Account Manager at Sherwin-Williams — NeverHard

Description The Account Manager drives market share growth through relationship development, new business acquisition, customer retention, and the promotion of Sherwin-Williams product technologies. This role combines strategic account management with in-field technical support, delivering application expertise to customers and SHW facilities. Functioning with a high degree of autonomy, the Account Manager leads sales efforts, executes business strategies, and supports customer needs across complex accounts and large or national territories. The role also requires building strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including senior leadership, to influence business outcomes and drive growth. In addition, the position serves as a key technical resource, addressing customer questions related to products, applications, and equipment. By engaging directly with customers, the Account Manager identifies challenges, provides solutions, and delivers hands-on support to ensure optimal product performance. Acting as a liaison between sales, technical, and operations teams, this role ensures cross-functional alignment and a seamless customer experience. Responsibilities include troubleshooting issues, coordinating solutions, resolving complaints, and guiding proper product use all while reinforcing a strong customer-centric approach and supporting both retention and new business initiatives. Responsibilities Build and maintain strong relationships at corporate and plant level with key decision-makers, purchasing contacts, and technical teams to deliver maximum customer value. Achieve commercial targets aligned with business strategies, including new business development, pricing, claims resolution, inventory control, and accurate forecasting. Serve as the primary liaison between the key account and Sherwin-Williams to ensure timely resolution of complaints, technical issues, and product performance concerns. Provide proactive feedback to Sherwin-Williams and customer paint manufacturing facilities, including coordinating technical assistance, troubleshooting, and facilitating product trials to ensure smooth operations and optimal coating performance. Collaborate with key account and Sherwin-Williams' Technical Service teams to support product implementation and line trials. Develop and execute annual sales and strategic account plans in partnership with leadership and cross-functional teams. Support scale-up trials for new technologies to ensure successful market entry. Train customers on product knowledge and application methods. Manage and evaluate production line complaints, coordinate resolutions, and ensure customer satisfaction through efficient communication and follow-up. Own financial performance of assigned portfolio, ensuring alignment with revenue and margin targets. Shape and execute sales strategies that align with broader business goals and customer needs. Collaborate with Marketing, Finance, Technical and Pricing teams. Act as a senior escalation point for customer concerns, ensuring timely and effective resolution. Foster a customer-first mindset across the team, ensuring responsiveness and proactive engagement. Oversee inventory flow and cost management for assigned account. Navigate complex coating technologies (e.g., PVDF, SMP, Polyester, Acrylic, PVC, Epoxy, Alkyd) and multi-site operations. Ensure seamless communication and collaboration across stakeholders to maintain strong, long-term partnerships. Participate in Quarterly Business and Technical Review meetings with key account leadership to assess partnership status, address concerns, outline next steps, and identify improvement opportunities. Troubleshooting product or service issues, coordinating with internal teams for resolution, and ensuring a strong customer-focused approach. Qualifications Required: Must have a High School diploma or GED equivalent Must Have five (5) or more years of B2B industrial environment product/service sales experience or technical services experience Preferred: Have a Bachelor’s degree in Sales, Business disciplines, Science disciplines or Liberal Arts Have an Industrial coatings product and application familiarity Have a background in technology, technical service and/or customer service