Key Account Manager

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Key Account Manager to join a globally recognised manufacturing and production leader based in Penang.

This role is perfect for someone who thrives on building meaningful relationships with strategic customers, shaping product direction, and collaborating across international teams. You will be at the heart of driving product strategies tailored to key accounts, ensuring alignment with customer roadmaps, and supporting initiatives that span the entire product lifecycle. The organisation offers a supportive environment where your expertise in the semiconductor or vacuum technology sectors will be highly valued, and your ability to connect with both technical and commercial stakeholders will set you apart. With a focus on flexibility, professional growth, and working alongside knowledgeable colleagues from around the world, this is an outstanding chance to make a significant impact while developing your career.

• Play a pivotal role in managing all product-related activities for a strategic key customer account, influencing decisions from market introduction through to phase-out.
• Collaborate within a global matrix team, connecting with experts in engineering, quality, materials management, operations, and sales to deliver exceptional results.
• Enjoy flexible working opportunities and access to ongoing training and development programmes designed to support your professional journey.

What you'll do:

As a Key Account Manager based in Penang, you will immerse yourself in managing all aspects of product activities for a major strategic customer. Your day-to-day responsibilities will see you engaging deeply with both internal teams and external partners to shape the direction of high-tech products throughout their lifecycle. You will be instrumental in translating customer needs into actionable business plans that align with broader organisational goals. By fostering close collaboration across departments such as engineering, R&D, quality assurance, materials management, operations, and sales—often spanning multiple countries—you will ensure seamless execution of projects that meet or exceed expectations. Your ability to anticipate market trends and adapt strategies accordingly will be crucial in maintaining competitive advantage. Success in this role means not only meeting commercial targets but also nurturing long-term partnerships built on trust, responsiveness, and shared achievement.

• Develop and implement comprehensive product strategies for assigned key accounts by leveraging deep market insights and customer feedback.
• Define and execute account-specific tactics aimed at achieving ambitious business plan targets such as revenue growth, margin improvement, and increased market share.
• Ensure that all deliverables meet stringent customer requirements as well as internal standards and quality benchmarks.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams including sales, application engineering, research and development, quality assurance, materials management, operations, and manufacturing on a global scale.
• Craft compelling value propositions tailored to unique customer use cases and emerging technology trends within the sector.
• Provide regular sales forecasts for your account portfolio and proactively adjust plans to ensure commercial objectives are consistently met.
• Monitor progress on key initiatives using detailed KPI dashboards and report outcomes to both internal stakeholders and customers.
• Represent the company’s product and technology advancements during internal meetings as well as external engagements with customers.
• Act as the primary interface for products during customer audits, technical reviews, and business negotiations, ensuring clear communication of requirements and solutions.
• Drive coordination of product-related activities within the global matrixed account team while supporting global marketing efforts where relevant.

What you bring:

To thrive as a Key Account Manager in this environment, you will bring an impressive blend of academic credentials—ideally at Master’s or PhD level—and substantial hands-on experience from within the semiconductor or vacuum technology industries. Your background should include several years spent navigating the complexities of large-scale organisations where cross-functional teamwork is paramount. You are adept at balancing technical depth with commercial acumen; your interpersonal skills allow you to build rapport quickly whether discussing specifications with engineers or negotiating terms with procurement professionals. Your analytical mindset helps you break down complex problems into manageable actions while always keeping sight of overarching business goals. In addition to your technical prowess, your sensitivity to client needs ensures that every solution you propose is both feasible internally and valuable externally. Your commitment to continuous learning means you stay abreast of industry developments—making you an indispensable resource for both your team and your clients.

• A Master’s degree or PhD in Engineering, Physics, Economics or another relevant technical or scientific discipline is required for this position.
• At least six years’ experience working within the semiconductor industry or vacuum technology sectors is essential to excel in this role.
• Demonstrated success in key account management or product management roles within complex matrixed organisations operating on a global scale is highly desirable.
• Exceptional written and spoken communication skills in business English are necessary for effective collaboration across diverse teams.
• Proven ability to manage intricate high-tech product portfolios while leading cross-functional project groups towards common objectives.
• A strong orientation towards understanding customer needs combined with experience representing companies during technical discussions and commercial negotiations is vital.
• Analytical thinking paired with a structured approach enables you to address challenges creatively while delivering practical solutions.
• Experience driving cost improvement initiatives as well as overseeing product development cycles from concept through qualification programmes is advantageous.
• Familiarity with setting sales targets collaboratively with regional teams ensures alignment between local execution and global strategy.

What sets this company apart:

This organisation stands out as a global leader renowned for its commitment to excellence in advanced manufacturing technologies. Employees benefit from being part of an inclusive culture that values knowledge sharing, mutual respect, and personal growth. The company places great emphasis on collaborative teamwork across borders—enabling staff members to learn from some of the most knowledgeable professionals in their fields while contributing their own unique perspectives. Flexible working opportunities are available to help balance professional ambitions with personal commitments. Ongoing training programmes ensure that everyone has access to resources needed for continuous development. Above all else, employees are empowered by supportive leadership that encourages open communication and recognises individual contributions toward collective success. Joining this team means becoming part of an organisation where your expertise is celebrated—and where your career can flourish alongside some of the brightest minds in the industry.

What's next:

If you are ready to take on a rewarding challenge where your skills can truly make an impact within a world-class manufacturing environment, this could be the perfect next step for you.

Apply today or email me at jack.moh@robertwalters.com.my to discuss this new opportunity.

Do note that we will only be in touch if your application is shortlisted.

Agensi Pekerjaan Robert Walters Sdn Bhd
Business Registration Number : 729828-T
Licence Number : JTKSM 423C