Account Manager - Northern (618)

Job Description/Functions

The Company

Located in the picturesque, rural setting of East Sussex, Nikwax is a highly successful outdoor business that is run by a close-knit and friendly team of employees, whom we are proud to call Partners.

Nikwax Ltd. develops care products and material systems that improve performance and extend the life of clothing, footwear and equipment whilst minimising environmental impact with clean chemistry. We develop and manufacture in-house, from our headquarters in Wadhurst, East Sussex. Nikwax are the only outdoor company to have won the Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development and all operations have been carbon balanced since the company was founded in 1977. We have an ongoing dedication to minimising our impact on the environment and a hardworking team of people to help develop the business.

We highly value our employees, whom we are proud to call Partners, and this is an exciting opportunity to join our company.

The Role 

You will be responsible for increasing overall sales and margins with existing and new customer accounts, by building relationships with buyers and distributors that promote the understanding of how our products and services can make their businesses more profitable. Your territory will cover the Midlands and Northern parts of the UK, including Scotland.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Increasing overall sales and margins with your existing and new customer accounts, by building relationships and partnerships with buyers and strengthening brand loyalty, across national and regional accounts, as well as smaller territory-based retailers, plus Distributors and Wholesalers, whilst delivering monthly, quarterly and yearly targets
• Developing an in-depth understanding of your customer accounts and promoting the understanding of how our brand, products and marketing materials, plus joint sell-through plans, can make buyers' businesses more profitable
• Working collaboratively with your customers and our marketing team, to provide the best and consistent physical and online merchandising solutions to optimise sales and brand awareness
• Training sales staff (either with in-store training clinics or via online facilities) within your own accounts or within selected national accounts with a view to increasing the product knowledge and selling ability of the sales staff
• Working effectively remotely and independently to efficiently prioritise time to influence sales growth and customer contact
• Utilising Nikwax IT systems including CRM system
• Reporting to the Commercial Director with feedback on sales performance, forecasts, customers, competitors and general market trends
• Analysing customer account sales data to identify problem areas or opportunities and developing strategies to address them, including developing joint sell-through plans with customers
• Planning and executing regular visits to relevant buying contacts and stores of your existing and new customer accounts in the north of England territories to undertake the above functions. Attending Nikwax trade and consumer events, plus customer local community events, where necessary

The successful candidate will be home based but will be expected to spend a significant amount of their working time away from home on business. Depending on your home location this may involve a sizable number of overnight stays.

We Are Looking for an Individual Who

• Has proven ability of territory sales management experience selling technical outdoor and/or sports gear to Northern retailers; with a history of delivering sales growth, acquiring new accounts and maximising retail display space.
• Can prove a good working knowledge of IT and CRM systems plus Microsoft Office skills – particularly in Excel and spreadsheet analysis
• Shares our passion about being active outdoors, is energetic, tenacious and curious, with a desire for continuous learning and the ambition to progress in Nikwax
• Has excellent communication and presentation skills and works well independently or in a team
• Is proactive in identifying customer needs and opportunities, developing valued-based solutions and taking action
• Has a current full driving license.

The successful applicant will be required to attend our offices in Wadhurst, East Sussex on a regular basis. A company car will be provided.

The Rewards

• Competitive benefits and rewards including pension, health cash plan, sales bonus scheme and profit related bonus scheme
• Additional flexible benefits options including boosted pension contributions, extra holiday or assistance with childcare costs
• Annual leave starting at 27 days rising with service, plus public holidays
• Friendly and informal environment with monthly team lunches and quarterly events
• Be part of an employee-owned business where you can clearly see the effect of your efforts

• Contribute to an award-winning international company with values that you can believe in.

We are passionate and committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer, encouraging different perspectives and experiences to make us a more innovative and creative workplace.

Candidates must be able to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK.

Previous applicants need not apply.

Our applicant privacy policy is here: https://www.nikwax.com/download/JobApplicantPrivacyNotice_20180511.pdf