This is a position that’d suit a graduate who has a Food Science degree or similar and is ready to take their first step in a successful sales career.
Sound like you?
We’re looking for a Graduate Account Manager for a global company that supplies food ingredients into food and drink manufacturers. You’d be a key part of the UK Food team, managing a whole host of small to medium sized customers – from phone calls to emails to video calls, you’ll build relationships with your customers and in time, you’ll be able to give them solutions to their requirements by learning all about the range of ingredients that you’ll have to offer. Plenty of these can’t be understood overnight, and that’s the beauty of this – it takes time to really understand the sector and gain real credibility, hence the need for you to see this as a long-term career move! Naturally, being a global company, you’ll have access to some of the best possible training and your Food Science degree will act as a great basis to get you started.
Along with the customer management side, you’ll become proficient at using the company’s CRM system, you’ll work closely with the marketing team in rolling out promotions, you’ll identify opportunities to win new business and you’ll regularly speak to your external sales and technical colleagues to ensure you’re coordinated in giving customers what they need.
There’s a path, once you’ve got to grips with the portfolio and proven yourself in this role, to take a step up into an External Account Manager position in the next few years. At that point, you’ll take on bigger customers, have more responsibility and have more facetime with your customer base, being seen as an expert in your field. From there, there's opportunities to progress further up the chain in the commercial team, step into a different function or even move abroad - the possibilities with a business this size are huge.
So what are we looking for?
- Either you're a graduate just finishing university, or you've graduated in the past few years and had a taster for sales
- A degree in something related to food, or something scientific, is needed if you don't have sales experience; if you've got sales experience, there's more flexiblity on that
- A confident manner with top notch communication skills is absolutely essential, though
- A driving licence is needed – whilst the majority of your relationships won’t be built face to face initially, you’ll grow into that side and you’ll need a driving licence for customer visits
Interested in forging a career with a global player in the food industry? Apply now and we’ll tell you more.