Account Manager - Food Packaging (Ref: PK8188)

NEW VACANCY! (PK8188)

ACCOUNT MANAGER - FOOD PACKAGING

MIDLANDS OR SOUTH OF ENGLAND

Attractive Basic Salary circa £50-60K + Benefits Package
Our client is a manufacturer of rigid packaging for use in Fresh Produce and Food Service industries. Looking to hire an Account Manager in support for the Sales Director to develop new and existing business within the fresh produce and value-added markets.

The role will support the Sales Director. Your ability to think strategically and develop key account opportunities is key here and will need to be demonstrated. Drive, ambition and intelligence, coupled with a highly personable style are a pre-requisite to meet the needs of this position, which will see you influencing internally up to senior level. Have a full awareness of the customer needs within the Produce category and ensure that you are predicting any trend changes within your category that will impact upon the development of packaging sales. Identify and introduce new or current pack formats within the company's portfolio to your customers by recognising where there is a need or innovation in existing ones, in line with business strategy.

Responsibilities:

• You will support the sales strategy set by the Sales Director and manage the ownership across the produce category within in budget.
• Build awareness of the company's business and portfolio within Produce for the UK market, by developing relationships within the key customers within the category.
• Negotiating pricing with commercial terms and renewal of contracts within the agreed terms set by the Sales Director.
• Co-ordinate and develop new sales opportunities to deliver sales within the Produce markets for fresh and value-added categories.
• Support close working relationships with customers to ensure the company are at the forefront of development in taking products to market.
• Supply monthly reports on the products and the performance of the Produce category overall.
• Contribute on a regular basis via monthly and weekly team meetings.
• Proactively monitor and strive to maintain high levels of quality, accuracy, and process consistency.
• Overseeing and support the customer service team for the account to a high standard.
• Forecasting demand and liaising with planning and Customer Service departments to ensure continuity of supply.
• Develop and own a pipeline funnel against a new business target with ability to introduce new clients based upon historic or new relationships.

Requirements:

• Experience of packaging formats within the produce categories and technology used to support the FMCG industry.
• Must be able to use Excel and Word documents to a good standard.
• Great attention to detail and project management skills.
• Proactive, positive, enthusiastic - demonstrates a "can do" attitude.
• Have a sound understanding of business planning, negotiation, analytical, commercial acumen and influencing skills.
• Need to understand who the influencers and decision makers are within the customers, what their expectations are to ensure business is secured.
• Organised and calm under pressure.
• Behave in a professional manner.
• Understand the basics in thermoformed plastic processes.
• Ability to create original ideas and problem solve when issues arise.