Account Manager (Chewy, PetSmart)

Description

Whisker is the maker of Litter-Robot, Feeder-Robot, and Litterbox.com. At Whisker, we believe pet parenthood can always get better.

As leading innovators in pet tech and refined pet accessories, we work tirelessly to solve problems and deliver smarter insights for pet parents while enriching the lives of pets. Whether it’s a self-cleaning litter box that automates scooping, an automatic feeder that helps pets develop healthier eating habits, or a modern cat tree that delights both humans and felines, we strive to deliver better solutions for consumers while transforming pet care along the way. To us, having a pet is the best thing ever. At Whisker, life together just keeps getting better.

Whisker is based in Auburn Hills, Michigan and Juneau, Wisconsin with 600+ passionate team members.

What You’ll Do:

As the first designated Account Manager in this role, you’ll be at the forefront of shaping and growing key client relationships in a rapidly expanding company. This is a unique opportunity to build and define processes, set strategic direction, and directly impact the success of the business. You’ll be an integral part of a growing team, helping to lay the foundation for long-term growth and success.

Summary:

This role involves managing and optimizing relationships with key retail partners like PetSmart, Chewy, and independent pet stores to drive sales growth and achieve strategic goals. Responsibilities include strategic planning, collaboration with marketing, forecasting, performance analysis, and ensuring effective internal and external communication to meet profitability and channel strategy objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

• Defines, optimizes and grows key retail channels by overseeing the totality of Whisker’s relationship with key retailers (PetSmart, Chewy, and independent pet stores). 
• Provides strategic oversight and thought partnership with internal stakeholders to optimize Whisker’s place with the retail partners.
• Develops, motivates, manages, and maintains an effective relationship with retail buyers at PetSmart, Chewy, and independent pet retailers. 
• Optimizes the company’s competitive position; works closely with the retailer to develop and maximize business opportunities in an effort to achieve or exceed sales plan.
• Manages external partner strategy and relationships focused on meeting and exceeding goals, deadlines and key deliverables as defined by internal targets and partner requirements.
• Maintains effective and timely internal communication with key stakeholders to ensure adjustments to customer strategies are understood and available resources are aligned efficiently.
• Collaborates with Marketing to ensure the effective utilization of promotional and marketing funds to develop and expand business at respective retailers fully document support plans and ensure timely tracking of deductions.
• Continuously seeks profitability optimization initiatives with the retailer. 
• Ensures retail business needs are met without compromising the defined market channel strategy; develops, markets and sells products appropriate to the channel as defined within strategy guidelines by leveraging capacity and creativity of the creative resources.
• Submits accurate forecasts to ensure the delivery of the appropriate product to customers in a timely and efficient manner to achieve profit volume, while remaining within budgetary guidelines.
• Analyzes vendor performance metrics and identifies issues and root-causes, ultimately solving vendor performance issues or problems.
• Will perform additional responsibilities when required 

Requirements

What You’ll Bring:

• BS in Marketing, Communications, Business, or related field 
• 5+ years sales experience working with large retailers including managing sales in PetSmart, Chewy, and others in the Pet Industry
• Ability to travel 40% (at least once a month)
• Maintains confidentiality of proprietary information
• Ability to maintain a professional atmosphere in a fast-paced environment with numerous interactions and interruptions
• A high degree of initiative, self-motivation, and ability to motivate others
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Team Members and colleagues
• Comfortable with office pets (cats, dogs) 
• Located in or willing to relocate to the Detroit metropolitan area and able to work from the Auburn Hills office 4 days per week 
• Ideal applicant should have a sense o