Account Manager - Running in Southampton

Specialist Sports Group have distribution responsibility for 14 product categories across the UK, Ireland, Europe and several other territories around the world. The category portfolio includes Rugby, Hockey, Cricket, Tennis, Track & Field, Olympic Sports and Teamwear featuring a range of products used by many of the world's best athletes and grassroots enthusiasts. Specialist Sports are custodians of the adidas brand in these categories and hold Sports Marketing contracts with relevant Governing Bodies, leading clubs, and athletes.

The Running Account Manager will join our Specialist Running team with a growing business, working with exciting industry-leading product to deliver market leading standards and ensure an enhanced customer experience.

The Role

• Manage the fulfilment of Specialist Sports commitments to wholesale trade accounts & other partners.
• Management of a targeted list of Running customers, maximising commercial revenue from B2B and B2C channels by ensuring timely dispatch, on time in full (OTIF) and management of day-to-day queries.
• Work with a Southern UK account base.
• Growth of the Running categories through new and existing customers, including a pro-active approach to developing existing and finding new business.
• Input to the Category Manager to accurately forecast and control inventory for Running categories and associated products.
• Management/Support of Specialist Sports & retail partners event/expo activity.
• Collaborate with brand coaches to deliver product technical training and promo activations and support retailers with up-to-date technical content.
• Management and development of the Running customer order book ensuring timely fulfilment of requirements.
• Management of the Running database of wholesale & B2B customers ensuring accurate contacts and key engagement dates are met.
• Create appropriate sell-in tools in multi-media for the Running categories and ensure Specialist Sports websites are maintained with correct product images, product information, marketing materials and associated resources.
• Assistance with general sales enquiries via all media, work with customer fulfilment team to ensure all customers receive orders promptly.
• Other ad-hoc duties as delegated from time to time by the Category Manager, CCO or any other person designated in their absence.

The Running Account Manager should hold some relevant trade experience and qualification, have an enthusiastic professional approach and a personal affinity with sports, particularly running. The role will be primarily field based, but with frequent travel to Specialist Sports office expected; a candidate's proximity to our Southampton location will be a key consideration.

Specialist Sports operate a flexible working policy with defined minimum core hours, however, working hours may be varied depending on the requirements of the role. The ideal candidate will be able to appropriately identify the needs of both new and current customers in order to aid customers in their success using our product. This will be done by developing an appropriate level of communication with clients and internal team members to better identify the opportunities as well as mitigate any issues the customers may face.

ABOUT YOU:

• Previous experience in a managerial role (preferable).
• Professional, proactive, and efficient.
• An ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

The successful candidate will receive a remuneration package including a competitive salary, performance related bonus, car allowance, laptop, phone allowance and generous annual leave.