[Hiring] Strategic Account Manager @Milliken and Company

Role Description

The Strategic Account Manager (SAM) is responsible for developing, strengthening, and growing strategic customer relationships across the U.S. This role focuses on identifying enterprise-level opportunities, advancing account-level strategy, and expanding Milliken’s position within key customer organizations.

• Develop and execute strategic account plans including key stakeholder mapping, growth opportunities, retention strategies, and long-term account objectives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with end-users, specifiers, influencers, and procurement decision makers to deepen engagement and expand Milliken’s presence within assigned accounts.
• Apply value-based selling anchored in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) to demonstrate long-term operational and financial advantages beyond unit cost.
• Lead and coordinate proposal, negotiation, pilot, and rollout activities across assigned strategic accounts, including RFI, RFP, and RFQ responses.
• Ensure teams are aligned to the customer's priorities, decision process, and long-term objectives to support sustained growth and account expansion.
• Partner with regional and territory sales teams to support consistent execution, alignment, visibility, and communication across customer touchpoints.
• Provide insight on customer needs, market activity, and competitive positioning to inform marketing, product development, and commercial strategy.
• Engage with sustainability, marketing, product, and sales enablement resources to deliver compelling, differentiated messaging and customer-specific value propositions.
• Represent Milliken at key customer events, industry conferences, and strategic forums to advance relationships and uncover new opportunities.
• Maintain accurate pipeline visibility and forecasting discipline using CRM tools and standardized sales process expectations.

Performance Metrics:

• Growth and retention of strategic accounts
• Strategic account penetration and share expansion
• Contribution to U.S. and North American revenue and EBIT growth
• Forecast accuracy and execution of strategic account plans

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Proven experience in strategic selling, account leadership, or business development in a commercial or B2B environment.
• Strong communication skills and executive presence, with the ability to engage multiple decision-maker levels.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate complex work across functions and regions.
• Proficiency in CRM systems and standard business applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Salesforce or similar).
• Willingness to travel approximately 60% depending on business needs.
• Strong strategic thinking capability with the ability to influence and persuade internal and external stakeholders without direct authority.
• Experience building long-term customer relationships grounded in trust, commercial insight, and partnership.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to tailor messaging to executive audiences and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated judgment and problem-solving capability with the ability to navigate ambiguity and remove barriers to progress.
• Ability to prioritize and lead multiple initiatives while managing complexity across customers, teams, and timelines.
• A growth-minded, proactive approach focused on creating measurable customer and business impact.
• Ability to operate with discipline and resilience in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities.

Company Description

Milliken & Company is a global manufacturing leader whose focus on materials science delivers tomorrow’s breakthroughs today. From industry-leading molecules to sustainable innovations, Milliken creates products that enhance people’s lives and deliver solutions for its customers and communities. Drawing on thousands of patents and a portfolio with applications across the textile, flooring, chemical and healthcare businesses, the company harnesses a shared sense of integrity and excellence to positively impact the world for generations.