Sr. Marketing Manager, Digital Shelf

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 seeking a Sr Manager, Digital Shelf to join our Marketing team. This team serves as the center of excellence for all keyword and content optimization strategies that drive discoverability and sell-through across Amazon, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, Chewy, and other retailer websites. The team translate POS and UPSPW goals into actionable plans, then coordinate with Sales, Media, Brand, Influencer Marketing, and Analytics to deliver results. This role is ideal for someone who is analytical, understands how retailer search and content drive performance, and can turn data into clear priorities for their team and cross-functional partners.

What you’ll do day to day:

• Build a performance-oriented team that drives measurable results.
• Lead the Digital Shelf team responsible for keyword research, content optimization, and brand stores across Amazon, Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, Chewy, and other retailer websites.
• Lead annual business planning against POS and UPSPW goals, then closely manage performance throughout the year. When results are off track, identify the problem, reset priorities, and lead cross-functional teams to close the gap.
• Guide the team’s keyword strategy that guides product content, organic search, paid media, and other traffic-driving efforts, balancing traditional SEO with emerging GEO requirements.
• Direct the Media team’s retail search priorities, including which products and keywords to support. Regularly review campaign structure, efficiency, and attributed sales to ensure media is contributing to total account growth.
• Oversee the digital shelf strategy for new product launches and key seasonal events, including Prime Day and other retailer-specific promotional periods.
• Partner with Sales and retailer site merchants to secure digital placement, support promotional opportunities, and improve sell-through.
• Work closely with Influencer Marketing, Brand, Product Development, and Creative to build and execute programs that improve traffic, conversion, and POS.
• Oversee digital shelf reporting and analytics, using performance data to identify issues, prioritize opportunities and improve results.
• Own the digital shelf technology stack and champion new tools, AI, and automation that improve the team’s impact and capacity, partnering with IT on larger implementations.

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

• Within the first 90 days, assess current retailer performance, keyword strategy, and content effectiveness, then present recommendations to improve growth and productivity.
• Within the first 6 months, oversee the development of annual business plans for Amazon, Walmart, and Target that align sell-through goals with keyword, content, media, and promotional strategies.
• Within the first 6 months, assess the Digital Shelf organization and implement changes to roles, processes, and ways of working that improve efficiency, accountability, and business results.
• Within the first 12 months, implement a keyword research automation solution that increases team capacity by at least 200% while improving the quality and consistency of optimization efforts.

Ideal attributes:

• 10+ years of experience in digital shelf, ecommerce, retail search, or content optimization.
• Strong understanding of how keywords, content, media, and promotions drive sell-through.
• Highly analytical and comfortable turning data into action.
• Proven team leader who builds accountability around measurable results.
• Strong cross-functional partner who is willing to dig into the details and push for results.
• Experience with digital shelf technology, AI, and automation.

Physical Demands:

• Standing – up to 10% of the time
• Sitting – up to 90% of the time
• Oral communication and audio skills
• Visual skills to work with customer accounts which require use of a computer
• Ability to lift up to 20lbs

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: $140,000 – $155,000 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).