Key Account Manager

Trade and Investment Team

Grade K SP1-4 £33,871 - £39,219 per annum

Please note:  It is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments.   incremental increases are applicable in most cases on an annual basis.

Funding for this post is anticipated to be until 2021 subject to a review in March 2019.

Based in Leeds City Centre

Are you interested in working for one of the North’s leading Investment promotion agencies and playing a fundamental role in transforming our economy? West Yorkshire Combined Authority is looking to recruit a Key Account Manager to engage with and provide support to a number of businesses across Leeds City Region. You will proactively deliver a programme of activity retaining inward investment and identifying expansion and growth opportunities across Leeds City Region. You will be focused on leading and developing strategic relationships at a senior level and the delivery of a professional approach to key account management. The successful candidate will be experienced at communicating with businesses at the highest level, with an ability to understand the strategic challenges and opportunities facing businesses across sectors. This is an opportunity to build a strong network of senior contacts and to develop your commercial experience working with regional businesses.

Key Account Manager will:

·         Work closely with client businesses to understand their operations and strategy, providing an analytical evaluation of their challenges and opportunities

·         Deliver bespoke support packages to key accounts, working in collaboration with stakeholders including local partners, DIT and business intermediaries

·         Undertake routine visits to key account company sites and hold meetings with senior decision makers, maintaining close relationships with key account businesses

·         Proactively engage with active projects with jobs growth and investment potential, progressing these opportunities to ensure the longevity of investment and future growth of the key account

·         Develop an excellent understanding of the city region’s economy and assets and of the regional business support framework particularly across skills and funding

·         Identify opportunities to initiate or increase exports where appropriate and connect key account businesses into the export support network

·         Identify opportunities for innovation partnerships and research & development opportunities and where relevant broker links to suitable academic research capabilities and programmes

·         Ensure accurate record keeping of investor interactions and progression of investment pipeline opportunities on the CRM database. Ensure DIT key account management procedures and reporting processes are followed

·         Ability to interpret company and financial data to identify risks and opportunities

Successful candidates will:

ü  Have strong experience working with businesses in a professional capacity

ü  Be able to interrogate and analyse company financial data

ü  Be confident and experienced communicating with senior business decision makers

ü  Have a strong understanding of the current political and economic climate, and the challenges facing businesses in Leeds City Region, including the potential impact of Brexit

ü  Be a proactive professional, able to prioritise your own workload and manage a portfolio of key accounts

ü  Be a commercially aware individual with a strong concern for excellence

For more information about the work of West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk

West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s aim is to attract people from diverse backgrounds building an inclusive culture, we welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, race, gender, religion or beliefs, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation. In return we can offer a flexible and encouraging environment that will allow you to achieve your best work/life balance and career goals; with a range of benefits including a local government career average pension scheme and a fully funded travel MCard (zone 1-5). We are committed to enabling working parents to progress their careers and will consider requests for flexible working patterns and job share arrangements.

To submit your application form online please visit

http://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/jobs/ by  Sunday 3rd June 2018

Please note – Previous applicants need not apply.

Given the high volumes of applications we receive we are unable to respond to all applicants, therefore if you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date please assume that on this occasion you have not been successful.

Candidate information will be retained by West Yorkshire Combined Authority  for 6 months unless you make a request for this to be deleted.