader who enjoys building relationships, developing people and finding ways to grow existing business, this could be a brilliant next step.