Key Account Manager

CRG Search; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

CRG Search seeks a seasoned Key Account Manager (Non-Automotive) to own strategic industrial accounts across the Midwest. You will expand existing business, identify new opportunities, and influence growth through sound commercial decisions.

You’ll collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Operations to understand customer requirements, develop quotes, and present business cases to leadership. Frequent travel to customer locations is required.

Qualifications

• Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, or Business Degree strongly preferred.
• 7+ years of Industrial Sales experience, preferably metals or engineered products.
• Proven experience managing significant customer relationships and growing business.
• Strong commercial judgment with understanding of pricing, cost, margin and profitability.
• Ability to negotiate with customers and handle difficult commercial conversations.
• Executive presence and ability to communicate with senior-level customers.
• Ability to work with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Operations teams.
• Technical aptitude to understand physical products, drawings, and processes.
• Strong analytical, presentation, written, and verbal skills.
• Self-directed, proactive, adaptable, and highly accountable.
• Willingness to travel frequently to customer locations.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow several key strategic customer accounts.
• Build relationships at multiple levels within customer organizations.
• Identify opportunities to expand existing business and develop new business.
• Lead customer discussions involving pricing, margins, quality, delivery, and other commercial issues.
• Develop and analyze quotes, bids, proposals, pricing models, cost and margin scenarios.
• Present commercial recommendations and business cases to internal leadership.
• Partner with technical and manufacturing teams to understand customer requirements and solve problems.
• Develop a strong understanding of the products, manufacturing processes, and markets you support.
• Monitor competitive activity, customer needs, and market opportunities.
• Take ownership of account strategy while maintaining strong day-to-day execution.

Skills

Industrial sales

Account management

Negotiation

Pricing

Customer relationships

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Engineering degree

Manufacturing technology degree

Business degree

Job description

We’re looking for a Key Account Manager (Non-Automotive) to take ownership of several high-profile industrial customers and play a key role in expanding existing business and identifying new opportunities… someone who can understand the business behind the customer relationship, recognize opportunities, and make sound commercial decisions with confidence to directly influence growth.

Although it’s an individual contributor role, there’s significant customer ownership and visibility. You’ll work directly with mid and senior-level customer contacts while partnering closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Operations, and other internal teams.

[Candidates must be based in the Midwest and reside near one of the following airports: ORD, MKE, MSP, DTW, or IND]

Primary Responsibilities will be to:

• Manage and grow several key strategic customer accounts
• Build relationships at multiple levels within customer organizations
• Identify opportunities to expand existing business and develop new business
• Lead customer discussions involving pricing, margins, quality, delivery, and other commercial issues
• Develop and analyze quotes, bids, proposals, pricing models, cost and margin scenarios
• Present commercial recommendations and business cases to internal leadership
• Partner with technical and manufacturing teams to understand customer requirements and solve problems
• Develop a strong understanding of the products, manufacturing processes, and markets you support
• Monitor competitive activity, customer needs, and market opportunities
• Take ownership of account strategy while maintaining strong day-to-day execution

Requirements include:

• Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, or Business Degree is strongly preferred.
• 7+ years of Industrial Sales experience, preferably in metals manufacturing or engineered/physical products
• Proven experience managing significant customer relationships and growing existing business
• Strong commercial judgment with an understanding of pricing, cost, margin, and profitability
• Ability to negotiate with customers and handling difficult commercial conversations Strong executive presence and the ability to communicate effectively with senior-level customers
• Ability to work comfortably with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Operations teams
• Technical aptitude and the ability to understand physical products, drawings, specifications, and manufacturing processes
• Strong analytical, presentation, written, and verbal communication skills
• Self-directed, proactive, adaptable, and highly accountable
• Willingness and ability to do frequent overnight travel to customer locations.