Italy is one of Europe’s most important markets for spinach and Swiss chard. A market shaped by innovation, changing customer demands and strong value chain partnerships. That’s why we’re looking for an Account Manager Fresh Market Spinach & Swiss Chard Italy at KWS Vegetables Italia s.r.l.. You are someone who understands the market, establishes strong relationships and knows how to turn opportunities into growth. To build on our leading spinach market position, the transition into a direct sales model requires a candidate who fits our Freshplorer culture and is ready to pave new ways.

In this role, you're more than an account manager. You're the connection between growers, packers, retailers, agents and technical colleagues. You bring insights from the field into our strategy, help customers get the most from our portfolio and identify where KWS can create additional value.

You'll be the voice of the market within KWS and play a key role in strengthening our position in Fresh Market Spinach and Swiss Chard across Italy. Hands-on, commercial and always focused on delivering impact throughout the value chain.

In this role, you will be part of the Customer Team Baby Spinach & Chard Europe/Oceania, working closely with colleagues across Product Management, Trial Development Specialists, Marketing, and Breeding to drive growth together. The customer team organizes itself around the value chain in leading spinach markets like the UK, NWE, SP, IT and AU. You report hierarchically to the Head of Commercial Vegetables Italy and functionally to the Customer Team Lead. You operate with a high level of independence while collaborating across functions to turn market insights into meaningful impact. The role is hybrid, based in Battipaglia or Foggia.

Your responsibilities

• Develop and execute account and market plans for Fresh Market Spinach and Swiss Chard in Italy, aligned with the global crop strategy and Customer Team.
• Support KWS's direct-sales strategy by building and maintaining strategic relationships with growers, nurseries, processors, retailers and other value chain partners
• Translate market insights into actions for product, portfolio and business development
• Drive the successful introduction and adoption of new varieties and innovations by using all 4 P’s.
• Identify growth opportunities and strengthen KWS's position in the Italian market
• Support trial activities and translate results into value-added propositions for customers
• Use Salesforce to manage accounts, sales opportunities, forecasting and market intelligence
• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Marketing and Breeding teams to align customer needs with future developments
• Connect customers, partners and internal stakeholders to deliver impact together

Skills & experience

• Proven experience in account management, sales, business development or commercial roles in vegetable seeds, fresh produce or a related agricultural sector
• Strong understanding of the Italian vegetable production sector and market dynamics
• Skilled in building and maintaining long-term customer relationships
• Comfortable working with data and systems such as Salesforce and Microsoft Office applications
• Able to translate market insights into concrete business opportunities
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong commercial drive
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Fluent in Italian and English (both mandatory for the role)
• Willingness to travel (>50%) throughout Italy and occasionally internationally
• Ideally based within approximately one hour of Battipaglia or Foggia

Why you'll want to join our Vegetable Squad

• Play a key role in one of KWS Vegetables' most important fresh market segments
• A role that combines account management, market development and portfolio strategy
• Direct impact on how we grow and position our spinach and Swiss chard business in Italy
• Work with an ambitious, international team that's moving fast and thinking ahead
• A visible role where your input truly shapes decisions and results
• CHUBB insurance
• Company car 
• A level 1 CCNL industria alimentare contract
• Salary range between €41,371 and €64,400

Join the team!
Ready to help shape the future of Fresh Market Spinach & Swiss Chard in Italy as our new Account Manager? Apply now through Success Factors and join our Vegetable Squad!

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Global Customer Team Lead, René van Meijel, on +31 6 82 05 50 41 or at rene.meijel@kws.com