Account Manager, Strategic Accounts

About Imbibe

Imbibe is a dynamic, high-growth food and beverage development company based in Niles, Illinois. We specialize in developing, creating, and manufacturing beverage flavors, ingredient systems, and finished food and beverage products. Our mission is to design ingredients with impact for the food and beverage industry.

Since our founding in 1963, Imbibe has been at the forefront of flavor innovation and product development. We offer a comprehensive range of services, including full product development, taste modulation, and finished product solutions. Our state-of-the-art campus features an Innovation Center and Pilot Plant that enable us to tackle industry-wide taste and texture challenges, ensuring that our clients receive the highest quality products.

At Imbibe, we pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to continuous improvement. Our values of collaboration, accountability, and entrepreneurship drive us to deliver exceptional results for our clients. We also believe in giving back to the community. Through various initiatives we support efforts to combat food insecurity in the Chicagoland area by donating ingredients and our time.

If you're passionate about the food and beverage industry and eager to make a meaningful impact, Imbibe is the place for you. Let's create something extraordinary together!

Summary of Position

As an Account Manager of Strategic Accounts, you will be the primary relationship owner for key clients, driving business growth and ensuring strategic alignment. This role requires a blend of technical knowledge, commercial acumen, and customer collaboration to enhance our presence across food, beverage, and supplements.

 

Essential Job Duties

Client Relationship Management & Growth

• Serve as the primary point of contact for major strategic accounts, fostering long-term partnerships.
• Develop and execute account growth strategies, identifying opportunities for new product development and increased market share.
• Drive revenue growth by expanding existing relationships and securing new business opportunities within assigned accounts.
• Build new relationships within accounts to broaden our presence and build new business pipeline.
• Establish a cadence of in-person meetings and social touchpoints with key contacts and decision makers, traveling to account sites accordingly.
• Establish a deep understanding of clients’ business needs, R&D priorities, and go-to-market strategies to deliver tailored ingredient solutions.

Strategic Collaboration & Solution Development

• Work cross-functionally with R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Turnkey teams to ensure clients receive quality innovation concepts.
• Leverage market trends, competitor analysis, and category insights to position Imbibe as a trusted advisor for clients.
• Provide technical sales support, pricing recommendations, and supply chain solutions to optimize profit and customer satisfaction   .
• Be the main point of contact for problem resolution, coordinating internal resources as needed and ensuring a consistent, deliberate and tailored message is delivered if and as necessary.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, understand their priorities, personalities and preferences to effectively influence and drive desired outcomes for customers.
• Track account performance, revenue trends, and key success metrics to drive data-driven decision-making.
• Stay ahead of emerging trends, ingredient innovations, and regulatory changes to offer cutting-edge solutions to clients.
• Ensure contract compliance, pricing accuracy, and seamless execution of customer orders in collaboration with internal teams.

Market & Performance Monitoring

• Track account performance, revenue trends, and key success metrics to drive data-driven decision-making.
• Stay ahead of emerging trends, ingredient innovations, and regulatory changes to offer cutting-edge solutions to clients.
• Ensure contract compliance, pricing accuracy, and seamless execution of customer orders in collaboration with internal teams.

 

Minimum Qualifications

• 7+ years of B2B account management, business development, or sales experience within flavors, specialty ingredients, or chemicals industries.
• Strong relationship-building, negotiation, and consultative selling skills with enterprise-level clients.
• Proven track record of managing multimillion-dollar accounts and driving revenue growth in a strategic role.
• Ability to navigate complex sales cycles, collaborate across cross-functional teams, and manage high-value projects.
• Data-driven mindset with experience in performance tracking, market analytics, and strategic planning.
• Strong technical knowledge of flavor, ingredient, or specialty chemical applications in food, beverage, or personal care industries.
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks, supply chain dynamics, and formulation challenges within the industry.

 

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Food Science, Chemistry, or a related field preferred.

 

Working Conditions

• Travel 20 - 60%
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
• Needs to move about inside the office, lab, pilot plants, and manufacturing sites
• The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand.  Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Frequently moves boxes weighing up to 20 pounds across office.
• The ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range listed represents the expected earnings for this role. The low end of the range reflects the starting salary for candidates with less experience or qualifications that meet the basic requirements for the position. The high end of the range reflects potential earnings for candidates with extensive experience, specialized skills, or qualifications above the standard requirements for the role.

 

Imbibe supports employee well-being and professional growth by offering a comprehensive benefits package that includes the following: 

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision care
• 401k retirement plan with company contribution and match
• FSA and HSA account
• Generous company holidays, PTO, and sick time
• Onsite gym and wellness opportunities 
• Paid parental leave
• Life and disability insurance
• Learning and professional development opportunities