Strategic Account Director

The Strategic Account Director is responsible for overseeing and managing the company's most critical and high-value accounts. This role involves leading a team to develop and execute account strategies that align with the client’s goals while ensuring the overall success and satisfaction of the account. The Strategic Account Manager will serve as the primary liaison between the client and the organization, ensuring long-term partnership growth, profitability, and the achievement of both client and company objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 
•    Account Leadership & Strategy: Lead and develop account strategies for key strategic accounts, ensuring alignment with both client goals and company objectives. Create and implement comprehensive plans that drive account growth, retention, and profitability.

•    Team Leadership: Manage and mentor a team of account managers or executives, providing guidance, support, and direction to help them achieve targets and deliver superior client service.

•    Client Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with senior-level executives at strategic accounts. Ensure open communication channels and act as the client's advocate within the company.

•    Revenue Growth & Expansion: Identify and pursue opportunities for account expansion through cross-selling, upselling, and identifying new business opportunities within existing accounts. Work to achieve aggressive revenue targets while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction.

•    Negotiation & Contract Management: Lead contract renewals and negotiations with key accounts, ensuring mutually beneficial agreements. Maintain an understanding of client business needs to support the renewal process and negotiate favorable terms for both parties.

•    Performance Monitoring & Reporting: Track key account metrics and KPIs, regularly reporting on the health and performance of accounts. Analyze account performance to develop strategies for improvement and growth.

•    Problem Resolution: Address client issues and concerns swiftly, ensuring prompt resolution and customer satisfaction. Manage any escalated challenges in a professional and solutions-oriented manner.

•    Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate with internal teams (e.g., marketing, product, customer service) to ensure that all client needs are met, and that internal processes align with client requirements.

•    Market & Industry Expertise: Stay up-to-date on industry trends, client-specific needs, and competitive activities. Use this knowledge to provide strategic insights and inform decision-making within the organization.

•    Client Advocacy: Act as the primary advocate for clients, ensuring that their needs and expectations are communicated effectively to internal teams, and that solutions are aligned with their business objectives.

•    Other Duties as Assigned: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may be required to perform other related duties as assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization. Responsibilities and tasks may be modified, extended, or adjusted to reflect business needs or management requests.

Competencies
•    Results-oriented
•    Analytical
•    Problem Solving
•    Critical Thinking
•    Communication
•    Adaptability
•    Organizational & Planning
 

Minimum Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing or a related field.

Experience and/or Training: 
•    Minimum of 10+ years experience in account management, sales or business development, ideally with experience managing strategic or high-value accounts
•    Strong leadership skills with experience managing and developing team.
•    Expertise in managing complex contracts and delivering customer-centric solutions
•    Strong negotiation skills, with a proven track record of managing large accounts and closing deals
•    Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
•    Ability to think strategically and understand complex business needs.
•    Experience in consultative selling and developing tailored solutions for clients.
•    Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems (Epicor preferred), CRM software and Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
•    Knowledge of the industry and competitive landscape
•    Strong ability to identify and pursue business opportunities
•    Ability to analyze market trends and translate them into actionable strategies
•    Ability to work independently and as part of a team
•    Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities.

Preferred Qualifications
Education:       
Experience and/or Training:      

Physical and Mental Demands
•    While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls. 
•    The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. 
•    The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. 
•    Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
•    The employee must be able to lift and or carry up to 10 lbs occasionally.
•    Travel: This position requires an estimated 40% annual travel between local offices and to customer sites. The travel will primarily involve visiting other local facilities to collaborate with different teams and support projects across our multiple, local locations and the entire organization. 

The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Working Environment
Work is performed in a general office environment with limited noise exposure and usually moderate. Noise may be loud when frequenting the production floor. Additionally, there will be occasional exposure to dust, metal debris, changes in ambient temperature, and requires the use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an individual will encounter while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.