Key Account Manager – Gas Turbine & Power Systems

Location: Manchester
Working Pattern: Office-based, with travel
Travel: UK & International
Start Date: ASAP

The Opportunity

We're working with a growing engineering and manufacturing business operating across the global energy market. Due to continued growth, they're looking to appoint a Key Account Manager to support the expansion of their sales team.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced KAM, Technical Sales professional or Applications Engineer to join a technically driven business working across the Gas Turbine, Power Generation, Oil & Gas and Nuclear sectors.

You'll be responsible for managing and developing existing customer relationships, identifying new commercial opportunities and supporting customers throughout the sales and engineering process.

The role combines account management, business development and technical commercial activity, making it ideal for someone who enjoys working closely with customers while also understanding the engineering behind the products they're selling.

The Role

Reporting to the Sales Director, you'll take responsibility for a defined portfolio of customers within the energy sector.

You'll be responsible for:

  • Managing and developing existing customer relationships.
  • Identifying new sales opportunities within existing and prospective accounts.
  • Developing sustainable revenue growth across your customer portfolio.
  • Building strong relationships with both technical and commercial stakeholders.
  • Understanding customer requirements and translating them into appropriate technical solutions.
  • Working closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, project management and supply chain teams.
  • Supporting customers throughout the sales and project lifecycle.
  • Attending customer meetings across the UK and internationally.
  • Supporting wider business development and marketing activity.
  • Contributing to business planning and commercial strategy.
  • Identifying opportunities for product improvement and cost reduction.
  • Maintaining accurate CRM records and providing regular sales forecasts.

Key Responsibilities

Account Management & Business Development

  • Achieve agreed order intake and revenue targets.
  • Develop and maintain strong relationships with key customers.
  • Identify opportunities to grow existing accounts.
  • Identify customers and markets that are not currently being serviced.
  • Develop targeted approaches to new customer acquisition.
  • Build sustainable sales opportunities across the energy sector.
  • Support the development of business plans and commercial strategies.
  • Obtain regular business forecasts from key customers.
  • Present forecasts and commercial updates to senior management.
  • Attend regular customer meetings in the UK and overseas.

Technical & Commercial Sales

You'll work closely with customers to understand technical requirements and develop commercially viable solutions.

This will include:

  • Reviewing customer specifications, drawings and international standards.
  • Understanding technical requirements and proposing suitable alternatives where appropriate.
  • Working with engineering teams to develop solutions.
  • Supporting the preparation of technical and commercial proposals.
  • Coordinating internal and external cost estimates.
  • Working with third-party suppliers where specialist expertise is required.
  • Producing bid cost sheets for approval.
  • Preparing detailed proposals that clearly communicate the company's offering.
  • Ensuring projects are commercially viable and costed appropriately.
  • Communicating technical and commercial requirements, risks and opportunities internally.

Customer & Internal Collaboration

You'll act as a key link between customers and the wider business, working closely with:

  • Engineering
  • Project Management
  • Manufacturing
  • Quality
  • Supply Chain
  • Sales
  • Senior Management
  • External suppliers

You'll be expected to build strong internal relationships while ensuring customer requirements are understood and delivered effectively.

Products & Technical Experience

Experience within the following areas would be highly relevant:

Essential

Acoustic and filtration equipment for gas turbines.

Desirable

Experience with:

  • Gas turbines
  • Pressure vessels
  • Heat exchangers, particularly shell & tube
  • Piping
  • Storage tanks
  • Modular skids
  • Acoustic systems
  • Filtration systems
  • Exhaust systems
  • Power generation equipment

The ideal candidate will have a good understanding of engineering principles and experience working with fabricated and integrated products.

What We're Looking For

We're open to candidates coming from a number of backgrounds, but you'll ideally have:

  • At least 3 years' experience in a Key Account Management, Technical Sales, Engineering or Applications position.
  • Experience within Gas Turbine, Power Generation, Oil & Gas or Nuclear-related sectors.
  • Experience working within an engineering or manufacturing environment.
  • A proven track record of successful account management.
  • Experience developing new business opportunities.
  • Strong commercial awareness.
  • The ability to understand technical customer requirements.
  • Experience working with complex engineered products.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • The ability to work with customers and stakeholders at all levels.
  • Experience managing multiple projects and deadlines.
  • A proactive and commercially focused approach.

The Ideal Person

We're looking for someone who is:

  • Commercially driven.
  • Highly organised.
  • Analytical and forward-thinking.
  • A strong problem solver.
  • Comfortable working independently.
  • A strong team player.
  • Confident dealing with technical and commercial stakeholders.
  • Comfortable working under pressure.
  • Deadline focused.
  • Flexible and adaptable.
  • Naturally curious about engineering and technical solutions.
  • Motivated to develop both themselves and the wider business.

You'll need to be able to balance commercial objectives with technical customer requirements, while maintaining a high level of customer service.

Qualifications

Essential

A qualification in:

  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Manufacturing

at Diploma level or equivalent.

Desirable

A degree-level qualification, ideally at 2:1 or above.

Additional Requirements

You will need to:

  • Hold a full UK driving licence.
  • Be currently based in the UK.
  • Be willing and able to travel throughout the UK and internationally.
  • Be comfortable travelling frequently when required.
  • Be able to work outside standard hours when necessary to support customer requirements.
  • Have strong English communication skills.

Working Environment

This is an office-based role when you're not travelling.

The position involves regular customer interaction and travel, including meetings within the UK and overseas.

The successful candidate will therefore need to be comfortable balancing time between the office, customers and international travel.

What's On Offer?

  • £50,000 – £60,000 basic salary
  • Company bonus/profit-share scheme
  • International customer exposure
  • UK & overseas travel
  • Opportunity to work across the global energy market
  • Technical and commercially challenging role
  • Opportunity to develop existing strategic accounts
  • Exposure to major engineering and energy projects
  • Join a growing engineering and manufacturing business
  • Opportunity to contribute to wider business development and growth

Interested?

If you're an experienced Key Account Manager, Technical Sales professional, Applications Engineer or commercially focused engineer with experience across Gas Turbines, Power Generation, Oil & Gas or Nuclear, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now or get in touch for a confidential conversation.