Key Account Manager

Syngenta Group Open · verified Oct 7, 2026

On-site Abidjan Full-time Manager Account Management

At a glance

Manager-level Account Management role at Syngenta Group. Abidjan · full-time.

Pay not stated

RoleAccount Management

SeniorityManager

LocationAbidjan

WorkplaceOn-site

EmploymentFull-time

PostedOct 6, 2026 · 1d ago

Role brief

growthroles summary, based on the employer's posting.

What you'll do

Choose priority accounts with the Country Head, then shape tailored plans around their commercial, legal and regulatory needs
Build durable distributor and customer partnerships, negotiate pricing and contracts, and pursue tenders and large distribution deals
Turn regional campaigns into local demand activity, while coordinating internal teams to support account execution
Forecast sales, follow up on product availability and payments, and track account results, market shifts and competitors
Represent customer needs across internal functions and help address issues promptly

What you bring

A master's degree in agronomy or business administration
At least ten years in successful agricultural sales or key account management
A record of growing key accounts and closing commercial deals in West Africa or comparable markets
Fluency in both English and French, plus strong knowledge of West African agriculture and crop protection

Who this fits

This suits an experienced commercial operator who can build trusted customer relationships, close deals and work independently across culturally diverse teams. You’ll have no direct reports and will cover Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria and Chad. The role is based on-site in Abidjan, involves extensive travel and includes working in an open-plan environment.

From the employer

At Syngenta Crop Protection, we're pioneering solutions that safeguard global food security while championing sustainable agriculture. As a world market leader headquartered in Switzerland, we empower farmers with innovative crop protection technologies that defend against nature's toughest challenges. We unite advanced science with digital solutions to develop intelligent crop protection that maximizes yields while minimizing environmental impact. Join our mission of revolutionizing plant protection from seed to harvest.

Role purpose

Drive sustainable business growth across West & central Africa countries by building strong key account partnerships and aggressively taking share against competitors. Serve as the primary commercial link between Syngenta and its strategic customers, translating market opportunities into disciplined KAM execution - with a focus on cocoa, cotton, industrial farms and corn - to deliver annual targets and the 5Y plan.

Dimensions

Financial: Contribution to a $40M business target for the BA over 2026–2031
People: No direct reports
Geographic Scope: CIV, GHANA, CAMEROUN, NIGERIA, TCHAD

Accountabilities

1. Key Account Management

- Select and agree on target key accounts with the Country Head; gain a deep understanding of each account's business model, market position and competitive landscape to develop company-specific KA Plans covering commercial, licensing, legal and regulatory dimensions
- Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with strategic distributors and key accounts, with particular focus on cotton, cocoa and industrial farms
- Influence key stakeholders and develop targeted strategies to capture tenders and large-scale distribution contracts across geographic scope
- Negotiate contracts, pricing and terms to ensure mutually beneficial agreements, in alignment with Syngenta's commercial policies
- Identify areas for growth and contribute to the evolution of the West Africa Go-to-Market strategy
- Ensure accurate forecasting in close coordination with Customer Service and TFCM for on-time product availability and payment follow-up

2. Demand Generation & Campaign Execution – Lead and translate regional campaigns into local pull activities with key accounts, adapted to the West Africa go-to-market model, to create demand and deliver annual sales targets

3.Cross-functional collaboration – Coordinate with Marketing, CPD, Finance, Customer Service, Pricing and Regulatory to ensure key account needs are met, and KA execution is fully supported. Work closely with Customer Service and TFCM for on-time product availability and payment follow-up.

Monitoring and reporting –Track key account metrics and report regularly on account status, market dynamics and competitive landscape. Collect and analyze market information to feed Business Intelligence tools (Salesforce, I-Plan, portfolio insights), monitor competition, and contribute to customer and influencer segmentation.

4. Customer advocacy – Act as the primary advocate for key accounts within Syngenta, ensuring their needs are properly represented and issues addressed promptly across internal functions.

5. Maintain full compliance with Syngenta's policies, procedures and code of conduct

6. Key Performance Indicators

Sales revenue and volume versus target

Gross margin/profitability

Key account growth and retention

Market share development

New business and product adoption

Forecast accuracy

Customer satisfaction and engagement

Receivables/payment performance

Successful execution of account plans and commercial initiatives

Knowledge, experience & capabilities

Critical knowledge

Master's degree in Agronomy or Business Administration
Deep knowledge of West Africa agri-business market, trade dynamics and distribution landscape
Technical & product knowledge in Crop Protection
Negotiation strategies, tactics and third-party relationship management
Data Analysis & Insights
Fluency in English and French

Critical experience

Minimum 10 years of successful sales / KAM experience in the Ag industry
Proven track record in key account development and commercial deal-making in West Africa or similar markets

Critical leadership capabilities

Collaborates across boundaries and manages across wide cultural diversity
Focuses on customers and builds trusted, long-term partnerships
Drives delivery with minimal guidance; works with high autonomy

Critical success factors & key challenges

Ability to close deals and convert prospects into long-term key accounts
Build an effective internal network across functions and country teams
Establish trusted relationships with targeted customers and regional partners
Sales revenue and volume versus target
Gross margin/profitability
Key account growth and retention
Market share development
New business and product adoption
Forecast accuracy
Customer satisfaction and engagement
Receivables/payment performance
Successful execution of account plans and commercial initiatives

Willingness to travel extensively across the BA
Willingness to work in an open space environment