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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage key University accounts and build strategic relationships to drive growth.
- Company: Farnell, a global leader in technology distribution with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, monthly bonus, company car, 25 days holiday, and career development.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real impact in the education sector.
- Qualifications: Experience in account management, strong commercial acumen, and excellent communication skills.
- Other info: Opportunity for travel across the UK and Ireland with a focus on personal growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Farnell, an Avnet company, is a global high-service distributor of technology products, services and solutions for electronic system design, maintenance and repair.
At Farnell, part of the Avnet group, we’re more than a global electronics distributor—we’re a trusted partner to engineers, makers, and businesses worldwide. Our mission is to deliver innovative solutions and exceptional service that help our customers succeed.
Job Summary
We are looking for an experienced Key Account Manager who has solid experience dealing with key customers face to face, generating profit from existing customer relationships and who is commercially savvy in creating value led deals for their customers. This role is focused on our Education customers. This is a large, strategic sector for Farnell and as the Key Account Manager you will play a core part in its growth by driving profit through existing business relationships and adding value to your customer base.
What’s in it for you?
- Competitive salary + monthly bonus
- Company car or car allowance
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays
- Pension scheme
- Reward programs
- Career development opportunities
- A supportive, collaborative team culture
What will you be doing?
- Act as the main point of contact for key University accounts, ensuring high customer satisfaction
- Build strategic relationships across the 7 different consortia that make up the UKUPC to align with customer goals and deliver tailored solutions.
- Conduct regular face-to-face meetings and business reviews
- Develop and execute account plans to drive growth and profitability
- Monitor pipeline, analyse performance, and identify improvement opportunities
- Work with marketing to identify relevant campaigns that will drive growth
- Identify, co-ordinate and attend education focussed exhibitions with colleagues to promote Farnell, its offering and value-added services
- Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to maximize value for customers
- Ensure successful bidding for the tender for the supply of goods to the University consortia
What about you?
- Proven experience managing key accounts and budgets
- Strong commercial acumen and understanding of market trends
- Ability to work independently and make sound commercial decisions
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
- Strategic thinker with a focus on delivering results
- Customer-focused and proactive
- Skilled at identifying needs and creating value-driven solutions
- Confident negotiator with strong business insight
- Always eager to learn and grow
- Experience in either electronics or an industrial setting.
- Ideal location is centrally based in UK between Manchester and Birmingham as the role will require a lot of travelling to key University sites throughout the UK and Ireland
If this role sounds like the right fit for you and you are based in the location specified, then apply now and our Talent Acquisition partner will be in touch if you are suitable.
Key Account Manager - Education employer: Avnet United Kingdom
Contact Detail:
Avnet United Kingdom Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Key Account Manager - Education
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Farnell and its mission, especially in the education sector. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Attend industry events and exhibitions related to education and electronics. This is a great way to meet potential colleagues and customers, plus it shows you're proactive about building relationships.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with managing key accounts and driving profitability. Highlight specific examples where you've created value for customers in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining Farnell and ready to take the next step in your career.
We think you need these skills to ace Key Account Manager - Education
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Key Account Manager role. Highlight your experience with key accounts and any relevant achievements in the education sector. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about the education sector and how your skills align with our mission at Farnell. Keep it engaging and personal, so we get a sense of who you are.
Showcase Your Commercial Acumen: In your application, don’t forget to demonstrate your understanding of market trends and your ability to create value-driven solutions. We’re looking for someone who can think strategically and make sound commercial decisions.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensure it gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Avnet United Kingdom
✨Know Your Customer
Before the interview, research Farnell's key customers in the education sector. Understand their needs and challenges, and think about how you can add value to their operations. This will show your potential employer that you're proactive and customer-focused.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
Be prepared to discuss your experience with managing key accounts and budgets. Bring examples of how you've created value-led deals in the past. This will demonstrate your strong commercial insight and ability to drive profitability.
✨Prepare for Relationship Building
Think about how you would approach building strategic relationships with universities and consortia. Be ready to share your strategies for maintaining high customer satisfaction and conducting effective business reviews.
✨Demonstrate Your Negotiation Skills
Since this role requires confident negotiation, prepare to discuss specific instances where you've successfully negotiated terms or contracts. Highlight your ability to make sound commercial decisions and how you've navigated complex situations in the past.
