Strategic Accounts Manager

Commercial Services Group; Aylesford; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading education supplies organization is seeking a Strategic Accounts Manager to lead a national team focused on driving growth and enhancing customer value across its brands. This senior leadership role requires proven experience in business development and sales leadership, along with strong commercial acumen. Responsibilities include mentoring team members, executing business strategies, and identifying new opportunities for growth. A comprehensive benefits package is offered, including a salary of £50,000–£55,000 and professional development support.

Benefits

Pension scheme with 6% employer contribution

Volunteer days

Access to a comprehensive wellbeing programme

Retail and gym discounts

Health cash plan

Cycle to work scheme

Life assurance cover (4x salary)

25 days annual leave

Qualifications

• Proven experience in senior business development, sales leadership or strategic account management.
• Track record of building, leading and inspiring high-performing sales or business development teams.
• Experience in the education or public sector supply markets is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Leading, mentoring and developing a team of Business Development Managers and Internal Sales Executives.
• Designing and delivering tailored training and performance improvement strategies.
• Developing and executing a comprehensive business development strategy across brands and regions.

Skills

Senior business development

Sales leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Commercial acumen

Job description

Overview

Location: Hybrid working with a flexible base across our sites

Salary / package: £50,000–£55,000 per annum

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week

We are looking for a commercially driven leader to join our Global Education Supplies (GES) division and take responsibility for driving growth, margin and customer value across a diverse portfolio. If you’re a strategic thinker with a passion for high-impact business development, this is a fantastic opportunity to lead a national team and make a tangible difference.

Who we are

Global Education Supplies (GES) is part of the Children & Education portfolio at Commercial Services Group (CSG), comprising seven complementary brands that serve the education sector worldwide. These include KCS Education, CES, Landscapes for Learning, Maudesport, Gresswell, Timstar and Technology Supplies. With an expanding customer base in over 90 countries, GES is entering a transformational phase focused on international growth, new product development, marketing investment and operational excellence.

Why this role matters

As Strategic Accounts Manager, you will lead a team of Business Development Managers and Internal Sales Executives to deliver revenue and margin growth across our education supply brands. This is a senior leadership role focused on expanding our strategic customer base, enhancing performance, and aligning business development activity with the wider goals of GES and CSG.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading, mentoring and developing a team of four Business Development Managers and three Internal Sales Executives
• Designing and delivering tailored training and performance improvement strategies
• Developing and executing a comprehensive business development strategy across brands and regions
• Identifying and pursuing new opportunities in line with growth targets
• Collaborating with senior leadership to ensure alignment with strategic goals
• Monitoring and reporting on performance against revenue and margin targets
• Conducting in-depth market research and analysis to guide business planning
• Working cross-functionally with marketing, product and operational teams
• Managing escalated client issues and ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction
• Presenting regular reports to senior management and using data insights to drive decisions

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience in senior business development, sales leadership or strategic account management
• Track record of building, leading and inspiring high-performing sales or business development teams
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to analyse and act on performance data
• Skilled at stakeholder engagement and cross-functional collaboration
• Able to balance big-picture strategy with day-to-day delivery
• Experience in the education or public sector supply markets is desirable

What you’ll get in return

• Salary of £50,000–£55,000 per annum
• Pension scheme with 6% employer contribution
• Volunteer days and access to a comprehensive wellbeing programme
• Additional benefits including retail and gym discounts, health cash plan and cycle to work scheme
• Life assurance cover (4x salary)
• 25 days annual leave, plus your birthday off
• Tailored learning and development support with real opportunities to progress

Why CSG?

Commercial Services Group (CSG) is the UK’s largest local authority-owned trading company (LATCO), generating over £800 million in revenue and supporting 16,000 education and public sector customers worldwide. With more than 1,800 employees across the UK, Dubai and Bangkok, we are working towards becoming the global leader in education and public sector solutions.

We are expanding rapidly, with annual growth of around 25 percent, supported by a blend of organic development, acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Our 33 trading businesses deliver a wide range of services including education management, IT, HR, legal, energy, procurement and supplies.

CSG is wholly owned by local authorities, and a significant proportion of our profits is reinvested into frontline public services. Over £77 million has already been returned, reflecting our commitment to combining commercial performance with meaningful social impact.

Inclusion & Accessibility

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We encourage applications from suitably qualified people of all backgrounds.

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our application and interview process; please let us know if you require any.