Manager, VM Development
About The Position
The Manager, VM Development supports the development and production of three-dimensional, high-quality visual merchandising systems for prestige cosmetics retail environments, including open-sell and countertop displays for retailers such as Sephora, Ulta, and Shoppers Drug Mart. The role focuses on engineering, manufacturing, and development—not designing displays—and works with brand designers, a North American project manager, production vendors, and indirect procurement. The position helps develop innovative visual merchandising systems that meet customer requirements and marketing objectives while considering manufacturability, cost, sustainability, ease of installation, regulatory requirements, consumer safety, quality, and aesthetics. It manages vendor development schedules and reviews engineering proposals, drawings, prototypes, samples, packaging, testing, and initial production to support launch dates. The role reports to the RDDC, NA Director of Development.
Requirements
- Strong knowledge of visual merchandising construction and development methods, preferably in prestige cosmetics.
- Ability to read and provide direction on technical and engineering drawings.
- Excellent teamwork, analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Ability to work across multiple departments with strong follow-up and organizational skills.
- Ability to multitask, think creatively, set priorities, and remain flexible in a changing environment.
- Ability to work with vendors to develop progressive, sustainable solutions.
- Ability to value-engineer cost-effective solutions with vendor engineers within brand budgets.
- Decision-making ability and self-reliance.
- 0–5% travel.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with injection molding, vacuum forming, acrylic fabrication, metal fabrication, decoration processes, and LED lighting.
- Ability to sketch.
- Five years in the display industry preferred.
- Education in mechanical engineering or industrial design is ideal.
Responsibilities
- Review visual merchandising design renderings and work with program management and indirect procurement on vendor selection, considering cost effectiveness, sustainability, and ease of customer installation.
- Evaluate design intent and conduct technical analysis of materials and manufacturing processes to develop production concepts that achieve the brand design.
- Liaise with selected vendors on design intent, material selection, sustainable solutions, and potential engineering alternatives.
- Review, correct, and approve vendors’ engineering proposals.
- Value-engineer parts to achieve cost savings and record the savings.
- Provide technical direction and recommendations that account for cost targets, regulatory requirements, environmental legislation, consumer safety, quality, and aesthetic needs.
- Manage vendor development timelines and ensure the quality of display structures, printed components, and protective distribution packaging.
- Under the direction of the RDDC, NA Group Executive Director of Development, approve or amend vendor-submitted engineering drawings, prototypes, pre-production samples, pack-outs, decoration, and initial production.
- Work with program managers to manage first-off delivery dates in support of launch dates.
- Review testing protocols and results to ensure display durability and quality throughout its in-store lifespan.
Benefits
- Health insurance coverage, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- Wellness and family support programs.
- Life and disability insurance.
- Retirement savings plans.
- Paid leave programs.
- Education-related programs.
- Paid holidays and vacation time.
- Competitive bonus program with potential for overachievement based on performance and company results.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
