Strategic Account Manager

About KI Industries Inc.

KI Industries, founded in 1964, specializes in the design and manufacture of decorative plastic and die cast components for the automotive and appliance industry. Our attention to aesthetics and technical expertise creates components that our customers know will provide their end consumers with a high-quality interface experience. Those elements, in combination with our outstanding customer service and passion for delivering high quality product, make KI a trusted leader in the decorative parts industry. KI Industries is headquartered in Berkeley, Illinois, USA; we also have a regional office and production facilities in Asia and two manufacturing facilities in Querétaro, Mexico. Our wide global footprint provides extensive opportunity for growth and expansion. Across all our locations KI strives to find talented individuals who are highly motivated to work in a fast paced yet rewarding work environment. We seek creative, hard-working, and innovative personnel who will believe in the KI brand and the service & products we provide. For further information, please visit our website at www.kiindustries.com or call 52 442-359-72-64.

About the Job

As a Strategic Account Manager at KI Industries Inc., you will play a crucial role in managing all aspects of assigned Strategic Customer relationships to maintain current business and maximize opportunities to expand long-term profitable growth. The SAM will develop new accounts/customers in new markets approved by Executive Director, Sales and Marketing. This position offers a unique opportunity for professional growth and development within a rapidly evolving industry.

Responsibilities:

• Establish, strengthen, and grow relationships at all levels, particularly the C-Suite, departments, and disciplines within the Customer’s Organization via networking and regular visits to Customers’ Corporate Headquarters, Technical Centers, Production Plants, and Procurement teams.
• Build relationship map by coordinating KI’s technical resources with Customer’s Industrial Design Engineering and Product Development groups to introduce product line and be involved early in new projects to maximize KI opportunity for design input.
• Continuously build strategic account plans to accelerate growth, by gathering knowledge and understanding of assigned strategic accounts including company outlook, financial health, product spend, and competitive environment.
• Present 3-5-year growth plan annually to the Executive Leadership Team for use in the creation and updates of the Strategic Business and Marketing Plan.
• Identify target pricing to establish customer quoting and pricing guidelines to create proposals for new projects that result in award of business.
• Negotiate Long-Term Contracts per company guidelines.
• Monitoring sales performance metrics and facilitating timely interventions.
• Performing recordkeeping within CRM system and preparation of sales forecasts and reports for key accounts assigned.
• Establishing efficient communication channels and liaising between key clients and internal departments.
• Proactively assesses, clarifies, and validates customer needs on an ongoing basis.
• Leads solution development efforts that best address customer needs, while coordinating the involvement of all necessary company personnel.
• Utilize Sales Excellence tools and strategic account plans for assigned strategic and target accounts to identify steps required to expand share of wallet achieve profitable growth.

Qualifications:

• In-depth knowledge of client relationship management strategies with proven capability to network within a large organization to make contacts at all levels, specifically the C-Suite. 
• Experience in strategic sales planning and managing large billion-dollar OEMs.
• Superb interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Great problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Proficiency in CRM software, such as Salesforce.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills.
• Basic understanding of Materials Planning and Control and Quality Management Systems.
• Ability to read part drawings, grasp design concepts and input design ideas.
• Familiarity with OEM Quality Standards, Processes and Procedures.
• Knowledge of injection molding, die casting, and/or decorative manufacturing processes and aesthetic quality expectations. (Plastics preferred)

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in selling B2B and managing OEM Accounts with multiple product lines.
• 2 years managing regional sales team to profitable growth, preferred.

Education:

B.S in Engineering or Business with technical aptitude. MBA preferred