Key Account Manager | Manufacturing Sales Experience Required | Carolinas
Key Account Manager | Carolinas Industrial Packaging Solutions | Remote, Territory-Based Preferred Location: Charlotte or Raleigh, North Carolina Territory: North Carolina and South Carolina Work Arrangement: Remote, with regular customer visits and regional travel About The Opportunity We are seeking an experienced Key Account Manager to lead business development and strategic account growth throughout North and South Carolina for an established global industrial packaging solutions company. This is a true hunter/farmer role, combining new business development with the management and expansion of established global customer relationships. The successful candidate will inherit relationships with existing global accounts while taking ownership of developing new local business, expanding regional relationships, and identifying additional opportunities within established customers. Our priority industries include automotive, energy, and data communications (Datacom). The position carries an overall revenue growth target of 15% for 2027, requiring a disciplined approach to prospecting, account development, pipeline management, and customer retention. This is an opportunity for an experienced, self-directed sales professional who enjoys building a territory, developing long-term customer relationships, and managing complex solutions from initial discussions through successful implementation.
What You'll Do
New Business Development and Account Growth Proactively identify, prospect, and develop new business opportunities throughout North and South Carolina. Build relationships with prospective customers in automotive, energy, and data communications. Manage and grow established global accounts, developing stronger relationships at the local and regional levels. Identify opportunities to expand existing customer relationships across additional facilities, business units, products, and services. Develop and execute territory and account plans supporting the 15% revenue growth target for 2027. Build relationships with decision-makers ranging from plant operations and engineering to procurement and executive leadership. Lead commercial discussions, including proposals, pricing, contract negotiations, and account reviews. Customer Solutions and Project Management Manage customer projects from initial opportunity identification through solution development, quotation, testing, implementation, and launch. Partner with engineering, operations, estimating, purchasing, quality, and customer service teams to deliver effective packaging solutions. Coordinate project timelines, customer specifications, deliverables, and internal resources. Identify and resolve challenges affecting project execution, customer satisfaction, and profitability. Maintain ownership of the customer relationship throughout implementation and ongoing account development. Territory and Commercial Management Develop and maintain a qualified pipeline of new business and account expansion opportunities. Maintain accurate customer information, sales activity, opportunities, and forecasts in the company's CRM system. Monitor revenue, profitability, gross margins, and account performance. Conduct regular customer business reviews and identify opportunities for continuous improvement. Collaborate with global account teams and regional operations to ensure consistent customer service and successful project delivery. Remote Work and Territory Ownership This is a remote, field-based position requiring a demonstrated history of successfully working independently. There is no established local office or company sales team in the Carolinas. The successful candidate must be comfortable taking full ownership of the territory while maintaining strong communication and collaboration with colleagues in other locations. We are specifically seeking someone who can demonstrate: A proven record of delivering measurable sales results while working remotely. Strong self-direction, personal accountability, and the motivation to develop business without daily supervision. The ability to independently organize prospecting, customer visits, project responsibilities, and follow-up activities. Consistent CRM management, forecasting, and communication with remote leadership and cross-functional teams. The initiative to build relationships and identify opportunities without relying on an established local support structure. Candidates should be prepared to discuss specific examples of successful remote territory management and independently generated business growth.
Qualifications
Required Minimum 5 years of experience in industrial B2B sales, key account management, or complex solution selling. Demonstrated success developing new business while retaining and expanding established customer accounts. Proven ability to work independently in a remote, territory-based sales position. Experience managing complex customer projects involving multiple stakeholders, departments, and implementation timelines. Strong commercial skills, including pricing, negotiation, account planning, forecasting, and profitability management. Ability to develop relationships with technical, operational, procurement, and executive-level decision-makers. Strong organizational, communication, presentation, and problem-solving skills. Proficiency with CRM systems and Microsoft Office applications. Ability and willingness to travel throughout North and South Carolina, including occasional overnight travel. Preferred Experience selling industrial packaging solutions, including corrugated, wood, foam, reusable packaging, protective packaging, or related services. Established customer relationships or business development experience within automotive, energy, or data communications. Experience supporting global or multi-site customer accounts. Familiarity with manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, or engineered industrial solutions. Salesforce experience. Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, Marketing, or a related field. Equivalent relevant experience will be considered. Project management training or certification. What Success Looks Like The successful Key Account Manager will establish a strong regional presence, develop a consistent pipeline of new opportunities, and strengthen existing global account relationships throughout the Carolinas. Performance will be measured through profitable revenue growth, new business development, customer retention, account expansion, pipeline development, and successful execution of customer projects. The primary commercial objective is 15% overall revenue growth in 2027, supported by a balanced approach to new customer acquisition and expansion of existing accounts.
Compensation
And Benefits Competitive base salary, $110,000-$110,000, annual bonus based on company metrics, and a comprehensive company benefits package. Compensation will be discussed during the interview process and will reflect the candidate's experience and qualifications.