Key Account Manager (Hybrid) in Ashford, Kent

Energy Jobline CVL; Ashford; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Key Account Manager in Ashford, UK. This role involves managing customer accounts, driving new product development, and ensuring strong client relationships in a fast-paced FMCG environment. The ideal candidate holds a degree and has at least 3 years of commercial experience, with a focus on retail and food service. This position offers a salary of £40,000 – £45,000, a company car, and a hybrid working model.

Benefits

Company car

Supportive team

Exciting growth plans

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years’ commercial experience.
• Experience managing accounts in Retail and/or Food Service (3+ years desirable).
• Experience in chilled, short shelf-life food or drink is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow existing customer accounts across retail and/or food service.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with new and existing clients.
• Identify commercial opportunities and drive new product development.
• Lead customer planning, forecasting, and margin management.

Skills

Strong relationship builder and communicator

Target-driven with a results-oriented mindset

Confident in delivering compelling presentations

Self-motivated, proactive, and commercially aware

Education

Degree educated

Job description

Energy Jobline is the largest and fastest growing global Energy Job Board and Energy Hub. We have an audience reach of over 7 million energy professionals, 400,000+ monthly advertised global energy and engineering jobs, and work with the leading energy companies worldwide.

We focus on the Oil & Gas, Renewables, Engineering, Power, and Nuclear markets as well as emerging technologies in EV, Battery, and Fusion. We are committed to ensuring that we offer the most exciting career opportunities from around the world for our jobseekers.

Key Account Manager

Location: Hybrid (Minimum 2 days per week at our site in Kent)

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm (40 hours/week)

Salary: £40,000 – £45,000 (DOE) + Company Car

We are working in partnership with a highly respected and rapidly growing FMCG business to recruit a Key Account Manager to join their commercial team on a 12-month maternity cover basis. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially driven individual with a passion for managing key accounts, delivering growth, and supporting new product development in a fast‑paced environment.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Sales/NAM, the Key Account Manager will:

• Manage and grow existing customer accounts across retail and/or food service
• Build and maintain strong relationships with new and existing clients
• Identify commercial opportunities and drive new product development (NPD) and existing product development (EPD) projects
• Lead customer planning, forecasting, and margin management
• Represent the brand with professionalism, market insight, and a solution-driven approach

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver customer plans aligned with company strategy and growth targets
• Protect and grow revenue, profit, and margin through effective negotiation and account management
• Agree trading terms and payment conditions with customers
• Collaborate with internal departments to ensure efficient service delivery
• Regularly visit customer sites to strengthen relationships and ensure alignment with commercial plans
• Identify growth opportunities through data and gap analysis, working alongside marketing to implement tailored strategies
• Lead and manage projects, ensuring clear communication, structured planning, and timely delivery
• Provide accurate forecasting and demand planning for all managed SKUs
• Maintain comprehensive records of customer activities, account developments, and project timelines
• Stay informed on market trends, consumer behaviour, and competitor activity

Knowledge

• FMCG knowledge and experience with major UK customers
• Understanding of consumer and market trends

Qualifications

• Degree educated
• Minimum 3 years’ commercial experience

Skills

• Strong relationship builder and communicator
• Target-driven with a results-oriented mindset
• Confident in delivering compelling presentations
• Self-motivated, proactive, and commercially aware

Experience

• Experience managing accounts in Retail and/or Food Service (3+ years desirable)
• Experience in chilled, short shelf-life food or drink is highly desirable

Other Requirements

• Full understanding of customer service standards and quality implications
• Full UK driving licence (due to travel and car provision)

Why Join?

• Join a supportive, collaborative team in a business with strong values and exciting growth plans
• Be part of a company delivering well-known FMCG products with a focus on quality and innovation
• Enjoy a varied role with exposure and a mix of strategic account management and hands‑on project delivery

For more information or to register your interest in this role, please apply.

If you are interested in applying for this job please press the Apply Button and follow the application process. Energy Jobline wishes you the very best of luck in your next career move.