Strategic Accounts Manager

Job Overview

The role is centered around customer relationship management, focusing on maintaining and strategically expanding relationships with existing customers. The role involves both a strategic and operational component, with an emphasis on ensuring that customers’ needs are met and that their offerings evolve alongside the company’s products.

Language Skills

Fluency in both German and English is necessary, which suggests that the role involves dealing with both local and international clients, requiring excellent communication skills in both languages.

Willingness to Travel 

The role requires travel within Germany, implying that the candidate should be prepared for regular travel to meet with clients.

Overall Evaluation

This position is well-suited for a seasoned sales or account management professional with a strong background in the IT sector. The ideal candidate should have a strategic mindset, excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to work collaboratively across various departments. The role also demands a blend of technical knowledge and business acumen, with a significant emphasis on customer relationship management and strategic expansion. The requirement for language skills and travel suggests that the role may involve a significant amount of direct customer interaction, both in-person and via digital means.

• Understanding Customer Needs: The role demands a deep understanding of customer requirements, likely necessitating strong listening skills, empathy, and the ability to translate customer needs into actionable plans.
• Collaboration with Distribution and Sales: Working closely with distribution channels on quoting and tracking offers implies a need for strong organizational skills and an understanding of the sales process.
• Account Plan Management: Developing and managing account plans is critical to maximizing customer potential, suggesting that the role requires strategic thinking and the ability to foresee long-term opportunities.
• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Collaboration across different departments within the customer’s organization indicates the need for excellent communication skills and the ability to navigate complex organizational structures.
• Customer Support: Supporting customers at various management levels, including technical problem-solving, suggests that the role may require a technical background or at least the ability to understand and communicate complex technical issues.
• Timely Delivery of Products/Services: Ensuring the timely offering of products/services indicates that the role includes project management elements, requiring good time management and coordination skills.
• Competitive Analysis: Understanding the competitive landscape within customers' environments and developing strategies to respond implies analytical skills and a deep knowledge of the industry.
• CRM Tracking: Tracking activities in CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software, particularly Salesforce, highlights the need for familiarity with these tools and a data-driven approach to account management.

• Strategic Customer Acquisition and Development: The role requires experience in acquiring and nurturing strategic customer relationships, indicating that the candidate should have a proven track record in this area.
• Professional Experience: With at least 5 years of experience in sales or account management of IT products, the candidate should have a solid background in the industry, capable of handling the complexities of IT sales.
• Customer Interaction at All Levels: The job requires experience in dealing with customers at all management levels, suggesting the need for a candidate with strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Negotiation Skills: Strong negotiation skills are essential, indicating that the role involves high-stakes discussions where securing favorable terms is key.
• Salesforce Proficiency: Good knowledge of Salesforce is required, reflecting the importance of CRM in managing customer relationships and tracking sales activities.