Account Manager

MGA Entertainment; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

MGA Entertainment seeks an Account Manager - Alternative Channels to own and grow key retail accounts beyond Walmart, Target, and Amazon in the US. You will lead account strategy, forecasting, and POS analysis while exploring new channels such as Home Depot and Lowe's to broaden brand presence.

Responsibilities include developing bottom-up forecasts, coordinating seasonal plans, and driving distribution growth while maintaining strong retailer relationships. Travel ~2x quarterly is expected.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of sales management experience in the toy industry.
• Established retailer relationships with buyers, planners, and replenishment teams.
• Proven margin, forecast planning, and budgeting experience.
• Solid understanding of FOB import and domestic shipping procedures.
• Bachelor's Degree in Business; proficient with Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams.
• Willingness and ability to travel ~2x quarterly.

Responsibilities

• Account management and development across non-traditional channels, building strong buyer relationships.
• Collaborative forecasting and planning with item-level forecasts and seasonal business plans.
• Prospecting and channel expansion to open new accounts and increase PODs outside traditional retailers.
• Lead weekly buyer updates, recap meetings, and support national sales events and trade shows.
• Track weekly POS data and insights to inform monthly business reviews.

Skills

Account management

Retail partnerships

Forecasting

POS analysis

Excel proficiency

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Teams

Job description

Are you a strategic sales professional in the toy industry looking to own and expand key retail accounts beyond traditional big-box stores?

We are seeking an Account Manager - Alternative Channels to drive sales growth, build high-value retail partnerships, and maximize brand presence across all US retail distribution outside of Walmart, Target, and Amazon. In this role, you will lead account strategy, execute bottom-up collaborative forecasting, analyze weekly POS trends, and prospect untapped retail channels (e.g., Home Depot, Lowe's, AutoZone) to bring our products to new audiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Account Management & Development (30%): Build strong rapport across buyer teams, planners, and replenishment personnel; respond promptly to customer requests; and act as the subject matter expert on key product categories and competitive trends.
• Collaborative Forecasting & Planning (20%): Develop bottom-up item-level forecasts, establish seasonal business plans, and review quarterly promotional/SAP plans with buyers and internal leadership.
• Prospecting & Channel Expansion (20%): Drive new business growth by opening new accounts and expanding points of distribution (PODs) across non-traditional retail channels.
• Communication & Alignment (20%): Lead weekly buyer updates, recap meetings, perform monthly store checks, and participate in national sales and trade show events.
• POS & Market Analysis (10%): Track weekly POS data, identify early-season sales trends, evaluate competitive activity, and incorporate insights into monthly business reviews.

What We're Looking For

• Industry Experience: 3-5+ years of successful sales management or sales experience specifically within the toy industry.
• Retailer Relationships: Strong, established connections with retail buyers, marketing managers, planners, and replenishment teams.
• Financial Acumen: Proven expertise in margin expectations, forecast planning, and budget management.
• Operational Knowledge: Solid understanding of FOB Import and Domestic shipping procedures.
• Education & Tech Skills: Bachelor's Degree in Business required; advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams).
• Adaptability & Mobility: Disciplined strategic planner with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to travel ~2x quarterly.