Key Account Manager

Company Overview

Wherever you work and whatever role you fill, when you represent the Bridgestone name you know that you are a valued teammate who is part of our larger mission to "Serve Society with Superior Quality." We start by offering each teammate more than just a salary. We provide formal training, competitive performance incentives, paid vacation and holidays, healthcare packages for full-time and part-time employees, and a 401k plan to help build your future.

We believe people can only provide superior service and quality to others when they are allowed to bring their whole selves to work and know they are supported. We believe in championing all perspectives, individuals and teams because we understand the importance of seeing the world and our business through many different lenses. We are building a team as diverse as the world we serve. So, show us what you're made of. Show us the smart stuff, the tough stuff, the bold, beautiful and brave stuff. Because who you are is what we need.

Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee and is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation headquartered in Japan. Bridgestone Americas and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand products to address the needs of a broad range of customers and industries.

Job Category

Sales & Marketing

Position Summary

The Key Account Manager will be tasked with managing large volume accounts, nurturing meaningful relationships with key stakeholders, and driving significant progress. You will be responsible for developing sales merchandising plans, coordinating project strategies to growth and leveraging the relationship with both your internal teams and key accounts to maximize mutually beneficial profits.

** This position has the option to be a remote opportunity **

Responsibilities

In this role, you will develop and maintain strategic long-term trusting relationships with high volume customers to accomplish growth with short and long-term company objectives. You will collaborate with key contacts to cultivate profitable relationships.

This position requires strong operational skills with clear tactical communication to work cross functionally with interdepartmental teams while also maintaining a best-in-class level of support for the customer.

• Design and implement a strategic business plan that expands the partnership.

• Ability to read customers cues and maneuver thru conversations in a professional and collaborative manner.

• Resolve key customer issues and opportunities by offering solution-based alternatives.

• Understand the key accounts business thoroughly as if it was your own.

• Drive results for fast paced environments with quick turnarounds.

• Create tracking of financial metric of key accounts to maintain communicate and awareness on progress.

• Anticipate key account changes and improvements.

• Execute on projects with expected follow up both to key accounts and internal teams.

• Ability to professionally articulate to top management critical or pressing items when needed.

• Plan and structure meetings thoroughly and anticipate need before asked.

• Manage communications between key customers and internal teams.

• Lead collaborative cross-functional teams including product development, supply, forecasting, pricing, marketing, customer service, logistics, and finance.

• Collaborate with key accounts regional team to identify and grow opportunities within a territory.

• Strong analytical skills required to track market trends, provide detailed forecasting strategies, and influence merchandising decisions at customer locations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required or equivalent industry experience.

• Proven experience of 6+ years in sales with recent role as a Key Account Manager or relevant role in the Tire Industry including 3-5 years management or direct/indirect leadership experience.

• Proven track record in sales and ability to meet/exceed targets.

• Thorough understanding of market trends, industry standards, and key business indicators in the tire industry.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

• Strong negotiation and decision-making skills with the ability to close deals.

• Expert in all Microsoft Office applications.

• A proven ability to manage multiple projects while paying strict attention to detail.

• Ability to predict and understand customer needs, offering them appropriate solutions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Existing experience with CRM software - Salesforce, data analytics, etc.

• Executive communication and presentation skills experience

• Passionate about driving results.

• Ability to think quick on their feet and multitask.

Bridgestone is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. It is our policy to consider for employment all individuals regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Employment Eligibility

If hired, a Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification must be completed at the start of employment. Temporary work authorization or the need for sponsorship may disqualify you from employment.