Key Account Manager, Industrial Wood, Fargo

Key Account Manager

The Key Account Manager leads territory planning, customer engagement, and business development activities to drive sales growth and strengthen customer loyalty. This position identifies and pursues new business opportunities, develops compelling value-based solutions, negotiates commercial agreements, and coordinates internal resources to successfully onboard and support customers. The role serves as a trusted advisor to key accounts by conducting regular business reviews, identifying opportunities for operational improvement, and managing customer relationships at multiple stakeholder levels. Success requires strong sales acumen, financial analysis skills, project management capabilities, and the ability to travel extensively while working collaboratively across technical, commercial, and operational teams. Preferred candidates will have experience selling technical products and managing complex customer accounts in industrial or manufacturing environments.

Additional Details:

• This position is a field position and will be expected to travel at least 30% of the time, in the Fargo ND, St. Cloud MN Territory.
• This position is also eligible for bonus, commissions, long-term incentive compensation awards based on performance and subject to the terms of the Company's applicable plans.
• This position is eligible for health benefits, such as medical, dental and vision coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), disability coverage, security, retirement and saving benefits. Additional benefits include a generous time away from work package, including personal leave, paid parental leave, medical leave, vacation, and holidays.
• Job duties involve contact with customers, which may include minors; and access to cash and other payment methods, electronic equipment, personal information, store merchandise and other items of value, and such access may be supervised or unsupervised. The Company therefore has determined that a review of criminal history is necessary to protect the business and its operations and reputation and is necessary to protect the safety of the Company's customers, staff, employees, vendors, contractors, and the general public.

Responsibilities

1. Territory Planning & Account Engagement Planning

Build strong territory and account plans with multiple paths to success

• Complete key customer Relationship Maps with clear engagement objectives
• Identify both the Technical and Commercial actions required to deliver the plan, then lead the internal teams to execute on aligned priorities
• Capture competitive intelligence and build a plan to deliver superior value to customers

1. New Customer Acquisition & Grow At Existing Accounts

Advance new business opportunities through the selling cycle, and document progress in CRM.

• Develop a quantified value proposition that respond to customer's top priorities and differentiates Sherwin-Williams from other coatings suppliers.
• Establish clear product performance and service expectations that are agreed upon by both the customer and key internal stakeholders.
• Agree internally on commercial terms and present that proposal to business leaders using financial proformas that reflect all requested investment and key commercial terms, including pricing.
• Present target proposals in a compelling way that address all customer stakeholder's needs
• Negotiate then reach a mutually beneficial relationship and secure new business as agreed upon with leadership.
• If requested by the customer and agreed upon internally, capture the negotiated agreement in a contract and ensure that it received full internal approval prior to customer execution
• Organize cross-functional internal teams to smoothly onboard the customer

1. Strengthen Customer Loyalty

Strengthening existing customers relationships and loyalty through the following work

• Identify "value selling" opportunities to create growth and efficiency in our customers' operations and communicate these internally in a compelling way to both operations teams and senior management.
• Monitor the on-going relationship formally through Periodic Business Reviews that engage appropriate cross-functional customer and internal stakeholders to identify opportunities to strengthen our customer value proposition.
• Monitor the on-going relationship informally through regular touchpoints with all key stakeholders. Ensure that there is a Stakeholder Engagement Plan that connects the internal account support team with the appropriate customer contacts.
• Lead internal Account Reviews to ensure that the internal account team is positioned to provide value-added support to the customer.
• Manage risks and issues that may arise by stabilizing the customer and ensuring that a corrective action is completed.
• Execute pricing action as needed to respond to changing economic conditions.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age
• Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without needing sponsorship for employment work visa status now or in the future
• Must have a valid, unrestricted drivers license.
• Must have a high school diploma or GED
• Must be willing to travel as required by the position, including overnight travel
• Must have prior Sales Experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Have a bachelor's degree or higher in business
• Have experience selling technical products, e.g. coatings, chemicals, equipment
• Have experience managing large complex customer relationships
• Have Project Management experience
• Have Lean Six Sigma experience

About Us

At Sherwin-Williams, our purpose is to inspire and improve the world by coloring and protecting what matters. Our paints, coatings and innovative solutions make the places and spaces in our world brighter and stronger. Your skills, talent and passion make it possible to live this purpose, and for customers and our business to achieve great results. Sherwin-Williams is a place that takes its stability, growth and momentum and translates it to possibility for our people. Our people are behind the strength of our success, and we invest and support you in:

Life with rewards, benefits and the flexibility to enhance your health and well-being Career with opportunities to learn, develop new skills and grow your contribution Connection with an inclusive team and commitment to our own and broader communities It's all here for you... let's Create Your Possible

At Sherwin-Williams, part of our mission is to help our employees and their families live healthier, save smarter and feel better. This starts with a wide range of world-class benefits designed for you. From retirement to health care, from total well-being to your daily commuteit matters to us. A general description of benefits offered can be found at Click on "Candidates" to view benefit offerings that you may be eligible for if you are hired as a Sherwin-Williams employee.

Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case and will impact where actual compensation may fall within the stated wage range. The wage range listed for this role takes into account the wide range of factors considered in making compensation decisions including skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. The wage range, other compensation, and benefits information listed is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws including with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act where applicable.

Sherwin-Williams is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.? All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic information, creed, marital status or any other consideration prohibited by law or by contract.

As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, Sherwin-Williams requests state and local employment services delivery systems to provide priority referral of Protected Veterans.

Please be aware, Sherwin-Williams recruiting team members will never request a candidate to provide a payment, ask for financial information, or sensitive personal information like national identification numbers, date of birth, or bank account numbers during the application process.