Key Account Specialist-US

About the company

With over 85 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace and defense, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency.

Location: South‑Eastern Pennsylvania — employee must be located in the supported territory. Ideal locations include Allentown, Philadelphia, Reading, Lancaster, or Exton.

About the role

Kennametal is seeking talented machinists and programmers looking to transition their career off the floor day to day into a professional sales role. This position is responsible for driving metal‑cutting tool sales growth with new and established customers, both direct and indirect, by managing customer relationships, providing technical direction/support, and increasing productivity for our customers. The role combines technical knowledge and sales skills to achieve sales targets, build strong territory presence and pipeline, and partners with multiple internal sales and support professionals to support customers’ initiatives and technical needs. Sales and Application Engineers work on unique challenges related to CNC machining, milling, and lathe applications. The role is based from a home office within the assigned territory, but 80% or more of the week is spent out in the field at customer locations. A company vehicle is provided as part of a top‑of‑market compensation package which includes a base salary plus bonus based on performance, and benefits starting day 1.

Responsibilities

• Meet or exceed revenue targets by effectively providing metal‑cutting solutions, understanding current and future market trends, to meet customers’ key needs and objectives in a professional manner.
• Generate, qualify, and manage all sales leads, prospects, and new customer accounts.
• Proactively manage the complete sales process, including prospecting, qualification, consultative sales meetings, product demos, pricing, terms negotiations, and sourcing.
• Develop and execute strategic territory plans to deliver revenue goals with a focus on new product sales.
• Provide timely answers to pre‑sales technical and commercial queries from customers.
• Maintain up‑to‑date customer and project records in CRM to ensure a clean and healthy pipeline.
• Actively collaborate with internal sales and support professionals (Application Engineers, Channel Partner Reps, Inside Sales, etc.) to provide value and a positive end‑to‑end customer experience.
• Perform online and/or onsite demonstrations of metal‑cutting products tailored to customers’ needs.
• Conduct pre‑sales workshops, webinars, and other online/onsite events within the territory.
• Represent and promote Kennametal at tradeshows, conferences, and other events within the territory.
• Deliver cost savings through analysis of complex application needs and provide recommendations to support customer business needs through tooling and application testing.
• Prepare and present progress, status, and forecasting reports.

Requirements

• Technical degree or degree in Business, Manufacturing and/or Engineering preferred.
• 3+ years of related CNC machining industry experience; 1–2 years of technical sales and/or application experience preferred.
• Proficient in product knowledge, including applications and troubleshooting; can tailor solutions to meet customer needs.
• Solid grasp of industry dynamics; effectively aligns product solutions with customer needs and industry trends.
• Competent in a range of sales techniques, including advanced objection handling and closing strategies; adapts approach to various customer types.
• Independently executes strategic sales plans; contributes to the development of strategies and meets targets through insightful planning.
• Possess solid critical thinking, presentation, and administrative skills.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Customer‑focused mindset with a passion for problem‑solving and delivering exceptional service.
• Detail‑oriented to manage contract review and discuss project specifications.
• Creative and persuasive with the ability to think at both tactical and strategic levels.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to work effectively across all departments.

Pay

Top‑of‑market compensation package including a base salary plus performance‑based bonus.

Benefits

• Company vehicle provided.
• Benefits effective starting day 1.

Schedule

Home‑office based within assigned territory; 80% or more of the work week spent in the field at customer locations.