National Account Manager

Build-A-Bear; Missouri; On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Build-A-Bear invites a National Account Manager to drive wholesale growth across national and regional accounts from mass to specialty retailers. You will be the primary partner with buyers, planners, and executives to develop joint business plans and optimize performance.

You will forecast demand, lead line reviews, and coordinate with merchandising, marketing, and supply chain to protect brand positioning while expanding the wholesale footprint.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of wholesale or national account management experience in consumer products, toys, licensed goods, or a related category.
• Proven history managing retail accounts in a variety of channels from mass to independents, while driving wholesale revenue growth.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Power BI
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
• Exceptional time management skills with a proven ability to balance long-term account growth with immediate operational demands

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day and strategic relationships with a portfolio of wholesale retail accounts, including national mass, specialty, and mid-tier retailers
• Build and execute joint business plans that deliver revenue growth while protecting brand positioning and assortment integrity
• Lead seasonal line reviews, forecasting conversations, and executive business reviews with buyer and merchant leadership
• Identify growth opportunities through new doors, expanded assortment, or promotional programming-with aneye toward the right fit, not just volume
• Partner internally with merchandising, visual merchandising, marketing, supply chain, and finance to deliver on commitments and resolve issues proactively
• Accurately forecast account-level demand and maintain a clear view of account health and pipeline
• Conduct weekly sell-through analysis by account, by style and by door; develop and implement immediate action plans to optimize inventory and sales performance
• Additional responsibilities as the wholesale function continues to grow

Skills

Account management

Wholesale channels

Communication

Time management

Relationship building

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Power BI

Job description

The National Account Manager owns a portfolio of national and regional retail accounts, serving as the primary business partner between Build-A-Bear and the buyers, planners, and executives who bring our brand to their shelves and customers. This role thinks like a merchant- understanding youraccounts'strategies, consumers, and competitive pressures andcreates joint business plans thatcreate mutual value. The National Account Manager will impact the brand as we expand our wholesale footprint.

Responsibilities:

• Own day-to-day and strategic relationships with a portfolio of wholesale retail accounts, including national mass, specialty, and mid-tier retailers
• Build and execute joint business plans that deliver revenue growth while protecting brand positioning and assortment integrity
• Lead seasonal line reviews, forecasting conversations, and executive business reviews with buyer and merchant leadership
• Identify growth opportunities through new doors, expanded assortment, or promotional programming-with aneye toward the right fit, not just volume
• Partner internally with merchandising,visual merchandising,marketing, supply chain, and finance to deliver on commitments and resolve issues proactively
• Accurately forecast account-level demand and maintain a clear view of account health and pipeline
• Conduct weekly sell-through analysisby-account, by-style ad by-door; develop and implement immediate action plans to optimize inventory and sales performance
• Additional responsibilities as the wholesale function continues to grow

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years of wholesale or national account management experience in consumer products, toys, licensed goods, or a related category
• Proven history managing retail accounts in a variety of channels from mass to independents, while driving wholesale revenue growth
• High proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Power BI
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
• Exceptional time management skills with a proven ability to balance long-term account growth with immediate operational demands

Behavioral Traits for Success:

• Confident, assertive leader who takes ownership and drives results
• Highly persuasive and socially skilled; influences others to action
• Energized by leading teams, building momentum, and setting direction
• Comfortable making decisions in fast-paced, dynamic environments
• Motivates and engages others through effective communication and presence
• Results‑focused with a bias toward action and progress
• Adaptable and resilient; thrives in change and ambiguity
• Balances authority with approachability to rally teams toward shared goals
• Typical office environment with climate control and sufficient lighting, ergonomic desk/chairs
• Corporate Office located St. Louis, MO

Your Performance Will Be Measured On:

Your performance will be measured by your ability to achieve annual department objectives and corporate goals which include but are not limited to the following:

• Decision-making, judgment, and execution
• Clear and thorough communication, both spoken and written, with internal and external parties
• Timeliness and follow-up
• Problem solving and removing obstacles
• Planning and organization
• Building strong relationships with cross-functional team members and wholesale account contacts
• Tenacity and commitment to tasks
• Internal and external stakeholder feedback

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.