At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage key customer accounts and drive growth in absorbency and packaging products.
- Company: Join a leading company in the packaging sector with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Be the primary contact for customers and turn relationships into profitable opportunities.
- Qualifications: Experience in account management and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
We have an excellent opportunity for a National Account Manager where you will be responsible for managing and developing a portfolio of key customer accounts across the absorbency and specialist packaging product range. In addition to growing revenue within existing accounts, this role will also focus on re‑engaging dormant customers and winning back previously lost customers, turning past relationships into commercially viable opportunities. The successful candidate will act as the primary commercial contact for customers, ensuring alignment between customer requirements, operational capability, service performance, and margin expectations.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage and develop a defined portfolio of national accounts across retail, processors, food manufacturers and specialist sectors.
- Drive profitable growth across the businesses absorbency and specialist packaging ranges.
- Identify and execute cross-sell and up-sell opportunities within existing accounts.
- Develop structured account plans for top-tier customers.
- Identify dormant and lapsed accounts (no trade in 12+ months) and develop structured reactivation plans.
- Re-engage lost customers with targeted commercial proposals aligned to current businesses capabilities.
- Convert reactivated accounts into sustainable repeat business.
- Report quarterly on dormant account pipeline and conversion performance.
- Protect and grow gross margin through disciplined pricing and cost recovery.
- Lead customer price reviews in line with raw material movements and business strategy.
- Ensure all new or reactivated business meets agreed commercial thresholds.
- Work closely with customers to develop and convert new product development opportunities.
- Ensure effective qualification before sampling.
- Drive strong conversion from trial to commercial launch.
- Provide accurate rolling 12-month forecasts for managed accounts.
- Work closely with Customer Service, Operations and Procurement to ensure demand visibility and delivery performance.
- Support stock management and minimise obsolescence risk.
Skills & Experience
- Experience managing national accounts within packaging, food manufacturing or absorbency sectors.
- Proven track record of account growth and customer retention.
- Strong commercial acumen and margin awareness.
- Ability to manage complex customer requirements.
- Strong forecasting discipline and CRM capability.
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
- Clean driving licence and willingness to travel regularly.
National Account Manager - Department Stores employer: We Are Zenith
Contact Detail:
We Are Zenith Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land National Account Manager - Department Stores
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy to reach out to potential contacts. You never know who might help you land that National Account Manager role!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their absorbency and specialist packaging ranges inside out. This will not only impress your interviewers but also show that you're genuinely interested in the role and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to discuss how you can drive profitable growth and re-engage dormant customers. Tailor your examples to highlight your experience in managing national accounts and your strong commercial acumen. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. So, get your application in and let’s make some magic happen!
We think you need these skills to ace National Account Manager - Department Stores
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of National Account Manager. Highlight your experience in managing national accounts, especially in packaging or food manufacturing, and showcase any successes in account growth and customer retention.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention specific examples of how you've re-engaged dormant customers or driven profitable growth in previous positions.
Show Off Your Commercial Acumen: In your application, demonstrate your strong commercial awareness. Talk about how you've managed pricing strategies or improved margins in past roles. This will show us that you understand the financial side of account management.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at We Are Zenith
✨Know Your Accounts
Before the interview, dive deep into the company’s key customer accounts, especially in the absorbency and specialist packaging sectors. Understand their needs, challenges, and how your experience aligns with managing and developing these accounts. This will show that you’re proactive and genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Success Stories
Prepare specific examples of how you've successfully grown accounts or re-engaged dormant customers in the past. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses. This will help demonstrate your proven track record and strong commercial acumen.
✨Understand the Market Trends
Familiarise yourself with current trends in the packaging and food manufacturing industries. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact the company and its customers. This knowledge will highlight your industry awareness and ability to drive profitable growth.
✨Prepare Questions for Them
Think of insightful questions to ask during the interview about their approach to account management and customer engagement strategies. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if the company aligns with your career goals and values.