Key Account Manager

Confidential; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential in Chicago seeks a seasoned Key Account Manager to grow the US market. You will manage key accounts, identify new opportunities, and align engineering, operations, and sales to deliver competitive proposals.

The role requires proven experience in industrial manufacturing, strong commercial judgment, and the ability to work with international teams. Travel across the US and occasional international travel possible.

Qualifications

• Experience in key account management or technical sales in industrial manufacturing.
• Familiar with OEM customers; automotive/off-highway experience valued.
• Strong commercial judgment and negotiation skills.
• Able to coordinate with engineering, quality, supply chain, and operations.
• Fluent English; Spanish valued.
• Willingness to travel within the US and occasionally internationally.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop a portfolio of key accounts with purchasing, engineering, and other decision-makers.
• Identify new customers, applications, and business opportunities in target markets.
• Translate customer needs into competitive technical and commercial proposals.
• Prepare quotations and negotiate terms; follow opportunities to award.
• Coordinate customer projects from inquiry to production launch.
• Monitor account performance, profitability, and sales forecasts.
• Track market trends and competitor activity to shape priorities.
• Represent the company at meetings, trade shows, and events.

Skills

Key account mgmt

Technical sales

Business development

OEM familiarity

Negotiation

English fluent

Travel ready

Education

Engineering degree

Business degree

Job description

An international industrial group specializing in electromechanical solutions is looking for a Key Account Manager to support its growth in the US market.

This position combines the development of existing customer relationships with the identification of new business opportunities across automotive, off-highway, and other industrial OEM markets. You will work closely with local and international teams to turn customer needs into competitive technical and commercial proposals.

Your responsibilities

• Manage and develop a portfolio of key accounts, building strong relationships with purchasing, engineering, and other decision-makers.
• Identify new customers, applications, and business opportunities within target markets.
• Understand customer requirements and coordinate with engineering and operations teams to develop suitable solutions.
• Prepare quotations, negotiate commercial terms, and follow up on opportunities through to business award.
• Coordinate customer projects from the initial inquiry through product development and production launch.
• Monitor account performance, profitability, sales forecasts, and business development activity.
• Follow market trends and competitor activity to help shape commercial priorities.
• Represent the company at customer meetings, trade shows, and industry events.

What we are looking for

• Experience in key account management, technical sales, or business development within an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with OEM customers and technical products; experience in automotive or off-highway markets is particularly valuable.
• Strong commercial judgment, negotiation skills, and the ability to build lasting customer relationships.
• Confidence working with technical requirements and coordinating with engineering, quality, supply chain, and operations.
• A proactive, organized approach, with ownership of opportunities and consistent follow-through.
• Fluent English and confidence working in an international environment, Spanish valued.
• Availability to travel within the US and occasionally internationally.
• A degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

The opportunity

Join an international manufacturing group in a role with direct exposure to customers and a tangible impact on US business growth. You will combine commercial ownership with technical collaboration, developing long-term partnerships across a broad range of industrial applications.