Strategic Customer Development Specialist

BP Americas, Inc.; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 107,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation hours

Holidays

Parental leave

Bonus program

Long-term incentives

Retirement benefits

Health, vision, dental insurance

Disability coverage

Flexible schedule

Job summary

BP Americas, Inc. is hiring a Strategic Customer Development Specialist to drive growth and profitability by building strategic account plans, forging strong customer relationships, and identifying new business opportunities across assigned sectors.

You will work with Trading, Pricing, Supply and Customer Operations to deliver integrated value, conduct profitability analysis, and lead negotiations for long-term partnerships, while applying agile, data-driven insights to respond to market changes.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in strategic account management, business development, or a similar customer-facing role.
• Demonstrated expertise in account strategy and business development, with a track record of achieving sales targets.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Business Analysis techniques and customer profitability analysis.
• Excellent consultative selling skills, with the ability to understand complex customer needs and articulate value propositions.
• In-depth understanding of customer and competitor dynamics within relevant sectors.
• Experience with Customer Segmentation strategies and their application.
• Strong internal alignment and interested party management capabilities.
• Proficiency in market analysis and sales forecasting/demand planning.
• Exceptional negotiation and communication skills.
• Experience in Partner relationship management is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive account strategies and business plans to achieve sales targets and improve customer profitability.
• Use Business Analysis techniques to understand customer needs, market trends, and competitive landscape, informing strategic decisions.
• Engage in consultative selling, proactively identifying customer challenges and positioning BP's solutions to deliver value.
• Conduct thorough customer and competitor understanding to maintain a competitive edge and anticipate market shifts.
• Perform Customer Profitability analysis to optimize pricing, service levels, and product offerings.
• Develop and implement Customer Segmentation strategies to tailor approaches and resources effectively.
• Specifically lead the Discretionary Channel of Trade for East of Rockies.
• Ensure Internal alignment with various BP departments to deliver integrated solutions and a seamless customer experience.
• Specifically work collaboratively with Trading, Pricing, Supply, and Customer Operations to deliver integrated value.
• Proactively monitor and analyze market trends, identifying emerging opportunities and threats.
• Lead Negotiating value discussions with customers to secure favorable terms and long‑term partnerships.
• Develop and nurture strong Partner relationship management, collaborating with third parties to enhance customer offerings.
• Apply Sales forecasting/demand planning methodologies to accurately predict sales and optimize resource allocation.
• Deep dive into Sector‑specific insights to develop tailored strategies and solutions.
• Effectively manage Interested party Management, building consensus and influencing decisionmakers internally and externally.
• Adopt Agility core practices in day‑to‑day operations to adapt to changing market conditions and customer demands.

Skills

Account Mgmt

Business Analysis

Negotiation

Consultative selling

Market analysis

Customer segmentation

Job description

Entity: Supply, Trading & Shipping Job Family Group: Sales Group Job Description:

About bp

Our purpose is to bring together people, energy and markets to power and navigate a changing world. In a time of constant change and possibility we need new talent to pursue commercial opportunities, fueled by world-class insight and expertise. We’re always striving for more innovative digital solutions, sustainable outcomes and closer collaboration across our company and beyond, and you could be part of that too!

About the team

The Strategic Customer Development Specialist at BP International Limited is responsible for driving growth and profitability by developing and accomplishing strategic account plans, building strong customer relationships, and identifying new business opportunities within assigned sectors.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive account strategies and business plans to achieve sales targets and improve customer profitability.


• Use Business Analysis techniques to understand customer needs, market trends, and competitive landscape, informing strategic decisions.


• Engage in consultative selling, proactively identifying customer challenges and positioning BP's solutions to deliver value.


• Conduct thorough customer and competitor understanding to maintain a competitive edge and anticipate market shifts.


• Perform Customer Profitability analysis to optimize pricing, service levels, and product offerings.


• Develop and implement Customer Segmentation strategies to tailor approaches and resources effectively.


• Specifically lead the Discretionary Channel of Trade for East of Rockies.


• Ensure Internal alignment with various BP departments to deliver integrated solutions and a seamless customer experience.


• Specifically work collaboratively with Trading, Pricing, Supply, and Customer Operations to deliver integrated value.


• Proactively monitor and analyze market trends, identifying emerging opportunities and threats.


• Lead Negotiating value discussions with customers to secure favorable terms and long‑term partnerships.


• Develop and nurture strong Partner relationship management, collaborating with third parties to enhance customer offerings.


• Apply Sales forecasting/demand planning methodologies to accurately predict sales and optimize resource allocation.


• Deep dive into Sector‑specific insights to develop tailored strategies and solutions.


• Effectively manage Interested party Management, building consensus and influencing decisionmakers internally and externally.


• Adopt Agility core practices in day‑to‑day operations to adapt to changing market conditions and customer demands.

Essential experience and job requirements

• Proven experience in strategic account management, business development, or a similar customer‑facing role.


• Demonstrated expertise in account strategy and business development, with a track record of achieving sales targets.


• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Business Analysis techniques and customer profitability analysis.


• Excellent consultative selling skills, with the ability to understand complex customer needs and articulate value propositions.


• In‑depth understanding of customer and competitor dynamics within relevant sectors.


• Experience with Customer Segmentation strategies and their application.


• Strong internal alignment and interested party management capabilities.


• Proficiency in market analysis and sales forecasting/demand planning.


• Exceptional negotiation and communication skills.


• Experience in Partner relationship management is a plus.

How much do we pay (Base)?

$107,000.00 - 153,000.00 USD Annually

Note that the pay range listed for this position is a genuinely expected and reasonable estimate of the range of possible base compensation at the time of posting.

Benefits

• This position offers paid vacation depending on your years of relevant industry experience and will range from 120 – 240 hours of vacation per year for full‑time employees (60 – 240 hours of vacation per year for part‑time employees).


• You will also be eligible for 9 paid holidays per year and 2 personal choice holidays.


• Bp has a parental leave policy as well, which offers up to 8 weeks’ paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child.


• We offer a reward package to enable your work to fit with your life. These offerings include a discretionary annual bonus program, long‑term incentive program, and generous retirement benefits that include a 401k matching program.


• These benefits include a pension for eligible employee.


• As part of bp’s wellbeing package, bp offers access to health, vision, and dental insurance, as well as life and Short‑Term Disability and Long‑Term Disability.


• These benefits can include flexible working options, a generous paid parental leave policy, and excellent retirement benefits, among others!


• You may learn more about our generous benefits at Core U.S. Benefits.

Relocation Assistance

This role is not eligible for relocation.

Travel Requirement

Up to 25% travel should be expected with this role.

Remote Type

This position is a hybrid of office/remote working.

Legal Disclaimer

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics like race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or disability status.

Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to bp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an adjustment/accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us.

If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role, your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre‑placement drug screening, medical review of physical fitness for the role, and background checks.

Why join bp

At bp, we support our people to learn and grow in a diverse and challenging environment. We believe that our team is strengthened by diversity. We are committed to encouraging an inclusive environment in which everyone is respected and treated fairly. There are many aspects of our employees’ lives that are meaningful, so we offer benefits to enable your work to fit with your life. These benefits can include flexible working options, a generous paid parental leave policy, and excellent retirement benefits, among others!