Strategic Account Manager

The Bernard Group Inc•Chanhassen, MN

1d•$95,000 - $116,000•Onsite

About The Position

Do you want to work for a company where your co-workers are co-owners? We are 100% employee owned! At The Bernard Group, we work to wow. As a visual merchandising company leading the retail industry in design and production, we come together as a team to win big for some of the most successful brands in the world. Since we’re an employee-owned company, we don’t just list our values, we live them, providing the highest-quality products and services day in and day out. And we do it all with sustainable materials carefully sourced from eco-friendly partners that support social change and community involvement. We are seeking a Strategic Account Manager to serve as a key partner for our clients and internal teams, overseeing the planning, coordination, and execution of complex prototyping and fixture projects. In this role, you’ll collaborate closely with Sales, Project Management, Design/Prototyping, and Production to ensure projects are delivered efficiently, on time, and with optimal use of resources. In this role, you will build strong, trusted relationships with key clients, acting as their primary point of contact while proactively managing timelines, dependencies, and vendor resources. You’ll identify project interdependencies, support critical path planning, and help align work across teams to minimize unnecessary labor or headcount. Additionally, you’ll work alongside sales teams to identify growth opportunities, promote product innovations, and contribute to new business development. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and enjoys balancing strategic account ownership with hands-on project coordination. Shift available: Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (This role is performed on-site at our headquarters location in Chanhassen, Minnesota.)

Requirements

pay close attention to details so you are able to manage multiple complex projects accurately while meeting deadlines, budgets, and quality standards
have strong knowledge of project management tools, scheduling methodologies, Excel, and Google Workspace
be self-motivated, strategic, and proactive in identifying customer, resource, and organizational needs
have the ability to work independently, make sound decisions, and solve problems effectively and creatively
apply effective time management and self-management skills in a fast-paced environment
demonstrate excellent judgment when balancing resources, timelines, and competing priorities
understand and maintain the confidential nature of company, employee, and customer information
able to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing. Strong interpersonal skills including, demonstrated listening skills and the ability to present ideas and thoughts concisely and effectively both internally and outside the organization
willing to admit when you make a mistake (it happens to the best of us)
fiercely loyal to both our customers and team
trustworthy, reliable, and easy to get along with
enthusiastic and eager to take on new challenges
adaptable and willing to wear whatever hat gets the job done

Nice To Haves

a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field
10+ years of project management experience, preferably within the retail industry
experience supporting complex, cross-functional projects involving prototyping, fixtures, or production

Responsibilities

collaborate with Sales, Project Management, Prototyping/Design, and Production to ensure visibility and alignment across all prototyping and fixture projects
attend client meetings with or on behalf of the Account Executive to support projects from concept through in-store execution
manage day-to-day project communication for key accounts
create and maintain an overarching master project schedule integrating timelines, resources, risks, and budgets
kick off new projects with production teams and steering committees, collecting inputs and building pricing matrices for Account Executive review
assess department workloads, identify interdependencies, and flag potential risks or constraints across teams
balance and allocate resources across multiple projects, escalating concerns and recommending mitigation strategies to senior leadership
develop contingency plans by identifying alternative resources, vendors, or materials as needed
track actual versus planned project deliverables, timelines, and resource utilization, proactively driving solutions to ensure on-time, high-quality delivery
provide direction, delegate work, and support team members as assigned
plan, prioritize, and manage your own work in a fast-paced environment
perform other duties as requested by management