Account Director (Retail Marketing)

About the role The DS Smith customer service team are a dynamic and vibrant mix of professionals who focus on delivering the sales strategy, goals and performance whilst working to delight our customers by showcasing our sustainable and innovative packaging solutions - The client service team are the face of our business and our biggest ambassadors! We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced sales professional to join the Retail Marketing Division, part of the Speciality Cluster, as an Account Director. In this key role, you will be focused on nurturing customer relationships, driving organic sales growth, and supporting margin targets through a value-added, consultative approach. Reporting directly into the Client Director, you will hold a pivotal position within the team, acting as a bridge between high-level strategy and daily execution. You will be instrumental in building strong internal partnerships across the Operations and Sales teams, using your commercial acumen to lead your team of Account Managers with drive and passion. The successful candidate will be expected to manage and reinforce the strength of their direct reports, supporting individual development to ensure we provide a "best-in-class" service to our customers. As a key point of contact for our accounts, you will lead client meetings and support negotiations to ensure we are consistently delivering against our Sales KPIs and growth targets. So, if you have experience in people management, a proven track record in Retail Marketing, and are eager for a new challenge in a fast-paced environment – then we might be looking for you! About you Strong experience in Sales & Marketing and ability to manage complex contract renewals and retentions Excellent communication skills and ability to present confidently to senior management Ability to collaborate and develop strong relationships with internal and external partners Proven ability to manage, support and develop junior team members Ability to grasp, analyse and initiate actions based on financial insights and understanding Drive, determination and resilience with energy, enthusiasm and a can-do attitude and behaviours Benefits Competitive salary 25 days holiday plus bank holidays Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection Employee Assistance Programme Employee Discounts Cycle to work scheme Location: This is a full-time, hybrid role with frequent travel to our customers and our site in Ely, Cambridge. About us We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us! To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas, and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria. #LI-NS #DSMISC