Forward Air logo

Key Account Manager

Forward Air

  • Atlanta, GA
  • Today
  • Remote

    Highlights

    Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.). Experience: 8+ years of progressive experience in strategic account management, enterprise customer success, business development, or related customer-facing leadership roles.

    Numbers & Facts

    LocationAtlanta, GA (
    Remote
    )
    IndustryTransport and Storage - Materials
    Company Size2,500 to 4,999 employees
    Year Founded1981
    Websitehttps://www.forwardair.com/content/careers-0

    Description

    The Key Account Manager serves as a strategic partner for high-value, complex customer accounts, driving long-term retention, growth, and innovation across the portfolio. They develop and execute account strategies that maximize customer value while aligning customer objectives with organizational capabilities. They build trusted relationships with executive stakeholders, identify expansion opportunities, and lead cross-functional teams to deliver exceptional business outcomes. As the primary customer advocate, they proactively manage risk, resolve complex challenges, and champion continuous improvement initiatives.

    Success in this role requires deep expertise in supply chain, logistics, transportation, and distribution solutions, combined with strong commercial acumen and executive presence. Experience supporting customers in life sciences, aerospace, automotive, high-tech, industrial manufacturing, or other complex industries is highly valued.

    Responsibilities

    • Develop and execute strategic account plans that drive customer retention and revenue growth.
    • Build and maintain executive-level relationships, serving as a trusted advisor and primary strategic contact.
    • Lead business reviews, executive alignment meetings, and quarterly business reviews (QBRs) to evaluate performance, identify opportunities, and maintain strategic alignment.
    • Partner with customers to develop growth roadmaps, innovation strategies, and continuous improvement initiatives.
    • Identify, qualify, and pursue expansion opportunities across services, business units, geographies, and solution offerings.
    • Own customer performance metrics and KPIs, delivering insights and recommendations that improve operational and financial results.
    • Lead resolution of complex business challenges while balancing customer needs with organizational objectives.
    • Collaborate with Operations, Sales, Finance, Solutions Design, IT, Engineering, and Implementation teams to ensure successful customer outcomes.
    • Translate customer goals, challenges, and priorities into actionable internal strategies and resource plans.
    • Champion digital transformation, automation, and technology-enabled solutions that increase customer value and operational efficiency.
    • Monitor account health, identify retention risks, and implement proactive mitigation strategies.
    • Drive account forecasting, revenue planning, and strategic growth initiatives.
    • Represent the organization in executive sponsor programs, customer strategy sessions, industry events, and other high-visibility engagements.
    • Provide market intelligence, industry insights, and competitive feedback to support business planning and solution development.
    • Promote a customer-centric culture by influencing and aligning cross-functional stakeholders around account objectives and customer commitments.
    • All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.

     

    Qualifications

    • Education: Undergraduate degree in a related field from an accredited college or university required.
    • Certification/Licensure: Professional certifications such as CSCMP, APICS/ASCM, or similar credentials preferred.
    • Experience: 8+ years of progressive experience in strategic account management, enterprise customer success, business development, or related customer-facing leadership roles.
    • Proven success managing complex customer portfolios with annual revenues of approximately $15M to $50M+ while consistently achieving retention and growth objectives.
    • Deep expertise in logistics, transportation, supply chain management, contract logistics, warehousing, distribution, or related industries.
    • Demonstrated success developing and executing account growth strategies that drive revenue expansion, customer retention, and profitability.
    • Strong executive presence with the ability to influence, negotiate, and build credibility with senior leaders internally and externally.
    • Experience leading cross-functional teams and driving alignment across Sales, Operations, Finance, IT, Solutions Design, Engineering, and Implementation functions.
    • Experience supporting customers in complex industries such as life sciences, aerospace, automotive, high-tech, industrial manufacturing, consumer goods, or related sectors preferred.
    • Exceptional analytical, communication, presentation, and relationship management skills with a consultative approach to problem solving.
    • Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.
    • Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.).
    • Environment: Remote; must be comfortable with travel for related meetings/events.

     

    #LI-RA1 #LI-Remote

     

    About Company

    Since 1990, Forward Air has been a leading provider of ground transportation and related logistics services to the North American air freight and expedited LTL market. We offer surface shipping on an accelerated “time-definite” basis, delivering cargo at a specific time, but under less time-sensitive situations – supplying you with a cost effective, reliable alternative to air transportation. We work with companies of all sizes to develop tangible advantages and build the best products to meet your specific needs. Forward Air presents to the wholesale transportation community (logistics companies, freight forwarders, integrated air cargo carriers, passenger/ cargo airlines, and non-traditional shippers), a single-source provider that can deliver more supply chain services and a superior menu of choices. Throughout the years we have added supplementary lines to our linehaul service, such as full truckload operations (Truckload Services), final-mile coverage (Complete® Cartage), and an Airline Logistics program, and we will continue to expand our services to meet the changing needs and growth of our customer base.

    Forward Air is structured to optimize both savings and service to our customers. Direct partnerships with owner-operators and other surface transportation providers, enable us to remain cost-competitive. The Forward Air network is designed with over 90 facilities located at or near major U.S. and Canadian airports, 12 regional sort centers and over 300 beyond points (secondary airports provided through our Complete Cartage service), creating one of the most comprehensive linehaul networks in the industry.

    The foundation product for Forward Air is our expedited linehaul service, offering consistent and reliable transit and on-time, damage-free deliveries. By locating terminals on or near airports and maintaining a scheduled transportation network, we are able to arrange for convenient and consistent service with broad geographic coverage. Shipments of varying sizes (TL/LTL) are received at our terminals and transported by contracted service providers either (1) on a direct truck to the destination terminal, (2) through our Columbus, Ohio central sorting hub, or (3) through one of our 12 regional hubs, where they are unloaded, sorted, and reloaded in rapid fashion. After reloading the shipments, our contracted service providers deliver them to the destination city for early morning recovery. Through our Forward Air Complete® cartage service, customers also can have shipments picked up from the shipper, delivered to the final consignee, or transferred at the airport, simplifying the freight management processes. These options allow us to maximize handling efficiency of each shipment while minimizing freight loss and damage, improving transit times over traditional ground transportation.

    Similar Jobs

    EHS Manager Primetals Technologies

    Alpharetta, GA30+ days ago
    See more jobs