Key Account Manager
Key Account Manager (Field Based Sales)Territory: Sussex, Surrey & KentPackage: Basic salary up to £48,000 (dependent on experience) plus bonus/commission (OTE up to 100% of salary), company car or allowance, and flexible benefits including up to 27 days holiday (plus bank holidays and additional annual leave purchasing scheme)Sector: Packaging Distribution & SolutionsProtecting what matters, together We’re dedicated to protecting what matters most - our people, our customers, our communities and the environment. At Macfarlane Packaging, our commitment to customer satisfaction, sustainability and continuous improvement creates a collaborative, supportive, and high-performing environment where you can build a career that grows. With over 75 years of industry expertise, we combine stability with ambition. Our fast-paced, results-driven culture challenges and stretches our people, while offering genuine opportunities for development and progression. Every colleague plays a part in our success, creating real job satisfaction at every stage of their career. We offer competitive rewards, performance-led incentives, and a flexible benefits package designed to support you both professionally and personally. If you’re a commercially driven packaging sector sales professional who thrives on developing key accounts and delivering growth, we’d love to hear from you.The Key Account Manager Role As a Key Account Manager, you will take ownership of a portfolio of high-value regional and designated national accounts, alongside managing a defined sales territory. This is a strategic, customer-facing role focused on developing long-term partnerships, identifying growth opportunities, and delivering measurable increases in revenue and margin. You will act as the primary contact for your key customers, ensuring solutions are aligned to their needs while driving both retention and expansion. Alongside account management, you will also target and secure new business opportunities, with success measured through new product penetration, account growth, and gross profit performance.Key ResponsibilitiesDevelop and implement a strategic sales plan for your territory and key accountsTake full ownership of major customer relationships, acting as the primary point of contactManage and grow a portfolio of key accounts, delivering against revenue and margin targetsIdentify and drive new business opportunities, including new account acquisition and product expansion within existing customersLead customer review meetings, building strong relationships with key decision-makers and stakeholdersAdopt a consultative, solution-led sales approach to understand customer challenges and deliver tailored packaging solutionsNegotiate commercial terms and agreements aligned to company expectations and profitability targetsUtilise CRM (Microsoft Dynamics) to manage pipeline, track activity, and maintain accurate recordsCollaborate with internal teams including Sales Office, Purchasing, and Logistics to ensure seamless customer deliveryWork closely with specialist and national teams to maximise cross-selling and solution opportunitiesEngage with suppliers to enhance solution offering and add value to customer propositionsMonitor account performance, identifying opportunities to improve margin, efficiency, and long-term value What you will bring Essential: Prior packaging sector sales experience (working for a similar packaging distributor or manufacturer, bringing product knowledge and packaging sales know-howMinimum one year’s experience operating at a key-account or national-account level.Demonstrable experience of managing/developing customer portfolio with combined annual spend upwards of £2M.Experience managing and growing key or major accounts with significant annual revenue responsibilityStrong track record of delivering revenue growth through product expansion and solution sellingExcellent negotiation and relationship-building skills with a consultative sales approachAbility to plan and execute structured sales activity, including prospecting, networking, and referralsHigh levels of self-motivation, resilience, and accountabilityStrong commercial awareness and ability to identify profitable opportunitiesExcellent communication and presentation skillsAbility to manage your own diary and prioritise effectively across a territoryStrong IT skills including CRM systems and Microsoft OfficeValid UK driving licence and willingness to travel within your territoryResidence within the territory to support effective customer coverage Desirable: Experience selling into industrial and/or e-commerce sector customers/end usersFamiliarity with Microsoft Dynamics CRM or similar systemsUnderstanding of packaging materials, design, or supply chain solutions What you will get We offer a competitive basic salary alongside a high-earning commission structure and a comprehensive benefits package, including: 25 days annual leave (rising to 27 with service) plus bank holidaysContributory pension schemeCompany car or cash allowance (including electric options)Geographical salary weighting (where applicable)Employee assistance programmeOngoing training, development, and career progression opportunitiesEmployee discounts across major retailers and leisure brandsAnnual paid volunteering daySimply Health/Dental Cover or BUPA (role dependent)Enhanced family-friendly policiesLong service awardsFinancial support for eye tests and glasses (DSE users)EE mobile discount scheme Your future with us At Macfarlane Group, you’ll have the opportunity to shape your career in a business that actively supports progression and internal mobility. We invest in structured development pathways, combining in-house experti
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