At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to drive growth and customer value in education supplies.
- Company: Join CSG, a top provider of procurement services for education and public sectors globally.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, pension scheme, volunteer days, and wellness programmes.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a rapidly growing company focused on social value and education.
- Qualifications: Experience in business development or sales leadership is essential; education sector experience is a plus.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 43000 - 62000 £ per year.
Commercial Services Group is one of the leading providers of procurement and support services to education and public sector customers globally. Serving over 15,000 customers, CSG is committed to providing an excellent customer and user experience underpinned by social value and a committed and empowered workforce.
Location: Hybrid working with a flexible base across our sites
Salary/package: £50,000–£55,000 per annum
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week
We are looking for a commercially driven leader to join our Global Education Supplies (GES) division and take responsibility for driving growth, margin and customer value across a diverse portfolio. If you’re a strategic thinker with a passion for high-impact business development, this is a fantastic opportunity to lead a national team and make a tangible difference.
Global Education Supplies (GES) is part of the Children & Education portfolio at Commercial Services Group (CSG), comprising seven complementary brands that serve the education sector worldwide. These include KCS Education, CES, Landscapes for Learning, Maudesport, Gresswell, Timstar and Technology Supplies. With an expanding customer base in over 90 countries, GES is entering a transformational phase focused on international growth, new product development, marketing investment and operational excellence.
As Strategic Accounts Manager, you will lead a team of Business Development Managers and Internal Sales Executives to deliver revenue and margin growth across our education supply brands. This is a senior leadership role focused on expanding our strategic customer base, enhancing performance, and aligning business development activity with the wider goals of GES and CSG.
What you’ll be doing:
- Leading, mentoring and developing a team of four Business Development Managers and three Internal Sales Executives
- Designing and delivering tailored training and performance improvement strategies
- Developing and executing a comprehensive business development strategy across brands and regions
- Identifying and pursuing new opportunities in line with growth targets
- Collaborating with senior leadership to ensure alignment with strategic goals
- Monitoring and reporting on performance against revenue and margin targets
- Conducting in-depth market research and analysis to guide business planning
- Working cross-functionally with marketing, product and operational teams
- Managing escalated client issues and ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction
- Presenting regular reports to senior management and using data insights to drive decisions
What we’re looking for:
- Proven experience in senior business development, sales leadership or strategic account management
- Track record of building, leading and inspiring high-performing sales or business development teams
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to analyse and act on performance data
- Skilled at stakeholder engagement and cross-functional collaboration
- Able to balance big-picture strategy with day-to-day delivery
- Experience in the education or public sector supply markets is desirable
What you’ll get in return:
- Salary of £50,000–£55,000 per annum
- Pension scheme with 6% employer contribution
- Volunteer days and access to a comprehensive wellbeing programme
- Additional benefits including retail and gym discounts, health cash plan and cycle to work scheme
- Life assurance cover (4x salary)
- 25 days annual leave, plus your birthday off
- Tailored learning and development support with real opportunities to progress
Commercial Services Group (CSG) is the UK’s largest local authority-owned trading company (LATCO), generating over £800 million in revenue and supporting 16,000 education and public sector customers worldwide. With more than 1,800 employees across the UK, Dubai and Bangkok, we are working towards becoming the global leader in education and public sector solutions. We are expanding rapidly, with annual growth of around 25 percent, supported by a blend of organic development, acquisitions and strategic partnerships. Our 33 trading businesses deliver a wide range of services including education management, IT, HR, legal, energy, procurement and supplies. CSG is wholly owned by local authorities, and a significant proportion of our profits is reinvested into frontline public services. Over £77 million has already been returned, reflecting our commitment to combining commercial performance with meaningful social impact.
We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We encourage applications from suitably qualified people of all backgrounds. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our application and interview process; please let us know if you require any.
Strategic Accounts Manager employer: Commercial Services Group
Contact Detail:
Commercial Services Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Accounts Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the education supply market and the specific brands under Global Education Supplies. Understanding their unique offerings and how they align with customer needs will help you demonstrate your strategic thinking during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Commercial Services Group on platforms like LinkedIn. Engaging in conversations about their experiences can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations for the Strategic Accounts Manager role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you've successfully developed high-performing teams in the past. Be ready to share specific examples that highlight your ability to mentor and inspire others, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on industry trends and challenges within the education sector. Being knowledgeable about current issues will allow you to engage in meaningful conversations and showcase your ability to drive growth and innovation in the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Accounts Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in business development, sales leadership, and strategic account management. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead teams and drive growth.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for the education sector and your understanding of the challenges it faces. Highlight how your skills align with the role's requirements and how you can contribute to CSG's goals.
Showcase Leadership Skills: Emphasise your experience in mentoring and developing teams. Provide examples of how you've successfully led teams to achieve targets and improved performance through tailored training strategies.
Demonstrate Commercial Acumen: Include instances where you've used data insights to drive decisions and improve performance. Show your understanding of market research and how it informs business planning, particularly in the education or public sector supply markets.
How to prepare for a job interview at Commercial Services Group
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Strategic Accounts Manager, you'll be leading a team. Be prepared to discuss your leadership style and provide examples of how you've successfully mentored and developed teams in the past.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Highlight your understanding of commercial strategies and how you've used data to drive business decisions. Be ready to discuss specific instances where your strategic thinking led to revenue growth or improved margins.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
This role requires working with various teams. Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated with marketing, product, or operational teams to achieve common goals, and be ready to share these during the interview.
✨Research the Education Sector
Familiarise yourself with current trends and challenges in the education supply market. Being knowledgeable about the sector will demonstrate your commitment and help you engage in meaningful discussions during the interview.