At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage key accounts, ensuring product usage and driving growth.
- Company: Berlin-based tech company revolutionising maritime safety with AI.
- Benefits: Growth opportunities, direct feedback, and a supportive team culture.
- Other info: Remote work with regular team events and a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in maritime safety while developing your career.
- Qualifications: 2+ years in account management and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Kaiko Systems is a Berlin-based technology company digitalising how the world’s merchant fleet stays safe and seaworthy. Our AI-powered platform turns frontline inspections, technical checks, and compliance workflows into structured, actionable fleet intelligence, helping ship operators prevent incidents, pass vettings, and run safer operations.
We are looking for a Key Account Manager to own our customers once they are live. You take over from the rollout team, hold the relationship through the year, make sure the product is actually being used across the fleet, and grow the account. The people you deal with run fleets for a living, so you will need to understand their work well enough to be useful to them.
Tasks
- Own a portfolio of live accounts: You are the person each customer calls, and the person we ask when anyone wants to know how that account is doing.
- Run business reviews worth the customer’s time: Come with the numbers, show what has changed since you last met, and leave with decisions.
- Keep the account record straight: Status, ARR, the people who matter, and the risks you can see. Someone picking up your account page should understand the account without calling you.
- Grow the accounts you hold: Find where more of the fleet or more of the product would genuinely help, open that conversation, and bring in the Account Executive for the commercial step.
- Catch problems while they are still small: Your main contact moves on, or the same complaint comes up for the third time. You will see these before anyone else, so flag them early and come with a view on what to do about it.
- Bring what you hear back into the company: You talk to more customers in a week than most of us do in a month. Patterns in what they ask for reach product and leadership while there is still time to act.
- Improve how we run accounts: Say when our process is getting in the way, and fix what you can yourself. How we track health, hand over and review accounts will keep changing as we grow within the UniSea Group.
What good looks like in your first six months
- Month 1: You know the product well enough to demonstrate it, and you have spoken to everyone in your portfolio.
- Month 2: For each account you can say what usage looks like, who your champion is, and where the biggest risk sits.
- Month 3: You have run a business review on your own, and the customer acted on something in it.
- Month 4–5: You have turned round an account that was drifting, and you have opened at least one serious conversation about expanding.
- Month 6: You hold your portfolio without supervision. Leadership can forecast renewals from what you have recorded, and the customers in your accounts come to you first.
Requirements
- At least 2 years in account management, customer success or a similar role, owning named accounts.
- You are comfortable commercially. You can run a renewal conversation, raise a price increase, and talk about expanding without waiting for someone senior to join the call.
- You are comfortable around technical people. Superintendents and fleet managers care a great deal about how their fleets run, and they open up to someone who takes that detail seriously and is willing to learn their world.
- You work from the data. You look at usage before you decide where your week goes, and you can build the numbers that show a customer what they are getting.
- You reach out first. Nothing in your portfolio goes quiet for a month without you noticing.
- You are organised across many things at once. Follow-ups, reviews and renewal dates land on time without anyone chasing you.
- Maritime, logistics, industrial or other complex B2B experience is an advantage.
- You speak fluent English. Additional languages relevant to our markets are an advantage.
- You can work remotely with discipline, your working day overlaps substantially with Central European Time, and you are willing to travel to customers and industry events.
What we offer
- Somewhere to grow, and people who will tell you the truth about how you are doing. You will know what the step up looks like from your first month, and you will not have to wait for a review to find out where you stand. We give feedback early, directly and to the person, and we will expect the same from you.
- A short line to the people who decide things. The team is small enough that what you learn from your accounts can change what we build and how we sell, often inside the same quarter.
- A larger business behind you. Being part of the UniSea Group brings the reach and stability of an established maritime software group, while the team you work in keeps its own pace.
- Time together as a team. We work remotely most of the time, so we make a point of company events and getting everyone in a room regularly.
Key Account Manager employer: Kaiko Systems GmbH
Kaiko Systems GmbH offers a dynamic work environment where employees can engage in the maritime software sector, focusing on converting meetings into signed pilots. The company encourages professional growth through opportunities to manage regional pursuits and deliver tailored commercial proposals. Employees benefit from flexible working arrangements, including remote work options and travel to conferences.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Key Account Manager
✨Get to Know the Company Culture
Before jumping into applications, it’s super helpful to understand the vibe at Kaiko Systems GmbH. Check out their social media, read reviews on sites like Glassdoor, and see how they engage with customers. It'll give you clues on their values and help tailor your conversation during interviews.
✨Join Customer Support Communities
Dive into online communities like those on Reddit or LinkedIn where customer support pros hang out. Participating in discussions or asking questions can make you more visible to potential recruiters and help you learn about job openings at companies like Kaiko Systems GmbH before they even post them.
✨Attend Job Fairs or Networking Events
Look out for local job fairs or events specifically for customer support roles. This is your chance to meet hiring managers face-to-face, and you might even get the opportunity to interview on the spot!
✨Show Off Your Skills with Customer Interactions
In the customer support world, showcasing your communication skills is key. Consider creating a short video introducing yourself or even doing a mock call to showcase your abilities. It's a memorable way to stand out, especially if you can share this during your interview process!
We think you need these skills to ace Key Account Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Communication Skills:In customer support, clear communication is key. Make sure your CV highlights any experience you've had in customer-facing roles and your ability to resolve issues. Don't shy away from including specific examples of how you've gone above and beyond to help customers – this really shows your potential in the role.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Kaiko Systems GmbH:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Tell us why you want to work at Kaiko Systems GmbH specifically. Mention any unique aspects of our company that resonate with you and how your skills can enhance our customer support. This personal touch will set your application apart from the rest!
Highlight Any Relevant Tools or Tech Skills:If you've used customer support software like Zendesk or Freshdesk or have experience with CRM systems, make sure to mention these in your application. Being familiar with industry-standard tools can be a big plus for us when we’re reviewing applications, as it shows you can hit the ground running!
Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Skills:Customer support roles often require a knack for problem-solving. In your application, share examples of past experiences where you've tackled tough situations or resolved conflicts effectively. This will give us a good sense of how you handle challenges—an essential skill for success at Kaiko Systems GmbH!
How to prepare for a job interview at Kaiko Systems GmbH
✨Show Off Your People Skills
In customer support, it's all about communicating effectively. Prepare to share instances from your past experiences where you handled difficult customers or resolved conflicts. We want to hear how you empathised and found the best solutions, so think of specific examples to back up your stories!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with common customer support tools like Zendesk or Freshdesk, and make sure to review how you’ve used any similar systems in the past. During the interview, being able to discuss your hands-on experience with software or ticketing systems can really set you apart from the competition, so don’t skip this prep!
✨Show Genuine Enthusiasm
As this is a full-time role, employers want someone who isn’t just looking for any job, but wants to grow within customer support. Make sure to express your enthusiasm for helping customers and your desire to develop your skills. Show them why you're passionate about this field!
✨Practice Common Scenarios
Be prepared for role-playing scenarios where you might have to reassess a solution with a frustrated customer or explain a complex process in simple terms. Practising these common scenarios can help us feel more confident and demonstrate our practical skills effectively during the interview.