Key Account Manager
Are you a driven and ambitious Key Account Manager who excels at building strategic partnerships, influencing decision-makers at multiple levels, and identifying opportunities to deliver sustainable growth through innovative solutions?
At Essity, a global leader in health and hygiene, we're looking for a commercially driven Key Account Manager to manage and develop key distributor and customer relationships, driving the continued growth of our market-leading Tork brand within our Professional Hygiene business.
This is an exciting opportunity to influence national customer strategies, unlock new growth opportunities, and make a significant commercial impact within a global market leader committed to innovation and growth.
Why Join Essity?
At Essity, you'll be part of an innovative and purpose-driven organisation committed to improving well-being worldwide. Alongside a competitive package, you'll benefit from:
High reaching starting salary with annual reviews
Annual bonus opportunity
10% employer pension contribution
Private Medical Insurance
Starting 27 days holiday plus bank holidays, with flexible bank holiday options
Access to Essity Rewards, offering hundreds of online and in-store discounts for you and your family
Opportunities for professional development and career progression within a global business
About the Role
As a National Key Account Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in growing our business by building strategic customer partnerships, identifying new opportunities, and delivering sustainable commercial success. You'll lead business planning, commercial negotiations, and account development initiatives, working closely with customers and internal stakeholders to create long-term value for both Essity and our customers.
Reporting to the Sales Manager, this is a field-based national position requiring regular travel across the UK. The successful candidate should be comfortable with occasional overnight stays to effectively support customers, develop key relationships, and deliver business objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Develop and execute joint business plans with distributor partners to deliver sales, profit, and market share growth.
Lead commercial negotiations, including pricing, promotional activity, and annual trading agreements.
Analyse sales performance, market trends, and customer insights to identify risks, opportunities, and areas for growth.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key distributor stakeholders at all levels, influencing strategic decisions and driving long-term partnerships.
Identify and convert new business opportunities within distributor networks and end-customer channels.
Deliver sustainable revenue growth through effective account planning, pipeline management, and sales execution.
Collaborate with Distributor Sales Teams to increase product penetration and win new business opportunities.
Enable external sales teams through training, coaching, and support to maximise the Tork opportunity driving category growth through the promotion of innovative products and hygiene solutions.
Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Customer Service, Category, and Supply Chain teams to ensure successful execution of customer plans.
Maintain accurate forecasts and ensure delivery against agreed sales, profitability, and growth targets.
Champion the Tork brand, ensuring consistent messaging and execution across distributor partners.
About You
We're looking for a commercially driven, customer-focused professional with a proven track record of delivering profitable growth through strategic account management and strong stakeholder relationships.
A track record of delivering measurable growth and developing long-term strategic customer partnerships.
Experience managing complex distributor and end-user networks simultaneously across multiple routes to market.
Strong account development capabilities, identifying and executing customer growth opportunities through structured account planning.
A consultative and strategic approach to selling, with a strong focus on value-based solution selling rather than price-led negotiations.
The ability to influence and build trusted relationships with senior decision-makers, procurement teams, and board-level stakeholders.
Advanced commercial acumen, negotiation, and contract management skills, with experience balancing revenue growth and margin protection.
Experience using sales, market, and customer data to develop account strategies, identify opportunities, and drive business decisions.
A proven ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams to deliver improved customer outcomes and business results.
Experience operating effectively within an omnichannel environment, collaborating across internal and external teams, distributors, digital channels, and end users.
Excellent planning, organisational, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver against objectives.
A proactive, self-motivated approach, capable of working independently, taking initiative, and achieving results while maintaining strong internal alignment.
What It's Like to Work at Essity
Our purpose, Breaking Barriers to Well-being, is at the heart of everything we do. We believe in creating an inclusive workplace where people feel supported, valued, and empowered to succeed. Joining Essity means being part of a collaborative culture where you can make a meaningful impact while developing your career with a global market leader. Innovate for Good | Excel Together | Be You with Us
Location: National role (UK) with key customer concentration across the East Midlands, Telford, and Hull areas.
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20 Sept 2026
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Essity - a globally leading hygiene and health company. Our expertise in hygiene and health began with the acquisition of the Swedish company Mölnlycke in 1975, through which our roots stretch back to 1849. Today, our sustainable innovations from globally trusted brands, designed for everybody and every body, care for the well-being of 1 billion people in 150 countries every day.
Working at Essity is not just a career but a chance to make the world healthier, safer, and more hygienic. Our barrier breakers innovate for good and contribute to shaping a sustainable future. At Essity, every career is as unique as the individual. We empower employees to excel together and reach their full potential in a winning culture motivated by a powerful purpose. We provide a sustainable work-life based on flexibility for both employees and employers. At Essity, we are committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in everything we do. It is the key to our success in creating an inclusive, collaborative, and caring company culture where you can be you with us. Our purpose of Breaking Barriers to Well-being, is to enable customers and consumers to lead fuller lives at all stages of life.
Our leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands such as Actimove, Cutimed, JOBST, Knix, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Modibodi, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, TOM Organic and Zewa. In 2024, Essity had net sales of approximately SEK 146bn (EUR 13bn) and employed 36,000 people. The company’s headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.If you want to join a company where dedication to people is powered by innovation, welcome to Essity!
