Key Account Manager

The Blum name stands for quality, innovation, and great customer service. We manufacture hardware that makes working in the kitchen easier. Each of our products has been designed carefully, with the customer experience in mind, and research to back them up. We specialize in engineering and manufacturing concealed hinges, drawer systems and systems for lift-up doors. From our touch-to-open technology to the soft-closing door or drawer, our hardware helps modernize the kitchen experience.

It is not just a job; it is a way of life. We are here to move your ideas forward.

We produce the highest quality products in our industry from start to finish, and every single employee plays a role in that. At Blum, we work in teams and collaborate with colleagues within our family-oriented culture. In our rewarding work environment, we learn something new every day. Join us and grow with us!

The Opportunity

The Key Account Manager - Richelieu Hardware (RIC) role will be a transformational leader who sets high-performing expectations and ensures follow through on commitments made to the organization, building followership with transparency, integrity, and authenticity. This position has ownership of the full Blum product portfolio within the US & Canada for RIC.

This role requires strong strategic account management and leadership skills to develop and execute short and long-term plans that will drive mutual growth for Blum and RIC. Responsible for directing all aspects of daily operations, the growth plan, and help set the future vision with this distribution partner.

An elevated level of coordination & business mindset is required to successfully manage one of our largest distribution partners. Developing strong relationships across all levels of Senior Management, Inside Sales, Marketing, Inventory Planning, Field Sales, Finance, and Supply Chain are necessary to execute objectives successfully for Blum US & Blum Canada.

Job Responsibilities

• Build strategic relationships across both corporate and regional operations management levels that enables integrated partnerships. These strategic relationships must pave the way for the organizations to work well together.
• Leverage and lead others in using forward looking product category insights to develop strategies that will drive predictable and sustainable growth.
• Leverage data and relationships to identify both short- and long-range risks and opportunities.
• Continuous development of sales skills, fundamentals, business insights, and 4 P's (product, pricing, placement, promotion).
• Develop and implement specific business initiatives that allow for the effective and efficient execution of Blum's broader organizational strategies through collaboration between Blum Canada, Blum Austria, & Blum US.
• Ensure the WHY BLUM Value Proposition is understood within our distribution partners' businesses by shaping the Company's strategy/message via communication to key customers.
• Implement Strategic Planning, joint revenue-generation solutions, and sales support programs.
• Ensure that Blum management is engaged and has a strategic relationship with key Executive leaders.
• Provide strategic oversight on changing/emerging trends that have an impact on the larger Blum business.
• Collaborate with Regional Managers within Blum US & Blum Canada to help drive all weekly, monthly, and quarterly sales and marketing initiatives to assure alignment and proper activation across all territories.
• Grow Blum's sales revenue through best-in-class fundamentals and execution.
• Develop and implement long-range omnichannel growth plans that are coordinated with RIC longer range objectives for our categories.
• Understand key business metrics for both companies to be able to deliver on joint business plan targets.
• Utilize dashboards (Power BI & CRM) to track progress against key metrics & execute at the highest level within both organizations.
• Build strong peer to peer leadership with Blum sales, marketing, product management, finance, and supply chain to drive full cross functional execution and delivery against our strategy and tactical initiatives to deliver it.
• Lead category management expertise with RIC as it relates to product assortments, marketing, and business trends in the Blum Product Portfolio.
• Communicate with all levels of the Blum organization, business partners, and customers to research marketplace trends and initiate marketing plans by:
• Facilitating regular communication within the Blum organization to ensure that leadership is up to date on current RIC initiatives and providing a platform to address any ideas.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business, Marketing, Sales or a related discipline.
• 8 or more years of experience in managing $100 million dollar accounts, preferably in the hardware goods industry.
• Effective communication and negotiation skills.
• Analytical skills, including proficiency in using data analysis tools and software.
• 'Expert' Sales CRM user. Should be able to configure new dashboards/reports.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to influence.
• Bilingual in French is an asset.
• Be abreast with market trends and best industry practices.
• Be a member of relevant associations and boards like NBMDA.
• Coordinating with the Company's support departments on customer administrative items including but not limited to contracts, payments, pricing, collection, system access and administration, display maintenance, and marketing activation.
• Collaborating with internal partners to clearly define customer projects and ensuring that projects have a strong business case and defined customer benefit.
• Prepare and Lead Quarterly and Annual Business Reviews, customer meetings, and other events as needed.
• Utilize analytics to help streamline major processes to improve cost to serve - customer experience.
• Travel 20-25% (Domestic and International).

Blum USA believes in offering their employees an Excellent Benefits Package that includes

• Salaried position
• Possible Bonus opportunities
• Health (Medical, Vision and Dental)
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Flexible spending account to cover eligible out of pocket health, dental and vision expenses.
• Three weeks of vacation starting your second year on the job
• Term life insurance equal to annual salary at no cost to employee
• Company Vehicle (Fuel, Insurance, Maintenance Included)
• And more!