Key Account Manager

Zeelandia Ltd; Ashton-in-Makerfield; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Zeelandia Ltd, a leader in bakery ingredients, is hiring a pro-active Key Account Manager to work with our larger clients in the UK. You will report to the Head of Sales, supporting key accounts with a focus on delivering measurable revenue growth and strong client partnerships.

Ideal candidates have extensive experience with large B2B accounts in the food manufacturing sector, plus knowledge of bakery processes and ingredient functionality.

Qualifications

• Experience in FMCG or food manufacturing, bread or supply chain environments.
• Proven B2B sales experience with large/strategic accounts in food manufacturing.
• Strong bakery process knowledge and ingredient functionality.
• Certifications in KAM, Negotiation or Sales Leadership preferred.

Responsibilities

• Deliver annual sales plan for key accounts with 10% revenue growth target.
• Own CRM data accuracy and 100% compliance across interactions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to remove blockers and deliver seamless customer experience.
• Develop and execute strategic account plans with weekly onsite meetings.
• Monitor market trends and provide pricing/product positioning insights.
• Drive customer satisfaction and retention through proactive issue resolution.

Skills

Strategic account planning

Relationship management

Negotiation

Data analysis & forecasting

Communication

CRM systems

Compliance awareness

Commercial acumen

Education

Key Account Management certification

Negotiation Skills certification

Sales Leadership training

Tools

Salesforce

Excel

BI tools

Job description

We are looking to hire a pro-active Key Account Manager to work with our larger clients. This role will report directly to the Head of Sales, supporting our key clients. Experience of dealing with large clients is essential, ideally in the food industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver annual sales plan for assigned key accounts to achieve revenue growth of 10% by year-end; maintain KPI "greater than or equal to" target margin.
• Own account management process; ensure CRM data accuracy and compliance at 100% for all interactions.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams (NPD, Customer Services, HR, Marketing, Operations, Finance) to remove blockers and deliver seamless customer experience.
• Develop and execute strategic account plans to secure long‑term partnerships, including weekly onsite meetings with current and potential customers.
• Continuously improve sales workflows; document SOPs and implement measurable efficiency gains.
• Manage compliance & risk for all account activities (GDPR, contractual obligations, pricing governance).
• Report progress via dashboards and monthly reviews; elevate risks or delays promptly to leadership.
• Contribute to DEI, sustainability, and wellbeing initiatives relevant to client engagement and company values.
• Attend and actively contribute to required meetings, including pipeline reviews, client strategy sessions and quarterly business reviews.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity; provide insights to inform pricing and product positioning.
• Drive customer satisfaction and retention by resolving issues quickly and maintaining proactive communication.

Essential

• Experience in FMCG or food manufacturing sector, especially with experience of bread, multi‑site or complex supply chain environments.
• Professional certifications such as Key Account Management, Negotiation Skills, or Sales Leadership or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience in B2B sales within the food manufacturing or bakery ingredients sector, managing large or strategic accounts.
• Strong technical understanding of bakery processes and ingredient functionality.

Skills

• Strategic account planning and relationship management.
• Negotiation and influencing skills with senior stakeholders.
• Data analysis and forecasting (Excel, BI tools).
• Problem‑solving and solution selling in a technical environment.
• Communication: Clear written and verbal communication; ability to present technical solutions to non‑technical audiences.
• Digital/Systems: Proficient in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), MS Office Suite; intermediate Excel for data analysis.
• Compliance Awareness: Food safety standards (e.g., BRC, HACCP), GDPR, and contractual compliance relevant to client management.
• Commercial Acumen: Ability to manage pricing structures, margin targets, and profitability for key accounts.

Desirable

• Project management or process improvement credentials (e.g., PRINCE2, Six Sigma).

PLEASE NOTE: This is a site and field based role. We are unable to offer sponsorship or hire anyone that requires this or visa support. NO AGENCIES.