Key Account Manager

Job Purpose

The Key Account Manager is responsible for identifying, developing, and winning new business opportunities within the Protective Coatings market. This role has a strong “hunter” focus, targeting new customers, projects, and segments, while expanding Akzo Nobel’s footprint with strategic and high‑potential accounts. The role requires a high level of commercial drive, market knowledge, and the ability to convert opportunities into sustainable and profitable business.

• Proactively identify, target, and develop new customers and business opportunities in assigned industries and territories.
• Hunt and secure new projects, maintenance opportunities, and first-time wins with new or underpenetrated customers.
• Build and execute account entry strategies to break into new key accounts and decision‑maker networks.
• Develop and maintain a strong pipeline of new business opportunities in CRM.

• Lead the full sales cycle from opportunity identification through negotiation, closing, and handover.
• Prepare and deliver value‑based proposals aligned with customer needs and Akzo Nobel solutions.
• Conduct commercial negotiations within approved authority and align pricing, terms, and conditions with management when required.
• Achieve and exceed agreed sales, margin, and growth targets.

• Build long‑term relationships with key decision‑makers, influencers, EPCs, contractors, and asset owners.
• Act as the primary commercial contact for assigned customers during opportunity development and execution.
• Coordinate internal resources (Technical Service, Customer Service, Supply Chain, Specification, and Marketing) to support winning new business.

• Monitor market trends, customer strategies, competitor activity, and project pipelines.
• Provide structured feedback to management on market developments, risks, and growth opportunities.
• Support development of go‑to‑market strategies for targeted segments and industries.

• Maintain accurate documentation of opportunities, forecasts, and activities in CRM.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, pricing governance, contracts, and HSE standards.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Marketing, or related discipline.
• Minimum 5–8 years of proven B2B sales experience, ideally in protective coatings, paints, industrial products, or project‑based industries.
• Demonstrated track record in hunting new business, opening new accounts, and winning first‑time projects.
• Experience operating in competitive, project‑driven, or Oil & Gas / Industrial / Infrastructure environments is highly preferred.
• Strong hunter mentality with high energy, resilience, and results orientation.
• Excellent commercial, negotiation, and closing skills.
• Ability to identify decision‑makers and influence stakeholders at multiple levels.
• Strong communication and presentation skills in English (Arabic is an advantage).
• Good understanding of CRM tools, forecasting, and opportunity management.
• Ability to work cross‑functionally and manage multiple opportunities in parallel.

At Akzo Nobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best selves. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for our TA and hiring managers to be mindful of them and take corrective actions when applicable.

In our organization, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability.