Visual Operations Associate Manager [207982]

Aquent; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading marketing agency is seeking a Program/Project Manager to collaborate with internal teams and suppliers to drive operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have 2+ years in project management within the advertising or marketing sector. Responsibilities include managing store support requests and maintaining data accuracy while ensuring timely execution of retail graphics production. This role requires strong interpersonal skills and the ability to adapt to changing priorities, based in San Francisco on a hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• 2+ years as a Program, Project, or Production Manager within an advertising or marketing organization.
• Experience with budget and schedule tracking using appropriate software.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams and external vendors.
• Develop a deep understanding of store layouts to support field teams.
• Maintain focus during obstacles by proactively flagging risks to management.
• Ask clarifying questions when tasks are unclear.

Skills

Strong collaboration and interpersonal communication skills

Ability to work independently and as part of a team

High proficiency in multitasking

Flexible attitude toward change

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Visual Merchandising, Design, Communications, Marketing, or related field

Tools

Office productivity suites

Database management tools

Project management software

Job description

As a member of the Retail Visual Merchandising and Operations team, you will collaborate with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to drive innovation. Your goal is to bring marketing and merchandising strategies to life by delivering visually compelling, consumer‑centric retail displays and print collateral—on time and within budget. In this role, you will focus specifically on the operational aspects of retail graphics production to support visual design and merchandising execution. Key responsibilities include managing store support requests, overseeing data within various tracking tools, and managing product sample logistics.

Duties and Responsibilities

Collaborate (25%)

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal teams, including Store Design, Marketing, Merchandising, Retail Operations, and Procurement.
• Foster professional partnerships with both established and new external vendors.
• Partner with stakeholders to ensure store support requests are handled promptly and accurately.
• Support the Retail Print Production team by ensuring distribution lists are accurate and provided to vendors on schedule.
• Proactively troubleshoot issues with cross‑functional partners and vendors as they arise.

Client Focus (35%)

• Develop a deep understanding of store layouts and operational practices to better support field teams and vendors.
• Ensure operational execution of in‑store materials meets store needs and adheres to communication standards.
• Resolve store issues within established Service Level Agreements (SLAs) via the internal support system.
• Maintain data accuracy for asset versioning on distribution lists.
• Review fixture assortments and partner with Merchandising to collect, catalog, and ship product samples to vendors.

Drive Operational Excellence (25%)

• Maintain focus during obstacles by proactively flagging risks to management.
• Contribute to project meetings to ensure initiatives reach completion.
• Execute routine tasks steadily and accurately within established timelines.
• Consistently meet objectives while following established best practices and processes.

Manage Ambiguity (15%)

• Ask clarifying questions and seek direction when tasks are unclear.
• Operate with flexibility and an open mind amid changing priorities.
• Maintain productivity and move projects forward even before all details are finalized.

Qualifications

Experience

• 2+ years as a Program, Project, or Production Manager within an advertising or marketing organization; retail experience is a plus.
• 2+ years of professional experience using office productivity suites (word processing, spreadsheets, presentations), database management tools, and project management software for budget and schedule tracking.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Visual Merchandising, Design, Communications, Marketing, or a related field.

Competencies and Skills

• Strong collaboration and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• High proficiency in multitasking across multiple programs in different phases with varying requirements.
• A flexible, “can‑do” attitude toward change and new projects.

Working Conditions

• Ability to travel to retail stores and supplier locations as needed.
• Ability to work in‑person at the San Francisco corporate office per the hybrid employee agreement.

Reports To: Visual Operations Manager