Retail Account Manager (Toronto based)

Description

Whisker is redefining what it means to live with cats-designing intelligent systems that remove friction, elevate the everyday, and celebrate the quiet brilliance of feline companionship. Today, Litter-Robot leads the category. Tomorrow, an entire ecosystem that expands what’s possible for cats and the people who love them. We believe the future is feline. And we’re imagining that future today.

Our teams are primarily based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and Juneau, Wisconsin. However this position will be remote in Toronto. Our team of 700+ passionate pet people thrives on collaboration, innovation, and the occasional office cameo from a four-legged friend.

What You’ll Do:

Whisker, the maker of Litter-Robot, is growing quickly in Canada, and we're hiring our first dedicated Canadian Account Manager to lead that growth. You'll own Whisker's relationships with major Canadian retailers, including Costco, PetSmart, NLI, Canadian Tire, TSC and Best Buy, along with the distributors and sales agencies that support them. As the first person in this role in Canada, you'll shape how we go to market. That means building processes, setting strategic direction, and handling everything from buyer negotiations to SKU setup. It's a high-ownership role with a direct line to business results and a chance to lay the foundation for Whisker's long-term success in Canada.

What Makes This Role Different

• You're the team in Canada. This is a solo role with no direct reports. You're comfortable owning an entire market, and you stay motivated without someone checking in.
• You sell with a strategy. Volume for its own sake isn't the goal. You care about margin, channel fit and long-term account health, and you're confident making recommendations and decisions to match.
• No task is beneath you. One day you're presenting a growth plan to a buyer, and the next you're completing SKU setup forms. You're happy to roll up your sleeves to get things done.
• You take your work seriously, not yourself. A sense of humor and a love for pets go a long way here, since some of our best coworkers have four legs, or wings, or fins.

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.

• Takes ownership of revenue and margin targets for Whisker's Canadian retail business
• Identifies, evaluates and launches new Canadian retail accounts and channels. Builds the case for each opportunity, gets in front of buyers, pitches the business, and leads new partners from first conversation through to launch
• Defines, optimizes, and grows key retail channels by owning Whisker's full relationship with retailers, distributors, and sales agencies. Sets partner strategy and holds all parties to agreed goals, deadlines, and deliverables
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with retail buyers. Works closely with each account to find growth opportunities, strengthen Whisker's competitive position, and meet or exceed sales plans
• Manages the day-to-day work that keeps accounts running smoothly, including:
  • new item and SKU setup forms
  • retailer portals, EDI and purchase order flow
  • working with internal teams on import requirements and bilingual labelling and packaging requirements
• Submits accurate demand forecasts so the right product reaches customers on time, supporting profitable volume within budget
• Partners with Marketing to plan and deploy promotional and co-op funds effectively, fully document support plans, and track deductions through to resolution
• Makes sure each retailer's needs are met within Whisker's channel strategy. Works with internal creative and marketing teams to tailor assortment, content, and programs to each channel
• Tracks retailer and partner performance, including sell-through, fill rates, chargebacks, and compliance. Finds root causes and drive fixes
• Keeps internal stakeholders informed and act as a thought partner, so changes to customer strategy are understood and resources stay aligned
• Captures and analyzes market data, sales trends, and competitive insights to inform business decisions
• Continuously looks for ways to improve profitability with each retail partner
• Oversees trade shows, product launch events and promotional campaigns to build market visibility
• Performs additional responsibilities when required

Requirements

What You’ll Bring:

• BS in Marketing, Communications, Business, or related field
• 5+ years of sales experience working with large retailers, ideally managing sales in mass retail, consumer electronics, or pet
• Proven ability to build and sustain strong relationships with retail buyers and partners to drive business growth.
• Demonstrated success in meeting or exceeding sales targets, opening new retail accounts, and finding growth opportunities within key retail channels.
• Expertise in analyzing performance metrics, forecasting, and resolving issues to optimize profitability and performance.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to align internal stakeholders and collaborate cross-functionally.
• Experience in managing retail channels and aligning product offerings with market demands and defined strategies.
• Ability to optimize promotional funds and profitability initiatives while managing budgets effectively.
• Proactive and flexible in addressing evolving business needs and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Ability to work across teams, functions, and all levels of the organization to manage the business effectively and efficiently.
• Ability to travel 25- 40%, including monthly retailer visits and potential trade shows
• Located in the Greater Toronto Area.
• 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)

Not Required but Nice to Have!

• Experience working with distributors and sales agencies
• Proficiency in French (written and spoken) to support Quebec retail partners and review bilingual packaging and marketing materials

Statement of Inclusivity:

We believe different perspectives make Whisker better and strive to create a place where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.

While Whisker is an AI-forward organization, we will not ask you to interview with an AI agent. We lead with a human first approach for hiring. We ask that you refrain from using an AI tools during any interview.

Please ensure to regularly check your email spam folder for any communication from Whisker to avoid missing important updates regarding your application status.

Salary Description

$80,000-85,000.00 USD