The Manager of Visual Merchandising Operations will assume a critical role in overseeing the visual merchandising process from day-to-day responsibilities to future planning of product launches. The candidate will oversee all facets of visual merchandising operations, between seasonal merchandising updates and new door openings across our global retailers. Operational responsibilities will encompass tasks such as accounting, product ordering, shipping, repair and maintenance, and field communications, while also integrating advanced project management skills to support a high level of operational excellence. Additionally, this candidate will manage specific retailer accounts and lead the planning and execution of the seasonal updates.

This role is hybrid and is open to candidates in the Los Angeles or Orange County, CA metropolitan area.

Responsibilities:

Project Management

• Communicate and flow information in a timely and efficient manner to internal and external partners through meetings and email communications. Send out meeting agendas and issue actionable recaps. Keep all parties informed of progress and changes.
• Pro-actively assess potential risks to projects and communicate critical information to all team members. Offer solutions and workarounds as needed.
• Integrate and manage timelines between the fixture vendors, sales, marketing, and creative teams to plan the global seasonal updates timeline.
• Partner with sales and product marketing to ensure assortments are accurate for merchandising.Serve as the visual merchandising lead for day-to-day project updates.
• Input projects into asana, including tasks and timelines. Follow up to ensure projects are executed on time.
• Ensure merchandising documents within Dropbox are organized and updated.
• Act as the point-person for display/graphic vendors, regional and field partners. Lead regular status calls and ensure timely and effective communication for projects.
• Maintain an organized database of all merchandising documents. 

VM Planning and Display Development

• Oversee the display development process from planogramming to technical drawing review through prototype approval for seasonal updates and secondary displays for retailer accounts. 
• Create Illustrator-based planograms that take into consideration the product flow, design, and budget. Plan several seasons ahead to ensure there is ample space for the assortment.
• Present planogram options to team manager and senior leadership to gain approvals.
• Create briefs for vendors to clearly communicate the displays and graphics needed. 
• Lead weekly calls with fixture and print vendors to manage the development progress.
• Review technical drawings and share revisions with vendors
• Work closely with creative to ensure there is ample collaboration for graphics and print execution.
• Review prototypes and graphic samples to ensure design and execution are of high quality.
• Review instruction sheets and make revisions as needed.
• Review quotes to ensure costs fall within the budget. Value-engineer the design as needed.
• Interview prospective vendors for new projects and oversee the bidding process.

Visual Merchandising Operations

• Maintain databases for door counts and merchandising inventory.
• Create forecasts and orders for comps, testers, and products.
• Ship and receive graphics and prototypes during the design development phase.
• Oversee tracking and shipping of updates, communicating timing and risks.
• Coordinate with vendors to supply distribution lists and final graphic/display orders.
• Serve as the VM point person for the regional field. Lead quarterly meetings to latest updates.
• Oversee repair and maintenance program and after-market care process.
• Conduct regular store visits to assess Ilia display quality and monitor trends in the beauty industry
• Maintain a photo library of Ilia and competitive gondolas and displays.
• Help to create brand-based merchandising guidelines and standards.
• Create and implement new processes and programs to help gain operational excellence.

Accounting

• Review annual budget and seasonal allocations with senior management for OPEX and CAPEX guidelines. Track all departmental spending.

• Verify vendor quotes and obtain approvals before creating POs.

• Generate quarterly spending reports and flag overages.

• Work with finance to ensure POs are approved and accrued within the correct season.

• Maintain an organized database of financial documents. 

• 5 years of visual merchandising operations experience, preferably with a beauty or personal products brand

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, while meeting deadlines and maintaining high-quality standards

• Exceptional organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Proficiency in project management software and modeling software; Asana & SketchUp preferred

• Intermediate understanding of design (e.g. technical drawings), materials, prototyping, and production processes required