Midwest Account Manager

About the role

The AccountManager is responsible for managing and growing an established territory andaccount base in the Midwest, while actively identifying and developing newbusiness opportunities. Establishing, maintaining, and cultivating customerrelationships, collaborating with technical teams to develop new solutions, andmanaging pricing and profitability will be key drivers of success in this role.A strong focus on territory expansion and proactive business development isrequired to drive sustained growth.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a strategic account management plan for the Midwest region to drive revenue growth and achieve sales targets.
Identify, pursue, and close new business opportunities to expand the territory.
Conduct market analysis to identify potential customers, trends, and growth opportunities.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers across Procurement and R&D.
Present product offerings, negotiate contracts, and develop solutions aligned with customer needs.
Manage pricing strategies and contract terms to optimize profitability.
Drive lead generation and actively grow the customer base.
Collaborate with the Go-to-Market team to identify and capture value-added opportunities.
Work with sourcing and trading to provide customers with relevant market insights.
Establish a strong presence within customer organizations to influence decision-making.
Partner with customers to address formulation challenges and provide practical solutions.
Collaborate with internal technical teams to support customer needs.
Develop and maintain annual territory and account plans aligned with company objectives.
Consistently meet or exceed financial and volume targets.
Provide timely and accurate technical and commercial communication to customers.
Manage travel and expenses within budget.
Deliver accurate customer forecasts and maintain forecasting discipline.
Work with Quality and Customer Service to resolve issues and ensure a strong customer experience.
Maintain close communication with Customer Service to ensure execution.
Support collection of past due invoices and resolve discrepancies.
Expand into new segments and channels through targeted business development.
Gather market intelligence to support decision-making.
Participate in ongoing training and development.
About you

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Food Science, or a related field.
5-10 years of experience in specialty food ingredients or specialty chemicals sales.
Proven ability to identify and pursue new business opportunities ("hunting" mindset).
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to build relationships internally and externally.
Demonstrated track record of strong customer relationship management, with a focus on retention and growth.
Highly effective organizational and planning skills, with the ability to manage a territory and achieve sales targets.
Self-starter with the ability to work independently and proactively.
Willingness to learn, grow, and take on new challenges, with an entrepreneurial mindset.
Must be authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship.

In return AAK offer

Career paths, training and development, e-learning and tuition reimbursement programs offer potential for you to progress your future career
Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental and vision) starting date of hire
Health Savings Account with AAK annual contribution of $1,000-$1,500
We match 100% of the first 3% you contribute to your 401(k), and 50% of the next 3%
Free Life and Disability insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Supplemental Pet Insurance, Identity Theft Protection and Legal Insurance Plans
Discounts on travel, amusement parks, concerts, movies, and more
Celebrations, events, and activities on site and supporting our communities
Recognition incentives for service and peer to peer recognition