Strategic Account Manager

IDEAL Industries; Sycamore (IL); On-site; USD 109,000 - 147,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

401(k) with Company Match

Cash Balance Pension Plan

Education Reimbursement

Wellness Programs

Vacation

Personal Days

Volunteer Time

Holidays

Parental Leave

Job summary

IDEAL Industries is seeking a Senior Strategic Account Manager – Energy to lead strategic relationships with energy OEMs, utilities, and system integrators while driving revenue growth across energy storage, EV charging, grid modernization, and industrial electrification.

You will shape multi-year account plans, influence engineering specifications, and collaborate with engineering and product teams to deliver high-current, high-reliability solutions. Travel up to 50% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Energy Management, or a related field.
• MBA preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in strategic account management, OEM sales, business development, energy markets, or technical industrial sales.
• Experience selling electrical, power distribution, connector, charging, energy storage, electromechanical, or related industrial products.

Responsibilities

• Own the strategic relationships with energy OEMs, utilities, system integrators, EPCs, and key accounts.
• Develop and execute multi-year strategic account plans with growth initiatives and revenue targets.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen partnerships and increase specification adoption across energy applications.
• Drive revenue growth through new product introductions, share expansion, and cross-selling.
• Lead commercial negotiations and pricing strategies to meet annual revenue and margin objectives.
• Maintain a healthy pipeline through disciplined opportunity management and CRM usage.

Skills

Strategic account management

Energy market knowledge

Sales negotiations

CRM software (Salesforce)

Cross-functional collaboration

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Engineering/Energy Management

MBA preferred

Tools

Salesforce CRM

MS Office

Job description

Anderson Power Products® is an industry leader in the design and manufacture of electrical power connectors and power distribution solutions. Anderson Power partners with leading-edge companies to create innovative connector designs that leverage advanced contact technology and high-power expertise to provide superior value across the power electronics industry. Applications span material handling equipment, battery systems, charging infrastructure, warehouse automation, electric vehicles, ground support equipment, renewable energy, and industrial electrification markets.

Position Summary

The Strategic Account Manager (SAM) - Energy serves as the primary business partner and point of contact for key OEM customers, system integrators, energy infrastructure partners, and strategic accounts across the energy market. This role is responsible for developing and executing strategic account plans, securing new design wins, expanding market share, and driving profitable revenue growth across renewable energy, energy storage, charging infrastructure, grid modernization, power conversion, microgrid, utility, and industrial electrification applications.

This position is ideal for a sales professional who combines strategic account leadership with strong technical business development skills and a proven ability to influence engineering specifications, manage complex sales cycles, and convert energy-sector opportunities into long-term production and program revenue.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Account Leadership

• Own the strategic relationship with assigned energy OEMs, utilities, system integrators, EPCs, and key accounts, serving as the internal advocate for the customer.
• Develop and execute multi-year strategic account plans, including growth initiatives, revenue targets, product roadmaps, and alignment with customer energy transition priorities.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships across engineering, sourcing, procurement, operations, project development, product management, and executive leadership teams.
• Identify and prioritize opportunities that strengthen long-term partnerships and increase specification adoption across energy applications.

Revenue Growth & Business Development

• Create and execute energy growth strategies to secure new design wins and expand Anderson Power's presence across customer platforms, projects, and product lines.
• Identify and develop opportunities involving renewable energy systems, battery energy storage, EV charging, power conversion, microgrids, utility infrastructure, hydrogen, and industrial electrification initiatives.
• Drive revenue growth through new product introductions, share expansion, cross-selling, and strategic account penetration.
• Lead commercial negotiations and pricing strategies to achieve annual revenue and margin objectives.
• Maintain a healthy pipeline through disciplined opportunity management, project tracking, and CRM utilization.

Energy Design-Win & Project Development Management

• Influence engineering specifications and product selection decisions to secure long-term design wins and project revenue.
• Work closely with Engineering and Product Management to identify and develop solutions aligned with customer requirements for high-current, high-reliability energy applications.
• Support customer development programs from concept, pilot, and qualification through commercialization and production launch.
• Monitor customer project pipelines, technology roadmaps, regulatory drivers, and capital investment plans to identify future opportunities for growth and expansion.

Channel & Partner Collaboration

• Partner with manufacturer representatives, distributors, and key channel partners to increase market coverage and accelerate revenue growth.
• Conduct joint account planning sessions and opportunity reviews to ensure alignment and execution.
• Support partner training initiatives focused on application knowledge, products, and market opportunities.
• Establish performance expectations and assist partners in driving strategic account growth.

Business Intelligence & Reporting

• Track and report performance against account plans, forecasts, budgets, project pipelines, and revenue objectives using Salesforce CRM.
• Provide regular business reviews, pipeline updates, and account performance reports to leadership.
• Monitor competitive activity, market trends, customer investments, regulatory developments, and emerging energy technologies to identify risks and opportunities.
• Utilize market intelligence to support business planning, product strategy, and growth initiatives.

Critical Success Factors

• Strategic Energy Selling: Proven ability to influence design decisions and secure specification wins with OEMs, utilities, EPCs, and energy infrastructure customers.
• Energy Market Expertise: Strong understanding of renewable energy, battery energy storage, charging infrastructure, grid modernization, power conversion, microgrids, and industrial electrification markets.
• Account Leadership: Demonstrated success developing and executing long-term account growth strategies.
• Relationship Management: Ability to build trusted partnerships across technical, operational, commercial, and executive stakeholders.
• Results Orientation: Consistent track record of delivering revenue growth, margin expansion, design wins, and strategic account penetration.

QualificationsEducation & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Energy Management, or a related field; MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in strategic account management, OEM sales, business development, energy markets, utility sales, or technical industrial sales.
• Demonstrated success managing large strategic accounts and developing long-term growth strategies in energy, electrification, power distribution, or related industrial markets.
• Experience selling electrical, power distribution, connector, charging, energy storage, electromechanical, or related industrial products.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to navigate complex customer organizations, project stakeholders, and multi-year sales cycles.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency with Salesforce CRM or equivalent sales management platforms.
• Strong Microsoft Office skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 50% to support customer meetings, industry events, project reviews, and partner engagements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with renewable energy, battery energy storage systems, EV charging infrastructure, power conversion, utility infrastructure, microgrids, hydrogen, or industrial electrification applications.
• Established relationships with OEM engineering, sourcing, product management, project development, EPC, utility, or operations teams.
• Experience selling high-current connectors, charging interfaces, cable assemblies, power distribution products, energy storage components, or related electrification technologies.
• Proven record of securing design wins or project specifications that result in long-term production or program revenue.
• Experience working with manufacturer representative organizations, distributors, channel partners, EPCs, and system integrators to drive energy-market growth.

Benefits

Anderson Power Products employees enjoy a competitive benefits package, including:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Cash Balance Pension Plan
• Education Reimbursement
• Wellness Programs

In addition, IDEAL Industries values personal well-being, community involvement, and work-life balance through:

• Vacation
• Personal Days
• Volunteer Time
• Holidays
• Parental Leave

About IDEAL Industries

IDEAL Industries, Inc. is proud to be recognized as one of Newsweek's Global Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an inclusive environment where all employees can thrive. We know that when you honor relationships, success for all will follow.

The expected annual salary for this position is between $109,264.00 and $147,236.00 and will be eligible for incentive pay. This range represents a good faith estimate for the position and actual compensation will be based on numerous factors including knowledge, location, skills, training and experience.