Regional Key Account Manager East

**Key Account Manager East**/ **Gestionnaire de comptes clés - Est**

**(Quebec)**

**About the job **(Job description in French below)**

**Do you have the appetite to Grow Your Magic?**

Consumers everywhere are increasingly conscious of the quality of the food they eat. Puratos develops, produces and distributes a unique range of ingredients for bakers, pastry-chefs and chocolatiers who demand the very highest quality.

Founded in Belgium in 1919, Puratos is growing rapidly with over 9000 employees in 75 countries, with a consolidated turnover of over €2 billion. Our passion for innovation, pioneering spirit and core values continue to propel our global ambitions. This coupled with our commitment to our communities is what makes working at Puratos so magical.
- **_Overview_**
- Job Title: Key Account Manager, East
- Department: Sales & Demonstration
- Direct Manager: Regional Sales Manager
- Direct Subordinates: N/A
- Location: Quebec (Home office)

**_II. _**_Mission_**:
**The KAM East will plan and lead sales activities in the market, taking into account the company’s strategy and local market requirements. In close collaboration with Marketing, Group R&D and Business Units, he/she will help develop the position of Puratos Canada as the reliable partner in innovation in the bakery, patisserie and chocolate market, enabling the company to outpace the market and achieved its growth targets.**:
**_Mandate_**:

- Comply with all local and national food safety and legal requirements.
- Perform all job responsibilities under the strictest guidelines of food safety standards.

**_III. _**_Key tasks_**:
**_ _**Customer management**
- Maximize the sales and profit growth potential by developing and implementing effective and creative sales strategies and plans.
- Leads and coordinate projects with all key stakeholders
- Develop and execute joint business plans with customers to deliver profitable growth.
- Communicate and consistently monitor progress of the execution of the key account strategies amongst trade customers with internal and external stakeholders.
- Prepare action plans for effective search of sales leads and prospects; Use CRM for leads and projects on a daily basis.
- Maintain close contact with all assigned customers to ensure proper follow up of customer complaints and satisfactory resolution.
- Understand the customers’ manufacturing operation systems, processes and policies in order to use their language for sales discussion.
- Define proper communication and follow up on service level agreements
- Work closely with product development and marketing personnel to develop new products and concepts.

**Sales Planning**
- Set up account plan and forecast
- Execute business reviews (internal and external) as planned

**Technical Support**
- Present and implement innovations and tailor-made solutions, based on market trends and/or specific customer demands
- Ensure proactive support and fast reactive troubleshooting and technical problem solving at customers.

**Budget management**
- Ensure proper execution and tracking of the assigned accounts through close analysis of sales activities to ensure annual budget is achieved and exceeded.
- Control discretionary expenses to meet company profit guidelines.

**Relationship and teamwork**
- Understand how to facilitate team processes and appreciate the big picture.
- Maintain open communication with team members and other departments.
- Accept responsibilities with accountability and follow up.
- Display confidence in areas of personal character, commitment, organizational and selling skills, and work habits.
- Adhere to all company procedures, policies and business ethics.

**_IV. _**_Back ups_**:

- Reporting Manager
- Key Account Manager (team member)
- Customer Service Representatives

**_V. Key contacts_**:

- Customers
- Reporting Manager
- Other team members within Puratos

**_VI. Requirements_**:

- Education
- University degree in commerce or food science.
- Experience
- Minimum 5-10 years of proven successful sales track record.
- Experience in the food industry (baking, ingredients), B2B an asset
- Understanding of retail and food service markets.
- Skills
- Bilingual in French and English is a must for this role
- Capacity to define and articulate a market and a pricing strategy
- Sales negotiation and presentation skills
- Basic knowledge of sales budgeting process, marketing techniques, production and distribution processes.
- Able to think logically around issues & tasks and provide solutions.
- Strong understanding of market dynamics and customer relationship management.
- Proficient in MS Office.
- Excellent communicator with strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Attitude
- Committed to adhere to company values
- Collaboration
- Integrity
- Quality
- Passion
- Courage
- Vision
- Competencies
- Creative and passionate about sales and inspirational new concepts
- Strategic mind-set and action-oriented/hands-on problem-s