Sales Manager

Sales Manager

Our story goes back more than 150 years, to the chilly southern coast of Scandinavia. From our early success in Sweden and Denmark, we’ve grown into the world’s leading specialist producer of plant-based oils, employing more than 4,000 people all across the globe.

We work with our customers to make the products you love even better. The oils we produce go into making your chocolate extra-creamy or putting the crunch into your croissant. And it’s not just food — we work across industries to make products that are higher quality, healthier and better for the planet.

Everything we do is about Making Better Happen™.

About the role

AAK is seeking to appoint a National Account Manager to work as part of the UK & Ireland Industrial Sales Team. The successful candidate will play an important role in AAK’s journey to accelerate growth into the business by establishing new, and farming existing, customers and sales opportunities. You will be responsible for managing and growing a portfolio of food manufacturing customers using insights to create and execute against strategic account plans. Utilising our state-of-the-art Customer Innovation Centre in Hull you will coordinate and manage Customer Co-Development projects to deliver value for our Customers and AAK. This role will be home based but extensive travel around the country with regular visits to site Hull are expected.

Responsibilities

• Develop sales plans, activities, and campaigns in order to implement the organisation’s overall sales, market segment or product line strategies.
• Drive the implementation of Customer Innovation to customers in identifying, developing and implementing AAK solutions as part of overall business development.

• Independently analyse the market as well as competition and extrapolate strategic steps.
• Cooperate closely with other business functions, including Customer Innovation, Supply Chain and Inhouse/Customer Service sales team to achieve the optimum sales results and customer satisfaction.
• Support and develop the business plan, which will meet both personal and business goals for expanding customer base.
• Prepare reports on margin and volume targets according to procedures
• Ensure satisfactions of the client base
• Secure and monitor account agreements and contracts as necessary
• Highlight and manage any issues by using problem solving skills
• Propose and implement improvement initiatives within the Sales department
• Achieve results through effective sales management and Go To Market sales strategies

About you

The successful candidate will have the following skills and experience: -

• BSc degree or equivalent in a Business/ Sales/ Food Science/ Chemistry or related field.
• Previous experience in a similar senior role with proven track record of achieving sales targets.
• Previous experience selling to the Food Manufacturing sector is required, but any additional experience selling to Retail and Foodservice organisations would be desirable.
• Extensive knowledge of sales processes, tools and techniques.
• Strong communicator, able to build and maintain effective customer relationships.
• Experience identifying and engaging new and existing customers.
• Ability to close deals and reach final sales agreements.

In return AAK offer:

• 10% non-contribution pension.
• Bonus scheme.
• UK Healthcare scheme.
• 25 days holidays plus bank holidays.
• Group life cover.
• Group income protection scheme.
• Ride2Work scheme.

About AAK

Everything AAK does is about Making Better Happen™. We specialize in plant-based oils that are the value-adding ingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK’s offer is Customer Co-Development, combining our desire to understand what better means for each customer, with the unique flexibility of our production assets, and a deep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolate & Confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice and Personal Care. Our 4,000 employees support our close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centers, and with the support of more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with our headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen™ for more than 150 years.

AAK prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of the access to, admission, or treatment of students in its programs and activities, or in employment and application for employment.