Key Account Manager - Specialty Sales

Overview

HarperCollins Christian Publishing is seeking a strategic, results-oriented Key Account Manager to join our Specialty Sales team. In this role, you'll drive revenue growth across a diverse portfolio of national and regional specialty retailers and wholesalers by developing sales strategies, expanding distribution, and building long-term customer partnerships.

 

If you're passionate about cultivating strong customer relationships, driving sales growth, identifying new business opportunities, and bringing gift books and Bibles to market, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact within one of the nation's leading Christian publishers.

 

This full-time position offers a collaborative environment with opportunities to partner across Sales, Marketing and Publishing, while representing HarperCollins Christian Publishing at key customer meetings.

 

As a Key Account Manager, you'll play a critical role in expanding market reach, growing strategic accounts, and executing sales initiatives that support the company's long-term business objectives.

 

Moderate travel is required. Estimated to be 6 - 8 times per year.

Responsibilities

• Own revenue and distribution goals for an assigned portfolio of specialty retail and wholesale accounts.
• Develop and execute strategic account plans that drive sales growth, expand distribution, and strengthen customer partnerships.
• Identify and cultivate new business opportunities across specialty retail channels, opening new doors and expanding existing relationships.
• Manage sales forecasts and business plans for assigned accounts.
• Analyze sales performance, customer trends, and market opportunities to develop actionable account strategies.
• Partner with customers to create customized assortments and merchandising opportunities that maximize sales performance.
• Present seasonal assortments, sales insights, and business reviews to customers and internal stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with buyers, category managers, and key decision-makers across national and regional accounts.
• Collaborate closely with Editorial, Marketing and Custom Publishing to execute customer initiatives and support new title sales.
• Monitor competitive activity, consumer trends, and marketplace dynamics, sharing insights that influence sales strategies and product development.

Qualifications

Experience & Education

• 7+ years of experience in key account management, national account sales, specialty retail, or business development.
• Proven success managing retail accounts and achieving revenue goals.
• Experience within publishing, gift, specialty retail, consumer products, or adjacent industries preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.

Skills & Expertise

• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to influence customers and retail/wholesale buyers.
• Proven ability to develop strategic account plans that deliver measurable sales growth.
• Excellent analytical skills with experience using sales data to identify trends and business opportunities.
• Strong presentation, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Highly organized with exceptional project management and follow-through.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and CRM or sales reporting tools.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for growing existing business while identifying new business opportunities.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment while managing multiple priorities.
• Willingness to travel regularly for customer meetings and industry trade shows.

 

The salary range for this position is $70,000 – $90,000. We recognize that attracting the best talent is key to our strategy and success as a company.  As a result, we aim for flexibility in structuring competitive compensation offers to ensure we are able to attract the best candidates.  The quoted salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what our ideal candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on the selected candidate's experience, industry knowledge, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the interview process.  

 

In addition to cash compensation, the company provides a comprehensive and highly competitive benefits package, with a variety of physical health, retirement and savings, caregiving, emotional wellbeing, transportation, and other benefits, including "elective" benefits employees may select to best fit the needs and personal situations of our diverse workforce.

 

HarperCollins Christian Publishing is an equal opportunity employer.

 

HarperCollins Christian Publishing is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities, in our job application and/or interview process. If you need assistance or accommodation in completing your application, due to a disability, email us at [email protected]. Note: we will only respond to accommodation requests.