Strategic Account Manager

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Kentucky, +2 more states.

📋 Description

• Lead the strategic management of accounts for designated Protective Packaging clients.

• Build and nurture relationships with key customer stakeholders, including those in procurement, engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, and executive leadership.

• Take ownership of account strategies, growth initiatives, profitability, customer satisfaction, and execution across Sonoco locations.

• Prepare and oversee strategic account plans, opportunity pipelines, pricing strategies, revenue and margin targets, competitive positioning, and long-term growth strategies.

• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration with sales, operations, engineering, quality, customer service, finance, product development, and division leadership teams.

• Keep track of market trends and assess customer potential, sales performance, forecasts, and volume trends.

• Coordinate pricing, contracts, bidding processes, specifications, quality, service, and commercial commitments.

• Lead projects focused on customer value which encompass packaging performance, damage mitigation, freight and logistics efficiency, labor productivity, material optimization, SKU rationalization, quality enhancement, and manufacturing flow improvement.

• Identify protective packaging solutions, new applications, material alternatives, productivity enhancements, sustainability improvements, and broadened product-platform utilization.

• Address customer complaints, quality issues, service-related concerns, and unresolved action items.

• Coordinate activities across Sonoco businesses and functional teams, uncover cross-selling opportunities, and present a unified approach to customers.

• Manage accounts receivable and days sales outstanding in accordance with customer agreement terms.

• Conduct regular business reviews with assigned accounts.

• Participate in industry events and customer-facing forums.

• Report to the Senior Director of Protective Packaging & Partitions.

⛳️ Requirements

• A bachelor's degree is required.

• 7–10+ years of experience in commercial, strategic account management, business development, technical sales, or account leadership within protective packaging, industrial packaging, engineered materials, appliances, HVAC, durable goods, electronics, or similar manufacturing sectors.

• Prior experience in protective packaging is essential.

• Direct experience with appliance, HVAC, electronics, durable goods, or industrial manufacturing OEMs is highly preferred.

• Proven ability to sell value-based solutions, quantify customer ROI, and articulate the business impact of packaging enhancements.

• Experience managing intricate, multi-location customer relationships and collaborating across functions with manufacturing, engineering, quality, finance, supply chain, and executive stakeholders.

• Strong analytical capabilities and the ability to develop and quantify value.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

• Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, including Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options.

• 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions.

• Wellbeing tools and resources to support your overall health, including an Employee Assistance Program that offers a variety of services.

• Paid time off and holidays.

• Company-paid and voluntary employee-paid insurance plans, which include life, personal accident, and disability insurance.

• Tuition reimbursement.

• 12.5% annual target bonus.