Key Account Manager
Key Account Manager
Job description
Zeelandia UK, part of the Royal Zeelandia Group, are a leading supplier of high-quality bakery ingredients, serving both Industrial and Craft bakeries across the UK. With a strong heritage in the food ingredients sector and a reputation for innovation, service and collaboration, we partner with our customers to develop ingredient solutions that drive profitable growth.
We are now looking to recruit a Key Account Manager into our team, to support delivery of the next stage of our strategy.
Job requirements
- Deliver annual sales plan for assigned key accounts to achieve revenue growth of X% by year-end; maintain KPI ≥ target margin.
- Own account management process; ensure CRM data accuracy and compliance at 100% for all interactions.
- Partner with cross-functional teams (NPD, Customer Services, HR, Marketing, Operations, Finance) to remove blockers and deliver seamless customer experience.
- Develop and execute strategic account plans to secure long-term partnerships, including weekly onsite meetings with current and potential customers.
- Continuously improve sales workflows; document SOPs and implement measurable efficiency gains.
- Manage compliance & risk for all account activities (GDPR, contractual obligations, pricing governance).
- Report progress via dashboards and monthly reviews; escalate risks or delays promptly to leadership.
- Contribute to DEI, sustainability, and wellbeing initiatives relevant to client engagement and company values.
- Attend and actively contribute to required meetings, including pipeline reviews, client strategy sessions, and quarterly business reviews.
- Monitor market trends and competitor activity; provide insights to inform pricing and product positioning.
- Drive customer satisfaction and retention by resolving issues quickly and maintaining proactive communication.
Essential
- Experience in FMCG or food manufacturing sector, especially with experience of bread, multi-site or complex supply chain environments.
- Professional certifications such as Key Account Management, Negotiation Skills, or Sales Leadership or equivalent experience
- Proven experience in B2B sales within the food manufacturing or bakery ingredients sector, managing large or strategic accounts.
- Strong technical understanding of bakery processes and ingredient functionality
Skills
- Strategic account planning and relationship management
- Negotiation and influencing skills with senior stakeholders
- Data analysis and forecasting (Excel, BI tools)
- Problem-solving and solution selling in a technical environment
- Communication: Clear written and verbal communication; ability to present technical solutions to non-technical audiences.
- Digital/Systems: Proficient in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), MS Office Suite; intermediate Excel for data analysis.
- Compliance Awareness: Food safety standards (e.g., BRC, HACCP), GDPR, and contractual compliance relevant to client management.
- Commercial Acumen: Ability to manage pricing structures, margin targets, and profitability for key accounts.
Desirable
- Project management or process improvement credentials (e.g., PRINCE2, Six Sigma)