Sales Manager, International Sales

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:

We are currently seeking Sales Manager, International Sales to own direct relationships with select customers within International markets, such as Asia, Australia and Latin America. The Sales Manager, International Sales is responsible for driving sales across key customers within their assigned territories. This role focuses on executing regional sales plans, managing key customer relationships, and supporting growth across the Toy, Education, and Pet markets within the assigned territories.

Working closely with cross-functional partners including Marketing, Product Development, Operations, and Finance, this role helps implement go-to-market strategies aligned to the needs of each region. The Sales Manager is responsible for growing existing international accounts, identifying and onboarding new customers, and expanding into new markets and channels.

What you’ll do day to day:

• Territory Management: Manage and grow the existing customer base (school suppliers, retailers, distributors) in assigned markets across Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America and the Caribbean while proactively identifying and pursuing new business opportunities to reach annual sales budget goal.
• New Business Development: Identify, pursue, and close new business opportunities through market research and knowledge in specific assigned territories.
• Account Planning: Contribute to strategic account planning within assigned markets, develop sales forecasts, and support execution of sales plans across the assigned territories.
• Cross-Functional Execution: Partner with Sales Support, Marketing, Product Development, Operations, and Finance to bring new products, programs, and promotions to market and support growth within assigned territories.
• Ecommerce Account Support: Support customers operating brand stores across key ecommerce platforms in-region, including but not limited to Amazon, Mercado Libre, Tmall, Shopee, Lazada, Tokopedia, and TikTok Shop.
• Customer Presentations & Line Reviews: Deliver compelling product presentations, both virtually and in-person, to expand assortment and drive incremental business with customers.
• Trade Shows and Market Engagement: Represent the company at domestic and international trade shows, identify new exhibition opportunities, and travel to key markets to present products and programs.
• Customer Support & Sales Enablement: Coordinate with internal teams to fulfill customer needs, including various sales enablement tools, catalogs, dealer portals, creative assets, imagery, video, and trade show support.

What we’re looking for (Key Performance Objectives):

• Business Planning: Within the first 60 days, conduct an assessment of assigned markets, including revenue performance by account, channel coverage, pricing structure, competitive landscape and risk factors.
• Channel Strategy and Roadmap Development: Within the first 90 days, in partnership with the Sr. International Sales Manager, create a multi-year channel business plan by region, defining the optimal mix of distributors, retailers and e-commerce platforms to maximize growth potential.
• Strategic Planning and Forecasting: Within the first 90 days, establish process for leading Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with key customers and internal stakeholders to assess performance. Make recommendations for driving revenue and accelerating growth across priority accounts and channels.
• Marketing Support and Promotional Strategy: Within the first 120 days, partner with Marketing to develop and implement market-specific promotional strategies for priority regions and accounts, including localized content, pricing/promotional calendars, and go-to-market plans, resulting in improved product visibility, customer engagement, and sales performance.

Requirements/Ideal Attributes:

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5+ years of international sales experience preferred.
• Toy or other related consumer products industry experience strongly preferred.
• Proven track record of excellence in sales. Performance-driven with analytical skills.
• Demonstrated selling and persuasion skills as well as strong knowledge of the industry’s products/services.
• Self-motivated, able to work with a minimum of supervision and prioritize multiple tasks in a proactive manner. Ability to handle ambiguity and work in a fast paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Experience working with or selling to Ecommerce platforms is a plus.
• Fluent in both English and another foreign language spoken in the territory: Spanish, Chinese, Japanese or Korean preferred.
• Advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office products, specifically Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience with strategic planning, budgeting (including P&L) and expense management.

Physical Demands:

• Standing – up to 20% of the time
• Sitting – up to 80% of the time
• Lifting – Ability to lift up to 35 pounds
• Travel: up to 30%

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.

Compensation Range: $100,000 – $115,000 annual salary – Actual compensation may vary due to other factors such as: years of experience, skill set and location. Total compensation includes profit sharing bonus potential, 401k matching, and a variety of other benefits (details can be found here).

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