Lead Account Manager

Cooneen Group; Dungannon; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days annual leave

Private healthcare cash plan

Lunchtime finish on Fridays

Subsidised canteen with free beverages

Royal London pension

Employee assistance programme

Refer-a-friend scheme

Active social club

Job summary

Cooneen Defence in Fivemiletown seeks a Lead Account Manager to own end-to-end contract management within a manufacturing environment. You will translate customer requirements into production and delivery plans, ensure contractual obligations are met, and maintain strong customer relationships.

The role requires leading a small team, driving KPIs and SLAs, and reporting to the Senior Contracts Manager. UK/Europe travel may be involved.

Qualifications

• Experience as the key customer contact coordinating internal stakeholders across production, planning, procurement, logistics and quality functions.
• Proven track record managing customer contracts, accounts, or programmes within manufacturing, engineering, or supply chain.
• Ideal candidate has manufacturing/defence or retail sector exposure and strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage existing Cooneen Defence contracts and deliver on annual sales and gross margin targets.
• Ensure contracts meet SLAs and KPIs.
• Plan and monitor the critical path from order to delivery; keep production on schedule.
• Maintain regular contact with customers for order status, forecasts and requirements.
• Lead contract reviews and manage extensions and re-tenders.

Skills

Account management

Stakeholder coordination

Contract management

People management

MS Office

Education

Business/Manufacturing degree

Tools

MS Office

Job description

We have an opportunity for a Lead Account Manager to join the team at Cooneen Defence, Fivemiletown on a permanent basis. The successful person will be responsible for the end-to-end management of customer contracts within a manufacturing environment, ensuring customer requirements are translated into production and delivery plans, contractual obligations met, KPIs and SLAs achieved, and customer relationships maintained.

Responsibilities

• Manage existing Cooneen Defence contracts and deliver on annual sales and gross margin targets.
• Ensure all contracts meet contractual Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Plan and monitor the critical path from order to delivery, ensuring production stays on schedule.
• Maintain regular contact with customers to review account activity such as order status updates, order forecasts, change to product requirements etc.
• Resolve customer complaints and escalations promptly, putting corrective actions in place where needed.
• Lead contract review meetings with customers and manage contract extensions and re-tenders.
• Lead early tender preparation meetings to ensure a strategic approach to current products, potential tender requirements, and pricing development.
• Prepare and manage the overhead budget for your business area.
• Manage and support the Account Coordinator.
• Provide leadership and direction to your team (account co-ordinator) to include assigning and regularly reviewing KPI’s and objectives, Role Cards and Training Plans.
• Ensure your team receives regular and relevant feedback on their performance including appraisal.
• Produce weekly and monthly reports, and updates for the Senior Contracts Manager.

This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. The successful job holder will be expected to perform varying tasks as required by their line manager & the overall objectives of the organisation.

Reward

We value our people and offer an excellent benefits package, including 35 days annual leave, private healthcare cash plan, lunchtime finish on Fridays, a subsidised canteen with free refreshments, Royal London pension, employee assistance programme, refer-a-friend scheme and an active social club.

Requirements

Essential

• Experience acting as the key customer contact while coordinating internal stakeholders across production, planning, procurement, logistics, and quality functions.
• Proven experience managing customer contracts, customer accounts, or customer programmes within a manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, or production-led environment.
• Demonstrable experience in within a manufacturing, construction or retail business.
• Proficient in the use of full Microsoft Office suite
• Demonstrable experience managing critical paths, production schedules, order fulfilment, and customer delivery requirements within a manufacturing or operational environment.
• Has experience of dealing with customers, both remotely (via phone and email) and in person
• People Management experience

Desirable

• Experience of working in the defence market
• Experience in producing Excel work sheet-based Reports
• Experience in manufacturing, in particular defence or military clothing.
• Qualification, ideally in a business, manufacturing or construction related discipline
• Educated to A’level or equivalent including English and Mathematics
• Line management experience

Other Material Requirements

• Occasional business-related travel within UK and Europe
• Willing if required, to undertake a CRB Check.

About The Cooneen Group

Cooneen Group is one of the largest and most diversified garment manufacturers in Europe. We are a successful, stable group of companies operating in a range of clothing markets globally. Our group is comprised of over 250 employees employed across four individual companies bringing innovative design, excellent customer service, and strong, stable supply chains in order to meet and exceed customers expectations. Each business unit focuses on delivering outstanding garment solutions for clients with very specific garment requirements.