Account Manager

Posting date:	02 April 2026
Salary:	£50,000 per year
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	30 April 2026
Location:	Heston, TW5 9NJ
Company:	dnata catering UK
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	DCUK200739

Summary

Who are we?

Dnata is one of the world’s largest air and travel services providers. We provide a comprehensive range of inflight catering, onboard retail, supply chain and logistics services at all major and regional airports across the UK. Dnata Catering provide expertly crafted inflight catering services, delivering fresh and high-quality meals at major and regional airports across the UK. As the leading Halal caterer in the UK, we also provide tailored experiences to meet each customer’s unique needs. We’re a leader in VIP catering, offering bespoke inflight to private and charter clients.

The Role

The role is responsible for overseeing all aspects of catering contracts are executed and ensuring efficient ongoing management and compliance. This role involves liaising with clients, suppliers, and a variety of dcUK internal stakeholders to ensure that catering services meet quality standards, contractual obligations, and financial targets and mitigate risks. The Catering Contract Manager plays a critical role in driving business growth, customer profitability, and operational efficiency in the catering department. The focus is on margin improvement & sales revenue growth for the specified accounts allocated to the role. The role will assist in the development of the sales strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Management: Administer meticulously allocated catering contract including amendments and appendices

- Ensure compliance with the Catering Agreement, overseeing main terms, schedules, and appendices, and managing new service requests, SLAs, and commercials.
- Obtain Head of Sales approval for significant contract changes requested by clients, such as adjustments to main terms, new services, or pricing principles.
- Stay informed about shifts in client needs and their impact on profitability, seeking authorization before implementing operational solutions.
- Analyse contract terms and obligations to identify risks, conflicts, and discrepancies, proposing solutions to address them effectively.
- Assess and mitigate various contract-related risks, including legal, financial, operational, and reputational concerns, safeguarding the organization's interests.
- Lead the menu presentation process for assigned accounts, balancing customer satisfaction with dcUK's commercial objectives

Growth: Identify, create and deliver new opportunities within the allocated account

- Remain informed about industry trends, competitor activities, and market dynamics to identify opportunities for accounts.
- Collaborate with the Business Growth & Profitability Manager on (re)tender responses for existing accounts, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives set by Head of Sales.
- Furnish the Head of Sales with client requirements to facilitate the development or modification of products and services.
- Oversee the implementation of ad hoc (charter) flights/briefs, collaborating closely with Account Support for seamless execution.
- Record and document market data pertaining to both customers and competitors in the CRM system to inform strategic decisions.
- Aid in the development of relevant brand material to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and messaging strategies

Account Plans: Support creation by providing sales revenue data and operational insights

- Collaborating with the Head of Sales, contribute to the development and execution of the annual, 3- and 5-year account plans.
- Support plans by tracking, reporting and forecasting sales revenue.
- Provide deep account insights and recommendations to improve sales efficiency and enhance margins

Stakeholder Relationship: Build and maintain strong relationships to operational, external and internal customers and stakeholders

- Strive to become a trusted advisor to maximize the business potential of the account and enhance relationships to ensure account profitability.
- Collaborate timely with internal stakeholders, including customer service, unit managers, legal, sales, procurement, and finance teams, to manage contracts effectively and delivery optimal customer satisfaction. Additionally, guide Account Support on any contract changes, updates, or concerns.
- Build and maintain strong external relationships with clients, vendors, suppliers, and partners, acting as the primary point of contact for contract-related inquiries, negotiations, and disputes.
- Organize and participate in regular customer visits and presentations.

Contract Performance: Report and evaluate contract key performance indicators

- Report and evaluate contract performance, tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), deliverables, milestones, and obligations to ensure timely delivery and compliance with contractual terms.
- Report sales KPIs to verify that contracted benefits, such as accurate invoicing/ payments, are consistently delivered.
- Promptly escalate any issues and risks to the Head of Sales, collaborating with Account Support if necessary, and recommend appropriate resolutions.

Required Skills

• Intermediate to Advanced skills in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, Salesforce,
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, to effectively convey ideas, negotiate terms, and resolve conflicts with clients, stakeholders, and internal teams. Strong ability to build and maintain relationships with clients fostering trust and collaboration.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing client needs, market conditions, and internal priorities, to adjust approaches to achieve business objectives.
• Understanding of profit and loss analysis to optimize profitability and meet financial targets.
• Ability to handle pressure, setbacks, and challenging client situations with resilience, maintaining professionalism, and focusing on finding solutions to overcome obstacles.
• Adaptability: flexible and open-minded in responding to ever-changing client needs and circumstances.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience of working within a sales / account management / commercial function/team
• Strong negotiation skills to lead discussions, influence decision-making, and secure favourable outcomes in contract agreements and managing expectations.
• Proficiency in identifying challenges, analysing complex situations, and developing creative solutions to address client issues.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to execute strategic account plans, aligning business objectives with client goals, and identifying growth opportunities to drive revenue and profitability.
• Strong leadership skills to lead cross-functional teams, delegate tasks effectively, and motivate team members to achieve shared goals.
• Assertiveness: confidence in asserting one's needs, opinions, and boundaries while maintaining professionalism and respect.
• Problem-solving orientation: proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues, finding creative solutions to complex problems.
• Emotional intelligence: capacity to understand and manage one's emotions, as well as navigate interpersonal dynamics with empathy and diplomacy to resolve potential conflicts effectively.

What's in it for you?

• An opportunity to be part of the Emirates global family.
• Free breakfast, lunch and dinner on site
• Free tea and coffee
• Simply health Plan
• Refer a Friend Scheme
• Discounted gym membership at over 2000 gyms nationwide
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Opportunity to enhance your learning through our inhouse apprenticeship programme

If you're invited to interview, please let us know if there are any adjustments we can make to ensure you're cleared for take-off and able to perform at your best. We’re committed to making the recruitment journey as smooth and inclusive as possible.

Our roles attract high volumes of applications, so it may take us a little time to taxi through them all. We aim to respond to every application within 14 days. If you haven’t heard from us by then — or if you have any questions about this or other opportunities — feel free to contact a member of our Talent crew for further assistance.

We appreciate your patience while we navigate the runway!