Key Account Specialist, Upper Midwest

APPLIED Adhesives; United States; Remote; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental & Vision

401k match

Flexible work environment

Generous PTO

Tuition reimbursement

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

APPLIED Adhesives, a leader in adhesive solutions, is seeking a remote Key Account Specialist for the Upper Midwest. You will own day-to-day relationships with plant management, coordinate technical support, and drive growth initiatives across assigned facilities.

This role requires 3–7+ years in adhesives or industrial sales, strong troubleshooting skills, and willingness to travel 50–75%. You will collaborate with the Key Account Manager to deliver responsive, value-driven service.

Qualifications

• 3-7+ years of experience in adhesives, industrial sales, manufacturing, or application engineering.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working in manufacturing or plant environments.
• Must have ability and willingness to travel regularly to customer facilities.
• Experience with hot melt, water based, pressure sensitive, or reactive adhesives preferred.
• Packaging, food & beverage, converting, or assembly industry experience preferred.
• Familiarity with adhesive application equipment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary Applied Adhesives contact for assigned Key Account facilities.
• Own day-to-day customer relationships with plant management, engineering, maintenance, and operations.
• Conduct regular onsite visits to understand applications, production needs, and operational challenges.
• Lead adhesive trials, line startups, conversions, and optimization initiatives.
• Diagnose bonding, application, or process issues and drive corrective actions.
• Coordinate internal technical resources and supplier support as needed.
• Identify and develop plant level opportunities for new adhesives, technologies, and process improvements.
• Build and manage a facility level opportunity pipeline.
• Partner with the Key Account Manager on pricing strategy, approvals, and expansion planning.

Skills

Account management

Technical troubleshooting

Customer-focused

Job description

Location: Remote

Job Id:357

# of Openings:1

About APPLIED Adhesives:

We have you covered.

Nobody knows more about adhesives than APPLIED Adhesives. We are passionate about solving complex challenges with innovative adhesive products and offerings. APPLIED is the industry leader in helping manage costs, reduce waste, and make entire operations run more efficiently. From adhesives, equipment, parts, and service, we have you covered.

With world-class adhesive products, equipment, and parts along with visionary leadership, unparalleled expertise, and an agile, responsive service team, we’re not happy simply staying put. Every day, we leverage our technical expertise and passion for problem solving for the benefit of our customers and the future of our company.

We have countless victories that we could celebrate, but we’re more interested in looking forward than back. We’ve collected the talent and skills to continue innovating new product solutions and applications in emerging industries. We have the fortitude to not only accept challenges, but to seek them out. And we have the confidence and determination to become the most sought-after adhesive solutions partner.

The Role:

The Key Account Specialist, Upper Midwest is responsible forfull-plant levelaccount management and executionacross assigned Key Account facilities.

This person serves as theprimaryfield-basedaccount ownerfor all assigned facilities, managingday to dayrelationships, technical support, service coordination, and execution of growth initiatives.

Working in close partnership with our Key Account Manager, the Key Account Specialist executes national account strategies at the plant level while ensuring Applied Adhesives delivers superior responsiveness, technical value, and service consistency.

This is a remote role, but you must live in Wisconsin, Illinois, or Indiana to be considered for this role. 50% - 75% travel is required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary Applied Adhesives contact for assigned Key Account facilities.
• Ownday-to-daycustomer relationships with plant management, engineering, maintenance, and operations.
• Conduct regular onsite visits to understand applications, production needs, and operational challenges.
• Ensure consistent customer experience, responsiveness, and satisfaction at the facility level.
• Lead adhesive trials, line startups, conversions, and optimization initiatives.
• Diagnose bonding, application, or process issues and drive corrective actions.
• Optimizeadhesive usage, application methods, and total cost performance.
• Coordinate internal technical resources and supplier support as needed.
• Identifyand developplant levelopportunities for new adhesives, technologies, and process improvements.
• Build and manage afacility levelopportunity pipeline.
• Partner with the Key Account Manager on pricing strategy, approvals, and expansion planning.
• Support expansion into new lines, applications, or facilities within assigned accounts.
• Monitor competitive activity and communicate insights to account leadership.
• Coordinate equipment installs, service calls, training, and technical support.
• Manageplant levelprojects from planning through execution andfollow up.
• Partner with operations, supply chain, and service teams to resolve issues efficiently.
• Ensure commitments to the customer are executed accurately and on time.
• Execute national and strategic account plans at the plant level.
• Participate in joint customer visits, trials, and account reviews as required.
• Provideplant levelinsights to support forecasting, planning, and QBRs.
• Maintain strong alignment with the Key Account Manager and Director of Sales - Key Accounts.

You Are Ideal for This Role If You Are:

• Technically curious,hands-onmindset.
• Organized,execution focusedaccount manager.
• Commercially aware and disciplined.
• Highly responsive andcustomer focused.
• Comfortable operating independently with clear strategic alignment.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery.
• Able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand.

Experience and Qualifications:

• 3-7+ years of experience in adhesives, industrial sales, manufacturing, or application engineeringrequired.
• Strong troubleshooting andproblem-solvingskillsrequired.
• Experience working in manufacturing or plant environmentsrequired.
• Must have strong technical aptitude and understanding.
• Must have ability and willingness to travel regularly to customer facilities.
• Experience with hot melt,water based,pressure sensitive, or reactive adhesivespreferred.
• Packaging, food & beverage, converting, or assembly industry experiencepreferred.
• Familiarity with adhesive application equipmentpreferred.

Why Work for Us:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits
• 401k Match
• Flexible and Team-Oriented work environment
• Generous PTO policy
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Career and talent development opportunities as well as opportunities for personal growth

Leading with Integrity, Collaboration, and Passion

In today's dynamic business landscape, these core values serve as the compass guiding our actions and decisions. Whether it's demonstrating leadership, fostering collaboration, igniting passion, upholding integrity, or maintaining a relentless customer focus, these principles shape our mission, vison and values, and drive our commitment to excellence.

Our Core Values:

Leadership

We are the leaders we wish to follow at work and in our communities.

One team delivering exceptional value and service.

Passion

We enthusiastically pursue excellence.

Integrity

We choose to be ethical and trustworthy.

Relentless Customer Focus

Our customers are at the heart of everything we do.

We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.