Job Description:

We’re working with an established and growing business within the material handling and forklift sector, who are looking to appoint an experienced Key Account Manager to manage and develop relationships with a portfolio of major customers across the UK.

We are looking for someone with a proven background in plant machinery, forklift or material handling equipment hire, with experience covering both short-term and long-term rental contracts.

This is a commercially focused, field-based role where you’ll take ownership of key customer accounts, develop existing relationships and identify opportunities to increase revenue through additional equipment hire and tailored fleet solutions.

You will need a strong understanding of the machinery hire market, including the differences between short-term and long-term hire arrangements, the hire process and the commercial opportunities within existing customer accounts.

Please note: Previous experience in both short-term and long-term machinery hire is essential (This is not a general B2B sales role so candidates without a machinery hire background will not be suitable)


As Key Account Manager, you will:

• Manage and develop relationships with a portfolio of key business customers.
• Act as the primary commercial contact for major accounts.
• Visit customers regularly across their sites to understand their operational requirements.
• Identify opportunities to grow existing accounts and develop new revenue streams.
• Discuss customers' forklift, warehouse and material-handling requirements.
• Identify opportunities for both short-term and long-term machinery hire.
• Manage and develop hire agreements, fleet requirements and ongoing rental contracts.
• Prepare quotations, proposals and tailored commercial solutions.
• Negotiate pricing, hire rates and commercial agreements through to completion.
• Work closely with internal sales, service and engineering teams to deliver excellent customer service.
• Identify opportunities for additional equipment, servicing, fleet solutions and associated products.
• Monitor account performance, pipeline and upcoming customer requirements.
• Build long-term relationships with key decision-makers and stakeholders.
• Keep up to date with developments in the material-handling market, including the growing demand for electric equipment.

Experience you will have:

• Essential: Previous experience within machinery, plant or forklift hire, with a proven understanding of both short-term and long-term hire contracts.
• Experience in Key Account Management, Business Development or B2B Sales within the hire industry.
• A strong understanding of machinery rental, hire agreements, fleet requirements and commercial hire arrangements.
• Experience within forklifts, material handling, plant, machinery or industrial equipment.
• A proven track record of growing and retaining customer accounts.
• Strong negotiation and commercial skills, with the ability to identify revenue opportunities.
• Confidence dealing with senior stakeholders and decision-makers within large organisations.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
• The confidence to conduct face-to-face meetings with customers at operational sites.
• A consultative approach to sales, with the ability to understand customer requirements and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Strong organisation and account-management skills.
• A full UK driving licence.

What's on Offer:

• £35,000-£40,000 basic salary.
• £50,000–£60,000 OTE.
• Company car / car allowance.
• Company benefits package.
• The opportunity to work with major UK businesses.
• A genuinely autonomous field-based role.
• Long-term career development within an established business.

If you're an experienced Key Account Manager or Business Development professional with a background in short-term and long-term machinery hire, looking for a role where you can take ownership of major accounts and have a direct impact on revenue growth, we'd like to hear from you.
If this sounds of interest, please contact Celi on (phone number removed) or apply today.