Key Account Manager

HENSOLDT AG; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Structured onboarding

Tailored talent development

Modern premises

Job summary

HENSOLDT South Africa seeks a strategic Key Accounts Manager to drive growth across key markets, strengthen partnerships and maximise commercial opportunities. You will own account plans, lead opportunities end-to-end and collaborate with engineering, finance and legal teams to secure profitable contracts.

You will identify opportunities, manage bids, and ensure high-value customer engagement from pre-sales through project delivery while building long-term relationships across sectors.

Qualifications

• Minimum degree in business, marketing, engineering or related field.
• 5+ years in marketing, sales or commercial environment.
• Proven experience in customer relationship management and key account leadership.
• Experience in bid management, contract negotiation and business development.
• Ability to work with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage account plans to deliver growth and retention.
• Drive proactive relationship management and value delivery.
• Lead opportunities through full sales lifecycle and contract award.
• Ensure compliant, competitive bids across sectors/territories.
• Collaborate with engineering, finance, legal and project teams on proposals.

Skills

CRM knowledge

Communication skills

Contract negotiation

Bid management

Stakeholder management

Market analysis

Cross-functional collab

Storytelling

Commercial awareness

Data interpretation

Education

Degree in business/engineering

Tools

CRM software

Job description

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About the role

Are you a strategic, relationship-driven professional with a passion for delivering value to customers? We are looking for a Key Accounts Manager to join our team and drive growth across key markets, strengthen customer partnerships, and maximise commercial opportunities. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a customer-centric environment, is commercially astute, and excels at building long-term, high-value relationships.

As a Key Accounts Manager, you will own and execute account plans aligned to business goals, ensuring competitive and profitable proposals, sustainable customer engagement, and successful contract negotiation. You will drive commercial growth by developing strategic partnerships, supporting customer relationships, managing bids and tenders, and collaborating with cross-functional teams including engineering, finance, legal, and project teams.

You will play a critical role in expanding market presence, identifying new opportunities, and ensuring customer satisfaction from pre-sales through to project delivery.

Qualifications & experience:

• Minimum technical qualification, preferably a Degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 5+ years of experience in a marketing, sales, or commercial environment.
• Proven experience in customer relationship management, key account leadership, or B2B commercial roles.
• Demonstrated capability in bid management, contract negotiation, and business development.
• Experience collaborating with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams in complex commercial environments.

Key technical skills:

• Strong customer relationship knowledge and commercial awareness.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence at all organisational levels.
• Competence in contractual and commercial processes, including negotiation, compliance, and contract award.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, market trends, and customer needs.
• Ability to manage Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools and maintain accurate market, opportunity, and pipeline data.
• Knowledge of market research practices and techniques.
• Proven storytelling ability—able to transform data and insights into compelling business narratives.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Account Management

• Own and manage account plans to deliver business growth, customer satisfaction, and retention.
• Drive sustained customer engagement through proactive relationship management and value delivery.
• Lead qualified opportunities through the full sales lifecycle, including proposal development and contract award.
• Ensure compliant, competitive, and profitable bids across assigned sectors and territories.
• Support proposals and bids through effective collaboration with engineering, finance, legal, and project teams.
• Manage bid submission accuracy and timeliness.

Market & Business Development

• Identify and drive opportunities to expand market presence and grow business in target sectors.
• Support product and solution positioning based on competitor analysis and customer insights.
• Conduct customer need assessments to support upgrades, training, and future growth initiatives.

Customer Relationship & Support

• Establish and maintain key stakeholder networks (technical, procurement, executive, end-user).
• Support customer onboarding, product training, and after-sales requirements.
• Facilitate customer feedback loops to strengthen long-term partnerships.

Reporting & Governance

• Maintain accurate CRM records, market intelligence, and pipeline transparency.
• Provide structured reporting on opportunities, forecasts, and customer insights.
• Ensure compliance with export controls, security, legal, and contractual requirements.

HENSOLDT South Africa focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion in our organizational strategy. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive corporate culture that benefits our employees and delivers better outcomes for our clients. In line with our commitment to equal employment opportunities and our focus on diversity in the operational environment, we welcome applications from all ethnic groups. In line with HENSOLDT's commitment to equal employment opportunities and our focus on diversity in the operational environment, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups.

Application Deadline: 04 September 2026.

We support you with flexible working models and offers to help you balance work and family life.

We offer an attractive salary and special payments.

Personal & Professional Development

We support your development with structured onboarding, targeted training programs and tailored talent development.

Working Atmosphere

We offer an innovative working atmosphere with modern premises and expert networks.

Health & Prevention

We promote your health with ergonomic workstations, health management and occupational health and safety programs.

Mobility & Sustainability

We promote mobility and sustainability through various and special offers.

HENSOLDT is committed to diversity and an inclusive corporate culture. We therefore welcome all applications - regardless of origin, age, gender, disability, identity or ideology.