Key Account Field Business Development Manager - Retail - North of England

We are recruiting for a Key Account Field Business Development Manager to join a globally established optical brand, who specialise in designing, manufacturing and distributing lenses, frames and glasses.

Reporting directly to the Boots Key Account Manager, you will manage the day to day running of a number of key account stores to develop, build and maintain relationships, ensuring that our client becomes and remains the customers’ preferred supplier across every category (lenses, frames and instruments).

Responsibilities:

• Increase overall business within the Key Accounts channel in accordance with targets by developing and building relationships with all customers including carrying out external forecasting with suppliers if required by order volume to ensure that we become the preferred supplier(s).
• Generate and manage solid sell-out strategies to maximise product penetration on lenses and eyewear.
• Perform an inventory of the instruments used in store and engage with possible decision makers to identify sales opportunities. Feedback to the KAM / KAD and the Instruments team for them to lead the sales discussions at HQ or store level.
• Work closely with Key Account Director / Managers, Sales Director - Key Accounts, EMEA KA management, marketing, stars team and finance to ensure profitability of accounts is managed correctly.
• Liaise with different interested parties to provide 'best fit’ product and solutions to customers.
• Work closely with colleagues to ensure that service agreements are met in a way that will ensure customer satisfaction.
• Control marketing expenditure working closely with marketing and external agencies where necessary to assist with product launches, POS, effective promotions, etc.
• Provide information to enable accurate forecasts of lens and frame volumes to be made for production and logistics to ensure that there are sufficient stocks of lenses, frames, consumables and product stock levels to satisfy customer demand.
• Provide weekly updates on account activity, meetings held, future actions and sales figures to allow development of the sales strategy.
• To be responsible for maintaining an effective and consistent call programme in field for Key Accounts Stores.
• To push the full range of products across your geographical area to increase sales
• To present all relevant marketing/commercial activity to key personnel agreeing actions and processes required to ensure its success, with a real focus on premium technologies and driving value.
• To regularly review with all customers their business, product mix and supplier preferences promoting our lenses and eyewear as first choice but ultimately securing lens volumes with a tailored commercial offer.
• To agree and implement customer training, both in practice and in seminar format, on all new and existing products to improve added value sales and product mix.
• To maintain accurate customer records and reports for relevant accounts to ensure that sales data and market activity can be analysed accurately, recording all relevant information in See4C/SAP.
• To ensure that our market and competitor product knowledge is continually maintained
• To continually assess the market, maintaining customer and competitor records to identify opportunities and be able to provide call reports, monthly reports and forward planning sheets as required by Sales Management team.
• At all times to act as an ambassador of our brand and its values, bringing colleagues from all teams in to engage customers whenever appropriate.
• To work in line with duty of care to self/others and ensure Health & Safety guidelines are followed in line with company policy.
• To work in line with in line with Environmental & energy policies.

Who Are you:

• Experience of successful sales account management in related field
• Optical experience and/ or D/O qualifications
• Knowledge of lens manufacturing processes, Company products and a good understanding of the UK optical market
• Proven ability to work on own initiative to tight deadlines
• Ability to communicate at all levels both verbally and in writing
• Ability to effectively analyze and interpret data
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Selling and negotiating techniques
• Computer literate
• Hold a valid UK driving license
• Self-motivated and commercially aware individual

This is a great opportunity for someone working as an optical practitioner/dispenser and looking for that next step up. The role will be 3 days working out in the field (North of the UK) and 2 days working from home. The company offer excellent salary + bonus + benefits.