Strategic Account Manager

A leading organisation within the logistics and supply chain sector is seeking an experienced, commercially astute Strategic Account Manager - FMCG, Supply Chain & Logistics, based in Sandton to manage and grow relationships with key strategic customers.

This is a senior, high-impact role responsible for the overall commercial performance, strategic relationship, operational governance and long-term growth of major customer accounts. The successful candidate will act as the key link between the customer and the business, ensuring operational excellence, commercial value, innovation and continuous improvement across the supply chain.

• Develop and execute strategic account plans aligned with customer and business objectives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior customer stakeholders and executive leadership.
• Take ownership of customer commercial performance, including revenue growth, margin management, profitability and contract performance.
• Lead Joint Business Planning, strategic account reviews and customer governance forums.
• Manage contract renewals, commercial negotiations, pricing reviews and cost-recovery initiatives.
• Oversee customer operational performance across warehousing, transport, distribution, inventory management and customer service.
• Monitor and manage key operational performance indicators, including OTIF/DIFOT, service levels, claims, inventory accuracy and cost to serve.
• Identify opportunities to optimise supply-chain performance and drive operational efficiencies.
• Identify and develop opportunities for business growth, cross‑selling, contract expansion and additional logistics or value‑added services.
• Build strong cross‑functional relationships across Operations, Supply Chain, Transport, Warehousing, Finance, Commercial, IT and Customer Service.
• Identify and manage commercial, operational and customer‑related risks.
• Drive innovation, continuous improvement and customer‑focused solutions.
• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Commerce, Engineering or a related field
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• A postgraduate qualification, MBA, APICS/CSCP, CPIM or Project Management qualification would be advantageous.
• Extensive experience in strategic account management, customer management, commercial management or senior client relationship management
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• Strong experience within FMCG, logistics, supply chain, warehousing, distribution, transport and/or 3PL environments
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• Proven experience managing large, complex and strategically important customer accounts.
• Demonstrated commercial and financial acumen, including experience in revenue growth, margin management, profitability, pricing and contract performance
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• Experience managing customer contracts, SLAs, KPIs, commercial negotiations and contract renewals.
• Strong understanding of end‑to‑end supply‑chain operations.
• Proven ability to engage and build relationships at executive and senior‑management level.
• Excellent negotiation, influencing, presentation and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Strong analytical, commercial and problem‑solving abilities.
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with SAP and Power BI would be advantageous.

The successful candidate will be a strategic and commercially driven leader with strong customer focus, executive presence and the ability to balance customer requirements with business profitability and strategic objectives.

You will be comfortable operating in a complex, cross‑functional environment and will have a proven ability to build long‑term partnerships, influence senior stakeholders and deliver measurable commercial and operational results.