Brand Manager

**BRAND MANAGER - 18 MONTH CONTRACT**

This Brand Manager, Mass Beauty position is reporting to the Vice President, Marketing & Brand Management. This role actively participates in the conceptualization, development and execution of marketing programs and creative strategies to support various assigned brands in Canada. This position oversees all channels of distribution to drive brand growth and achieve objectives.

Management Responsibilities:

- Develop and implement appropriate strategies by selecting, segmenting and targeting retailers; and promoting products & services for those retailers
- Plan and execute successful marketing plans and product launches, according to timelines, COG objectives and sales targets
- Review and react to planogram performance to maximize sales and limit risk for multiple retailers
- Analyze feedback and performance of promotional programs in order to maximize Sales potential
- Work closely with Manager, Space Planning to optimize multiple planograms by retailer and ensure brand objectives are met by retailer
- Manage merchandising updates by retailer including; planogram segmenting, implementation of fixturing and visual focuses in conjunction with brand partners and external suppliers
- Work closely with sales team to ensure merchandising group has the tools required to execute in-store planogram updates
- Respond to opportunities & threats in the marketing environment in a timely fashion
- Influence brand strategies by Identifying new product, pricing and packaging trends along with competitive risks to brand partner(s)
- Understand consumer purchasing behavior and develop strategies based on key insights received from the retailer
- Manage multiple project priorities and timelines to ensure launches are kept on track
- Report POS results to management and vendor partner(s) on a weekly or monthly basis
- Produce accurate reports, status updates, detailed competitive analysis grids, etc.
- Leverage Industry data to identify strategies for growth and risk
- Conduct regular competitive studies and market visits and share results with management, brand partners and sales teams
- Work closely with regulatory and legal teams to ensure compliance of product specifications
- Negotiate and work effectively with manufacturers and external suppliers and vendors to ensure timelines and cost objectives are met
- Preparation of price lists for different retailers
- Responsible for the internal item creation process
- Prepare business reviews for management meetings

Marketing Responsibilities:

- Cultivate key initiatives and tactics for overall brand growth; Including plans for advertising, instore, sales promotion & sales management
- Develop and implement tools and strategies for E-Commerce initiatives
- Identify opportunities within the brand(s); and plan, develop and lead marketing initiatives, strategies and elements for new launches and seasonal promotions monthly for instore execution
- Recommend innovative marketing initiatives to increase brand growth and market share
- Prepare presentations for clients, retailers, management and internal departments
- On-going preparation of clearance presentations to manage inventory levels of discontinued items
- Preparation of all marketing collateral, brochures, literature, packaging copy, and sales materials
- Work with Creative department to develop advertising and signage concepts that meet brand guidelines
- Source suppliers and place purchase orders for specific marketing initiatives
- Maintain a record of all advertisements, brochures, price lists, magazines, etc.

Finance & Forecasting Responsibilities:

- Demonstrate strong fiscal responsibility by effectively administering and monitoring sales budgets and inventory to achieve financial objectives and ensure efficient and optimal use of investments
- Understand and establish MSRP and pricing structures for assigned brand(s)
- Monitor, track and process expenses on an ongoing basis
- Accurately forecast promotional and saleable inventory to ensure inventory level objectives are met
- Review and revise product forecasts on a monthly basis to maintain adequate inventory levels and maximizing sales opportunities
- Maintain inventory levels to avoid out of stocks while maximizing sales opportunities
- Manage discontinuations in-house in conjunction with inventory management
- Recommend and implement in-store programs to ensure minimum return volumes
- Lead interaction with purchasing to ensure proper flow of products

Communications Responsibilities:

- Develop strong, positive working relationships with global counterparts, external suppliers and vendors from concept to completion
- Collaborate with various departments through the development and execution of launch plans
- Establish regular communication stream and follow-up with all team/project members
- Lead and attend briefing sessions with cross-functional team members on product reviews, timelines and launch plans to successf