Brand Operations Manager - Oakville - ACI Brands Inc.

Description

Brand Operations Manager, Prestige Fragrances

Vacancy Status: Replacing an existing vacancy.

Job Description:

This Brand Operations Manager – Prestige Fragrances position reports to the Director of Marketing. This role is responsible for the operational governance and execution of marketing programs and strategies supporting assigned fragrance brands in Canada. The role services all channels of distribution and acts as the central operational liaison between Brand, Sales, Supply Chain, Warehouse, Finance, Field, Creative, and PUIG partners to drive disciplined execution, mitigate risk, and support brand growth.

Key Management Responsibilities:

• Execute project management of fragrance launches in accordance with brand expectations, aligning timelines, targets, inventory availability, and post-launch reviews.
• Own seasonal launch intake from PUIG marketing calendars and BOMs, translating global inputs into retailer-ready execution plans across all channels.
• Own and govern the seasonal Order Flow as the single source of truth, managing weekly change updates, communication, and cross-functional alignment to ensure accuracy across Sales, Supply Chain, and Brand teams. The Order Flow drives promotional timing, GSV targets, and warehouse BOM builds and is reviewed bi-weekly.
• Own PUIG seasonal operating cadence, including Promo Meetings, Demand Consensus, and Order Flow Change Trackers, ensuring timely updates, escalation of risks, and alignment across ACI and PUIG stakeholders.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects to ensure launches and programs remain on track in a fast-paced retail environment.
• Own monthly Board Deck preparation and coordination, consolidating inputs from Sales, Analytics, and Brand to present results, KPIs, market context, and competitive insights to ACI and PUIG leadership.
• Own bi-annual Governance Deck preparation in partnership with Sales and PUIG, including KPIs, LE outlook, inventory health, space/location review, and forward-looking launch planning.
• Maintain strong understanding of Retail, Gross, and Net Sales targets and the relationship between sales objectives, inventory flow, and shipment timing.
• Lead the monthly Marketing touch-base with ACI and PUIG stakeholders to align priorities, risks, and execution status.

Operational Responsibilities

• Oversee and produce all internal/external retailer support documents, including, but not limited to:
• Seasonal GS1 submissions
• Internal fragrance BOM consolidation and item creation
• Sell-sheets for program solicitation at select retailers
• Order forms for small and independent retailers
• Maintenance of retailer-specific price lists
• Coordinate seasonal price changes by retailer, including dissemination of price lists and increase letters, and ensure internal system updates are completed prior to effective dates.
• Oversee and lead seasonal National Sales Meeting planning, partnering cross-functionally on materials, timelines, and vendor coordination.
• Participate in weekly Net Call reviews, identifying shipment risks, timing gaps, returns, and markdown impacts, and escalating concerns to Sales and Finance.
• Communicate actionable insights from retail, field, and consumer feedback to Management and PUIG partners.
• Partner with Sales and Merchandising to equip field teams with tools and guidance for in-store execution.
• Review and optimize planogram performance in collaboration with Brand and Sales teams to maximize sell-through.
• Recommend innovative marketing initiatives to increase brand growth and market share in the fragrance category.
• Provide bi-monthly in-store activity calendars to support BA and field execution.
• Prepare presentations for clients, retailers, management, and internal departments.
• Manage obsolescence and discontinuation planning for fragrance items.
• Support eCommerce sampling and gifting programs through BOM and inventory coordination.

Finance & Forecasting Responsibilities:

• Assess sell-in versus sell-out performance and identify gaps in collaboration with Sales.
• Participate in monthly budget and latest estimate reviews, identifying risks and required mitigations.
• Demonstrate fiscal responsibility through disciplined management of expenses, inventory exposure, and promotional risk.
• Partner with Account Managers to review forecasts and monitor saleable, promotional, tester, and POSM inventory.
• Track returns, markdowns, and RA activity in collaboration with Sales, Accounting, and PUIG to ensure accurate net sales visibility.
• Collaborate with PUIG Demand Planning to assess inventory risks, incremental needs, and forecast adjustments.

Communications Responsibilities:

• Develop strong working relationships with local and global PUIG counterparts, suppliers, and vendors.
• Lead and attend cross-functional briefings on product reviews, timelines, and launch execution
• Maintain structured communication rhythms (weekly brand connects, monthly full-team connects).
• Translate market, NPD, and competitive insights into clear implications for execution and planning.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in marketing preferred
• 1 to 2 years of experience in Fragrances, CPG or related fields
• Proficient in MS Office, Smartsheet, and Adobe Suites
• Analytical mindset to review, analyze and assess monthly market data
• Preferred experience with Cognos/Elite
• Strong business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit
• Exceptional analytical, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
• Appreciated previous titles: Project Manager, Product Manager, Brand Manager, Marketing Manager, Category Manager

We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) in our hiring process. All applications are reviewed using standardized screening questions to ensure alignment with job requirements.