About the job
About Learning Resources

We are on a mission to bring learning to life! We are Learning Resources®, and learning is where we play. Voted one of the Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces every year for the last four years, we’re a 150-person strong, family-owned company who make award-winning educational toys, including top sellers Pretend & Play® Calculator Cash Register, Farmer’s Market Color Sorting Set and Toy of the Year winners Botley® the Coding Robot and Coding Critters®. We share that dedication to learning across our family of companies. Learning Resources team members work closely with the curriculum experts at hand2mind, as well as Educational Insights, makers of hit viral products including Kanoodle®, GeoSafari® Jr., and Playfoam®. We even help pets learn and grow through our pet brands Brightkins® and Hunger for Words™.

We pride ourselves on being committed to our employee’s personal and professional development, a thriving culture and a diverse, creative atmosphere. Along with our competitive benefits package, we offer opportunities for training and development by top university professors as well as in-demand, motivating external speakers. We are looking for professionals who are truly just kids at heart! Come join our award-winning team today!

Team & Position Description

Working as a National Account Manager, Pets at Learning Resources is a role rooted in new business development and collaboration across sales, finance, product development and brand teams. Here's why it's awesome:

Contribute to strategic and tactical account planning. Lead daily execution of sales plans. Lead joint business planning. Develop sales forecasts and work closely with senior management to establish sales plans and strategic objectives. Review and analyze reports for increased sales, lost sales, and general status of business.
Collaborate with internal teams across Marketing, Product Development, Finance and Sales to develop products, programs and promotions that drive growth within the mass consumer retail and e-commerce markets. Plan and direct the execution of strategic sales initiatives and maximize the opportunities through effective use of Company resources.
Seek, identify and close new business opportunities using market research and comprehensive development of industry knowledge and contacts.
Develop strong relationships with key decision-makers. Earn credibility within the industry and demonstrate solid knowledge of competitive strategies and consumer trends.
Manage the Rep agencies when appropriate to optimize sales potential for their scope of responsibilities to include product knowledge, terms, problem solving and maximizing profitability.
Attend Trade Shows, reviewing new products and seeking out new business. Know competition's product and be acquainted with the deals and terms they offer.


KPOs (Key Performance Objectives)

Drive Revenue Through New Business Development: Secure new accounts and distribution channels to support revenue growth in order to lead expansion into Learning Resources pet channel by achieving the annual sales budget.
Execute Strategic Contract Negotiations: Successfully negotiate pricing, promotions, and distribution terms with business partners in order to secure favorable agreements that align with company profitability and market goals.
Foster Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate with internal departments (marketing, product development, supply chain, finance) to align sales initiatives with overall business strategy. Ensure smooth coordination and communication across all functions.
Leverage Industry Intelligence to Inform Strategy: Analyze trends and insights within the pet industry in order to develop actionable plans based on market intelligence and enhance revenue and market position.
Represent Company at Tradeshows and Industry events: Attend trade shows and industry events as a company representative in order to build relationships, promote brand presence, and identify new business opportunities.
Deliver Insightful Reporting and Analysis: Provide consistent updates on sales performance, market share, and key metrics. Use data insights to recommend strategic actions and support informed decision-making.


Requirements/Ideal Attributes

BS/BA is required.
5-10 years prior industry experience is required, mass consumer retail experience strongly preferred.
Minimum 2 years’ experience managing outside Representatives in a results driven culture.
Proven track record of excellence in sales activity.
Strong computer skills; Microsoft Office Suite
Experience with strategic planning, budgeting (including P&L) and expense management.
Strong communication skills with internal and external stakeholders.


We are a drug-free workplace and an EEO employer.

Please note: This role will be filled by our internal recruitment team, so no assistance is needed from any outside staffing agency at this time.

Salary Range: $135,000 - $145,000 plus commissions – Actual compensation may vary due to other factors such as: years of experience, skill set or location. Total compensation includes profit sharing bonus potential, 401k matching, and a variety of other benefits (details can be found here ).