Key Account Manager - Soil Health
Cawood is the largest independent provider of analytical laboratory testing and sampling services for the land-based industries in the UK. With 15 sites around the country specialising in different types of analysis, we are always looking for skilled and talented individuals to join our teams. This is an exciting time to join Cawood.
The business is growing and there are plenty of opportunities for people who want to work hard, have fun and be part of our success. Job Description: Key Account Manager (Soil Health) Hybrid | Up to 1.5 hours from Bracknell | Occasional travel to Ireland We’re looking for an experienced Key Account Manager to take ownership of our most important customer relationships within our Soil Health segment, spanning our NRM and IAS businesses.
This role is focused on retention, price realisation, and long‑term account growth, delivered through strategic account management, proactive opportunity identification, and close cross‑functional collaboration. You’ll act as a trusted partner to key customers, ensuring they are not just satisfied, but genuinely over‑served.
About the business Our Soil Health teams deliver laboratory services across soil, crop, and environmental analysis, helping customers make informed decisions that improve productivity, sustainability, and environmental outcomes. Backed by deep technical expertise, robust systems, and a values‑led culture, we support customers operating at the heart of sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship.
The role As a Key Account Manager, you’ll have full responsibility for a defined portfolio of A‑grade customer accounts, owning retention, growth, and commercial performance. You’ll build deep, multi‑level relationships, identify and convert opportunities, and work closely with Business Development, Sales Support, Operations, and Product teams to deliver long‑term value.
What you’ll be responsible for Owning and growing a portfolio of strategic customer accounts Building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across complex organisations Developing and executing robust account plans focused on retention and growth Identifying and converting cross‑sell, upsell, price and new opportunity growth Leading contract renewals and supporting pricing and commercial discussions Using CRM/LIMS and data to manage pipeline, performance, risk, and opportunity Collaborating cross‑functionally to deliver outstanding customer outcomes About you You’re a commercially minded Key Account Manager who thrives on long‑term customer partnerships and delivering sustainable growth.
You’ll bring: Proven key account experience managing and growing complex B2B accounts Strong background in contract negotiation, pricing, and commercial growth Exceptional relationship‑building skills with senior stakeholders A data‑driven mindset, comfortable using metrics, CRM and structured account plans The ability to manage a large portfolio (c. 40–60 accounts) with discipline and resilience A collaborative approach, working seamlessly across sales, ops and technical teams Experience in agriculture, animal health, environmental or technical services is highly desirable.
Values matter Alignment with our EBI Core Values is non‑negotiable: People Matter Kaizen Mindset Win and Grow with Customers Long‑Term Approach We’re looking for someone with high ownership, a continuous improvement mindset, and the resilience to thrive in a fast‑moving, complex environment. Why join us?
Purpose‑driven work supporting sustainable agriculture and the environment Ownership of strategic, high‑impact customer relationships Strong technical expertise and systems to support your success Career development opportunities across a growing, global organisation A collaborative, values‑led culture that invests in its people Hybrid role – you’ll need to be based within 1.5 hours of Bracknell, with occasional travel to Ireland.
If you’re motivated by long‑term partnerships, commercial ownership, and work that genuinely matters, we’d love to hear from you. Cawood is the UK’s leading scientific group, recognised for its technical capability and value-added service to customers.
We provide laboratory analysis to the agriculture, food and environmental sectors, as well as contract research to GLP standards to support the development of agrochemicals, biocides and other chemicals.
Our field services team offers measurement and monitoring for water, construction and ecology across the UK. Cawood is the largest independent provider of analytical laboratory testing and sampling services for the land-based industries in the UK. With 15 sites around the country specialising in different types of analysis, we are always looking for skilled and talented individuals to join our teams.
Our values of PRIDE underpin our approach: Partnership, Responsiveness, Innovation, Decency and Expertise. You can read about our values and how they make a difference to our people and our customers here. Our people make Cawood what it is. No matter how technically advanced and sophisticated our equipment, it is our people who keep our customers satisfied.
Accuracy across a high number of tests and continually looking for ways to innovate and improve are key to our future. This is an exciting time to join Cawood. The business is growing and there are plenty of opportunities for people who want to work hard, have fun and be part of our success. We spend a lot of our lives at work, so it’s important to us to make Cawood a place our people enjoy working.
Cawood is a flexible employer, offering flextime, overtime and time off in lieu to help colleagues manage their work in a way that suits them as well as the business. We believe in working together to find the best outcome for all and we foster a culture of friendliness and family within our teams. Why do people enjoy working at Cawood?
Here’s what our colleagues say: “The people we work with are fun and supportive, even during the more difficult days” “The flexibility that is offered, especially when you have worked in other laboratory environments” “The GOAL, the growth plans and opportunities for development in a range of skills” “The new leadership team and their ambition to invest in people” This year’s People Plan builds upon this fun, flexible and family feel to make Cawood one of the best places to work.
Russell Vaughan Russell joined Cawood shortly after leaving university in our Mambo-Tox laboratory and has worked on the majority of our studies, from basic lab experiments to full-sized field studies. He has been integral to new method development over his many years with the company, and is a key contributor to our reputation for clear, accurate reporting that can go straight into a dossier.
After taking time out to complete his PhD in plant molecular biology, he returned to the business in 2005 and now leads our team of study directors at Mambo-Tox. Russell enjoys working at Cawood because of our excellent team of people and our mission to support agriculture in meeting the needs of society whilst reducing its environmental impact.
Sean Stevenson Sean joined Cawood as a biochemistry graduate to work in the NRM soil analysis laboratory. Over the last 19 years he has worked his way up through sales and business development roles and is now Divisional Managing Director for Cawood Agriculture. Sean is responsible for creating commercial strategies which support and accelerate our growth.
Having worked at all the different levels in the company, Sean is a firm believer in making the business a place where people can thrive. At the heart of Cawood is NRM, the UK’s leading agricultural laboratory, founded in 1990. The Cawood group was formed in 2006 with the acquisition of the animal feed testing business, Sciantec.
Since then, we have grown rapidly through our strong relationships with customers, our ongoing investment in people and equipment, and the acquisition of businesses that complement or expand our services. This development has allowed us to increase our range of services and extend our reach into global markets.
In 2021, Cawood was acquired by US corporation Ensign-Bickford Industries (EBI), becoming a member of its Agriculture and Environmental Diagnostics Group. Watch the video below to learn more about EBI.
