Key Account Manager, Pets

Learning Resources; Vernon Hills (IL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit sharing bonus potential

401k matching

Variety of benefits

Job summary

Learning Resources in Vernon Hills, IL, is seeking a Key Account Manager for their Brightkins brand aimed at the pet industry. This full-time role involves identifying new business opportunities, collaborating across teams, and developing strategic sales plans.

The ideal candidate has a BS/BA, 3-5 years of sales experience, especially in the pet retail sector. The position offers a salary range of $95,000 to $115,000 annually, plus commissions and additional benefits.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in a sales hunter role is required, preferably at Petco or PetSmart.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience managing outside representatives.
• Proven track record of excellence in sales activities.

Responsibilities

• Identify and close new business opportunities in the pet industry.
• Contribute to sales plans and business strategy with management.
• Develop relationships with key decision-makers at pet accounts.

Skills

Sales experience

Market research

Communication skills

Strategic planning

Education

BS/BA

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Key Account Manager, Pets

Regular Full-Time

Sales

Learning Resources, Vernon Hills, IL, US

Salary Range: $95,000.00 To $115,000.00 Annually

About Learning Resources

We are Learning Resources®, and learning is where we play. Voted one of the Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces, we’re a growing, family-owned company known for our award-winning educational toys, including top sellers Pretend & Play® Calculator Cash Register, Farmer’s Market Color Sorting Set and multiple Toy of the Year winners! We even help pets learn and grow through our pet brand Brightkins®. If you’re curious, collaborative, and a kid at heart, you’ll feel right at home here. Join us in shaping the future of learning with our award-winning team!

Team & Position Description

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

• Seek, identify and close new business opportunities using market research and comprehensive development of pet industry knowledge and contacts.
• In conjunction with senior management, contribute to strategic and tactical account planning including daily execution of sales plans, joint business planning, and developing sales forecasts.
• Review and analyze reports for trends in increased sales, lost sales, and general status of business.
• Collaborate with internal teams across Marketing, Product Development, Creative, Finance and Sales to develop products, programs and promotions that drive growth within the mass consumer retail and e-commerce markets.
• Develop strong relationships with key decision-makers at key pet accounts while earning credibility within the industry
• Attend Trade Shows to learn about competitors, show new products and seek out new business opportunities.
• Perform other duties and assume additional responsibilities as assigned to support business and team objectives.

What We’re Looking For (Key Performance Objectives)

• Within the first 30 days: establish internal relationships with cross functional partners as well as customers in order to become the main point of contact for our pet brand and business.
• Within the first 60 days: initiate direct outreach to target accounts with a goal of setting 5 new meetings monthly.
• Within the first 90 days: secure new accounts, distribution gains or formal retailer commitments to increase revenue impact and work towards hitting quota numbers.
• Within the first year, performance will be measured by the success of building a strong new business pipeline, securing new distribution and customers, and converting opportunities into measurable revenue growth.

Requirements/Ideal Attributes

• BS/BA is required.
• 3-5 years prior experience in a sales hunter role is required, Petco and PetSmart experience strongly preferred.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience managing outside Representatives in a results driven culture.
• Proven track record of excellence in sales activity.
• Experience with strategic planning, budgeting (including P&L), and expense management.
• Strong communication skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong computer skills; Microsoft Office Suite
• Required travel: 30% of the time including trade shows, customer meetings (located in the US and Canada), and team meetings (Chicago, IL).

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: $95,000 - $115,000 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).