Strategic Account Manager

PUMA•Edmonton, AB

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Strategic Account Manager is responsible for driving sustainable profitable growth within General Sporting Goods and Athletic Specialty channels in Western Canada; based out of Calgary. They will keep in mind brand priorities while serving the needs of the consumer. They identify opportunities for business growth in both footwear and apparel, work to strengthen relationships to maximize account performance and collaborate cross-functionally to deliver tailored solutions that meet the needs of both clients and consumers.

Requirements

BA/BS with concentration in Business, Management, Marketing, Sales preferred.
5+ years of footwear and/or apparel selling or retail buying/merchandising/planning experience.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build lasting professional relationships.
Exceptional communication skills (both oral and written) and ability to effectively communicate at all levels of the organization.
Proven ability to analyze complex data, identify opportunities, and execute innovative solutions.
Confident storyteller who can command attention, and drive retailer/account alignment.
Detail oriented with ability to prioritize and provide complete follow-through on all responsibilities and KPIs.
Sense of urgency to analyze a high volume of data/activity to meet tight deadlines.
Strong analytical skills and working knowledge of retail math financial metrics: sales, inventory, turn, gross margin $, open to buy & order book management.
Working and continued knowledge of national trends and the competitive landscape.
Strong computer proficiency in MS Office: Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, Word as well as experience using tools like PowerBI.
Flexibility to travel for account visits, market research, and regional/national sales meetings as needed.

Responsibilities

Manage and direct sales of PUMA footwear, apparel, and accessories across all genders, ensuring alignment with brand goals.
Analyze sales performance to manage product life cycles, inventory, and sell-through rates.
Identify and seize opportunities to improve existing business, penetrate new markets, and tackle challenges with data-driven, well-thought-out solutions.
Partner with internal teams, including Account Services, Marketing, Merchandising, Planning, Sales Operations, and Finance, to deliver seamless service and exceed customer expectations.
Prepare and execute seasonal product presentations, leveraging strategic negotiation and storytelling skills to secure retailer buy-in and drive results.
Seasonally manage a full sample set for sell-in with key accounts and liquidation in a timely manner.
Build strong assortments for both brick-and-mortar and digital channels, delivering a best-in-class experience that drives mutual growth.
Conduct formal sales reporting and analysis, using retailer metrics, trends, and customer data to drive actionable insights and decisions.
Stay ahead of the competitive landscape, implementing strategies to position PUMA as a market leader.
Establish and maintain strong, professional relationships with retail partners, fostering collaboration and trust.
Coordinate showroom setup and maintenance while supporting sample requests and shipment.
Stay informed on trends and account opportunities with regular market visits (at least once per month).
Contribute to special projects and adjust responsibilities as the business evolves.