Senior Strategic Key Account Manager

Company presentation - NEW BALANCE

Who We Are

Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today.

The Strategic Key Account Manager will lead and develop long term sustainable relationships with one of our Global Strategic Partners, to drive profitable and sustainable market share growth within footwear in both Lifestyle and Performance. You will be responsible for managing a team and providing

strategic insight as well as a hands on approach to upselling New Balance products. You will also be responsible for interpreting and executing the New Balance Global plan for JD in Europe for Footwear.

We offer hybrid working and a flexibility to working hours to accommodate for a healthy work life balance. You will be required to travel to sites across UK and Europe on a regular basis.

Job Description

JOB MISSION:

The Strategic Key Account Manager will lead and develop long term sustainable relationships with one of our Global Strategic Partners. The successful candidate will drive profitable and sustainable market share growth within footwear across our Lifestyle and Performance categories. Leading a team we are looking for a strong leader who will drive and deliver targets as one team, providing strategic insight and a hands on approach to upselling New Balance products. You will interpret and implement the New Balance Global plan for JD in Europe for footwear.

Based in our EMEA Head Office in Warrington we offer hybrid working and flexible working hours to accommodate for a healthy work life balance. Full UK Driving License is required for this role as there will be regular travel across the UK and Europe.

Major Accountabilities

• Represent the assigned key account internally as an ambassador towards all aspects of business
• Successfully manage a team
• Responsible for continuing to evolve the account strategies, formalising plans in collaboration with sales planning and GBU sales manager
• Achieve or exceed all footwear sales targets in line with the overall strategy
• Be creative in fast fashion and the ability to recognise the younger end-consumer
• Ensure up to date and in-depth product knowledge
• Provide realistic plans and forecasts on account performance across short, medium and long-term periods
• Monitor sell-out and the order book continuously and competent using excel
• Work closely with sales planning to support product forecasting monthly and seasonally
• Analyse weekly sell through data and communicate to key stakeholders
• Develop action plans to achieve monthly order book conversion and regular occurring trade catch ups with key account
• Inventory management and FTS replenishment
• Work closely with customer services/finance and logistics to manage revenue responsibility
• Provide structured key account feedback on our product and on competitor product innovations
• Be a leader for the wider account and sales team and lead the Footwear sales team working across the account
• Spend regular time with key account at their headquarters
• Support order reconciliation, price checks and order book phasing
• Work closely with internal credit control department
• Support forecasting the monthly orderbook and conversion on a weekly basis
  
  

Profile

Requirements For Success

• Educated to degree level, ideally related to sports/fashion or relevant industry experience
• Previous experience with large key accounts in a similar environment across EMEA
• Previous experience of line managing is required
• In depth understanding on UK & EU Sports Apparel market
• Strong understanding of SMU process and the ability to work cross functionally to develop account specific SMU programs
• Excellent Communication skills, working cross functionally to ensure successful buy in throughout the organisation
• Highly organised and deadline orientation to ensure successful delivery tasks on time
• Proactive approach to communicating with internal and external stakeholders
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Knowledge of local and regional markets' consumers, economic environment and commercial needs
• Previous sales experience ideally within the sport / fashion sector
• Great teammate