Account Manager - Columbia, SC (Shakespeare)

Account Manager - Columbia, SC

Position Summary

Reporting to the Business Director - Polymers & Filaments, the Account Manager’s primary responsibility is to maintain and develop relationships with new and existing customers for Shakespeare’s Polymer and Filament accounts. The Account Manager strives to increase sales to maximize profitability and identify new product application opportunities. This position is responsible for having a deep understanding of customer needs and creating value with the customer by providing expert on Shakespeare product. The Account Manager is expected to consistently provide excellent customer service and represent the customer’s needs within the organization to ensure customer satisfaction and sales growth. This position reports directly to the Director of Polymers and Filaments and interacts with Supply Chain, Scheduling, Production, R&D, Quality Control and Shipping to assure customer expectations are met.

Essential Functions

• Manage customer experience from initial order to fulfillment through interactions within the company
• Responsible as main contact for designated client communications
• Provide product recommendations and quotations
• Manage product offering to optimize profitability
• Provide volume and sales forecasts (weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly)
• Coordinate efforts in supply chain, production, and shipping to meet customer needs and business objectives
• Ensure customer issues are dealt with promptly and efficiently
• Maintain a pipeline database of current viable new business opportunities and status.
• Preparation of the annual Business Plan for the product line.
• Identify new product application opportunities.         

Secondary Functions

• Provide regular input and reporting on all account activity to management, including status and call reports, forecasting and new business goals
• Issue required documentation for customer issues, product changes, and sample requests

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree (Materials, Chemical, or Mechanical Engineering preferred)
• A minimum of 5 years of Product or Account Management experience.  A background in man-made fiber extrusion or nylon engineered polymers sales is preferred
• Extremely detail oriented, results driven, persistent and a skilled negotiator
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite
• Ability to travel up to 50% (some overnight)

Specifics:

• Competitive salary and bonus structure
• Full benefits package
• 401K with match
• Strong vacation and corporate holiday policy