Key Account Manager - Finance sector

Key Account Manager

Based in Paris, France

Full time position, local contract

Travel: up to 30%

Beginning: ASAP 2024

PUR Description

PUR is a global, impact-focused B-Corp specializing in supply chain sustainability. We design, develop, and implement nature-based solutions projects to help our corporate partners reduce their environmental footprint and meet their ESG targets. Many of PUR's projects fall within the categories of insetting, regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, forest conservation, and landscape restoration.

These projects aim to introduce more sustainable agricultural practices, regenerate and preserve ecosystems, and socially and economically empower local communities. Today, we employ 200 staff across 16 countries, with key offices in Paris (HQ) and Toronto.

www.pur.co

Industry Description

PUR operates within the dynamic and rapidly evolving sector of environmental consultancy services and nature-based solutions (NbS) markets. The NbS market has recently gained traction as society recognizes the invaluable services provided by nature and the need to preserve, restore and harness these services to mitigate and adapt to environmental challenges. To be considered a nature-based solution, projects must address real societal challenges and offer strong environmental, economic and social benefits for local communities.

Market KPIs:

• If combined with deep decarbonisation efforts, NbS projects could provide up to 30% of the mitigation needed to limit global warming to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels by 2030 (World Economic Forum, 2023)

• NbS project credits make up the largest volumes of carbon credits available in the VCM (voluntary carbon markets ) with $9bn invested between 2020 and 2022 (Sylvera, 2023)

• 5,307 companies have set science-based targets - a 4.2x increase since 2022 – and a significant driver of demand within the NbS and VCM markets (SBTi, 2024)

To further deliver on its ambitious plans and develop the best impact for our clients. PUR is looking for a Key Account Manager based in Paris who is ready to inspire clients and their partners/consumers to invest in the changes needed to address climate change and reach their corporate targets by working on ecosystem restoration at a landscape level.

We offer a unique opportunity for an ambitious and sales-driven individual who is eager to bring our business and our team to a new level in a company driven by impact.

This role is ideal for individuals who can demonstrate both operational and strategic excellence, who think creatively and are motivated by impact.

You will be accountable for 4 key objectives :

• Managing customer relationships including some key accounts in the finance and banking sector (between others), increasing presence within the account, building trust and confidence to develop long-term partnership and position PUR as the partner of choice;

• Managing existing ecosystem restoration programs, interacting closely with internal stakeholders (including the field teams) providing the clients with contractual deliverables;

• Identifying and transforming growth opportunities (cross-sell/up-sell), in coordination with the Business Developer team when needed;

• Leading negotiations to ensure program profitability, sustainability and impact.

As a Key Account Manager, you will work directly under the Global Beyond Value Chain Manager (focused on non-supply chain linked projects and PUR’s high quality tree planting projects).

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Be the key contact, act as a business peer, and reinforce our client connection by knowing their organization, culture, key decision makers and influencers and developing a plan to increase business intimacy with the account and position PUR as a key trusted business partner;

• Listen to the client’s needs, understand their CSR strategy; understanding their model and adjust approaches to meet their needs;

• Build trust and reinforce partnership by effective account planning, leveraging our internal expertises (Carbon, Commodities, Interventions, Projects) and onboarding senior team members when required;

• Ensure reliable and effective delivery of our contractual commitments thanks to robust coordination with internal stakeholders;

• Ensure profitability at the account level, manage customer expectations through effective communication in order to protect PUR interest. This may include arbitration and renegotiation of contract;

• Activate internal adaptive management (renegotiating roadmap, pricing, changes in strategy, etc.);

• Ensure high quality data update in our internal tools (CRM / Timesheet) and build capacity to analyze the business evolution;

• Identify new potential business opportunities to grow the existing program (new region, new intervention, new commodities);

• Understand your competitive environment and influence RFP’s;

• Have a good understanding of PUR standard offers, PUR’s Pitch and differentiation factors;

• Build commercial offers with the support of business developers if needed (budget, contract).

We are looking for a candidate with:

• Passion for impact and engaging with businesses;

• A minimum of 5 years of experience as a Key Account Manager including with large accounts; Experience dealing with the Finance or Banking sector. (Nature Based Solution sector would be a strong asset);

• Strong interpersonal skills, leadership and capacity to plan, to structure and to collaborate in a global environment;

• Solution driven, focused on achieving objectives and ensuring sales excellence to optimize the acquisition of business and deliver on contractual obligations and grow our impact;

• Experience in a fast international growing environment (scale-up environment is a plus);

• Experience with large Corporations is a plus;

• Able to come 3x to the office per week minimum - this is not a full remote position;

• Fluent in English and French.

The recruitment process is as follows :

1/ HR interview

2/ Case study with the manager

3/ Interview with the CCO and CEO + Reference check