Job Description
Director - Key Account Management Global Account Program Industrial

It's more than a job

With a sales career at Kuehne+Nagel, you'll drive long-term business success by mastering sales strategies, nurturing customer relationships and identifying new opportunities. At Kuehne+Nagel, our work is about more than we imagine.

As a Global Key Account Manager (GKAM) within Kuehne+Nagel’s Global Account Program, you will serve as the CEO of the customer relationship for a portfolio of global industrial accounts. This is a high‑impact, customer‑facing commercial role designed for strategic thinkers who excel at building trust, driving growth, and orchestrating global collaboration.


You will be the primary commercial contact for your assigned customers, ensuring a consistent and customer‑centric experience across all KN products, services, and regions. By combining supply‑chain expertise with consultative selling, you will shape long‑term strategic partnerships and directly influence the global growth of the Industrials vertical.

How you create impact

1. Own Strategic Customer Relationships

  • Serve as the main commercial contact for assigned global accounts.
  • Develop a deep understanding of customer organizations, supply‑chain priorities, and decision‑making processes.
  • Conduct structured business reviews and drive continuous improvement and innovation.

2. Drive Global Business Growth

  • Identify, qualify, and develop new opportunities across all Kuehne+Nagel transport modes and services.
  • Ensure business retention through proactive engagement and issue resolution.
  • Lead and manage commercial negotiations - including tenders and contracts - in alignment with Business Units and Functional Units.

3. Lead Strategic Account Planning

  • Build and execute a comprehensive strategic growth plan based on customer intelligence and Kuehne+Nagel potential.
  • Translate market and customer insights into actionable initiatives.
  • Act as an internal educator on Kuehne+Nagel’s product portfolio, reaching expert level.

4. Orchestrate a Global Virtual Team

  • Lead a cross‑functional virtual team across countries, business units, and co‑functions.
  • Ensure smooth transition of new business to operations for consistent service quality.
  • Facilitate regular KAM team meetings with internal stakeholders and sponsors.

5. Champion Commercial Discipline & Performance Management

  • Monitor monthly performance including RFQ pipeline, KPIs, financial indicators, and profitability.
  • Maintain accurate, high‑quality CoreLOG updates in compliance with sales management standards.
  • Initiate corrective actions when performance deviates from expectations.

What we would like you to bring

  • 5+ years of experience in Global Key Account Management, Business Development, Sales, or related fields.
  • Strong background in consultative selling, negotiations, and supply‑chain logistics (Air, Sea, Road, Contract Logistics, Integrated Logistics).
  • Proven success in developing and winning new business (up‑ and cross‑selling).
  • Experience managing virtual and cross‑functional teams.
  • Industry knowledge within relevant verticals (preferably Industrials).

  • Strong strategic thinking and analytical abilities.
  • Excellent stakeholder management skills, internal and external.
  • Competitive, proactive, and highly customer‑centric mindset.
  • Strong communication and persuasion abilities.
  • Comfort navigating complex, global organizations.

 

This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for current or future employer sponsorship.

What's in it for you

Kuehne+Nagel we strive daily to inspire, empower, and deliver not only to our customers, but also to our colleagues. We offer a dynamic global work environment with opportunities for excellent training programs and career mobility. Base wage is part of a competitive total rewards package that includes health and welfare benefits, a 401k retirement savings plan, tuition reimbursement, and incentive compensation for eligible roles. Individual pay may vary from the target range and is determined by a number of factors including experience, skills, job location, internal pay equity, and other relevant business considerations. Kuehne+Nagel reviews pay ranges regularly to ensure competitive and fair pay based on industry market data. #LI-UT1

 

Kuehne+Nagel participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. 

Who we are

Logistics shapes everyday life - from the goods we consume to the healthcare we rely on. At Kuehne+Nagel, your work goes beyond logistics; it enables both ordinary and special moments in the lives of people around the world.

As a global leader with a strong heritage and a vision to move the world forward, we offer a safe, stable environment where your career can make a real difference. Whether we help deliver life-saving medicines, develop sustainable transportation solutions or support our local communities, your career will contribute to more than you can imagine.