Key Account Manager

Recruitpartners; KwaZulu-Natal; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Recruitpartners is seeking a seasoned Key Account Manager in Pinetown, Durban, to drive growth across South Africa. You will own key accounts, grow revenue, manage profitability, and lead cross-functional teams to deliver customer value.

The role emphasizes strategic account management, pricing, and contract renewals within an international industrial environment. The ideal candidate has 8+ years of sales experience, strong packaging knowledge, and proficiency with CRM systems and MS Office.

Qualifications

• University degree or relevant qualification.
• 8+ years’ B2B sales with account management experience.
• Experience in packaging industry and international markets.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow the full product portfolio across assigned key accounts.
• Develop and execute annual account strategies to defend and grow profitability.
• Build relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
• Understand customer packaging requirements and current share of wallet.
• Identify growth opportunities including new products and bundling.
• Negotiate pricing and manage price adjustments.
• Coordinate quality issues with internal teams and ensure timely resolution.
• Lead regular customer meetings with technical, marketing, legal and management teams.
• Monitor market developments and tender activity; share insights with stakeholders.
• Maintain a robust pipeline of growth opportunities.
• Ensure accurate reporting and up-to-date customer data.
• Adhere to health, safety and environmental requirements.

Skills

CRM (Salesforce)

Microsoft Excel

English fluency

Negotiation

Relationship management

Strategic account management

Market analysis

Project coordination

Education

University degree

Job description

Key Account Manager | Pinetown, Durban

Our client is seeking an experienced Key Account Manager to manage and grow strategic customer relationships across South Africa. This role will take ownership of key accounts, driving revenue growth, profitability, customer retention and new business opportunities within an international industrial environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and grow the full product portfolio across assigned key accounts, securing orders in line with agreed contracts and budgets.
• Develop and execute annual account strategies to increase or defend market share, wallet share and profitability.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customer stakeholders at all levels.
• Maintain a detailed understanding of customer packaging requirements, filling locations, product needs and current share of wallet.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for growth, including new products, bundling, standardisation and other commercial initiatives.
• Negotiate and manage pricing, including required price adjustments.
• Proactively manage contract renewals and extensions to retain and secure existing business.
• Coordinate customer quality complaints and non-conformances with relevant internal teams, ensuring timely resolution and communication.
• Lead regular customer meetings and workshops, collaborating with Technical, R&D, Marketing, Legal and Management teams where required.
• Monitor market developments, customer changes, upcoming tenders and competitor activity, sharing relevant insights with internal stakeholders.
• Maintain a consistent pipeline of growth opportunities across the assigned account portfolio.
• Ensure accurate reporting and up-to-date customer and account information.
• Adhere to all relevant health, safety and environmental requirements.

Key Requirements:

• University degree or relevant technical/commercial qualification.
• 8+ years’ relevant sales experience, preferably within an international industrial environment.
• Previous Key Account Management experience is preferred.
• Strong commercial acumen and a sound understanding of customer needs and business objectives.
• Experience within the packaging industry, with strong packaging and market knowledge.
• Strong proficiency in MS Office, particularly Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Experience using CRM systems, preferably Salesforce.
• Fluent in English; additional languages would be advantageous.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a practical and solutions-focused approach.
• Proven ability to build and manage relationships across all organisational levels, from operational teams through to senior executives.
• Highly organised, self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Hands-on, accountable and results-driven approach.

If you are a commercially driven Key Account Manager with strong industrial sales experience and a proven ability to build strategic customer partnerships and deliver sustainable growth, this is an excellent opportunity to take ownership of a high-impact portfolio and make a measurable contribution to business performance.