HOURGLASS COSMETICS - Senior Manager, Commercial Operations, Asia
Connected by creativity and driven by purpose. Hourglass Cosmetics is a vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand, redefining luxury cosmetics with high-performance products, innovative formulas, and award-winning franchises. Recognized by Forbes, Fast Company and Time Magazine as one of the most inventive beauty companies, Hourglass leads the industry with its breakthrough products and its commitment to animal welfare. Founded in 2004, Hourglass is globally available in 32 markets and nearly 4,600 doors including Sephora, Ulta, Neiman Marcus, Selfridges, Space NK and more. Hourglass became part of the Unilever Prestige division in 2017. Discover more about the Hourglass brand story and mission on our website hourglasscosmetics.com.
The Senior Manager, Commercial Operations, Asia is an essential team member responsible for overseeing and driving the development of operational initiatives within the region. The scope of the role includes but is not limited to: managing inventory and replenishment across counters and the local warehouse, sales reporting, ensuring smooth operational processes from point of order to delivery, and partnering with internal and external stakeholders to monitor and enhance order fulfilment, delivery metrics, and on shelf availability.
The Senior Manager, Commercial Operations, Asia will possess strong organizational capabilities, demonstrate exceptional communication skills and have a knack for building collaborative relationships with key internal and external stakeholders. They will effectively balance the day-to-day needs of the region with evaluating current ways of working and constantly driving change to ensure developments within the business are suitably responded to and supported. The ability to work under pressure against tight deadlines is imperative. This position will report to the General Manager, Asia, also based in Hong Kong; with a dotted line to the Senior Director of International Commercial Operations, based in London. A level of autonomy and confidence to represent and drive the Commercial Operations function without local management presence is therefore essential.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
- Lead the relationship with the local 3PL warehouse to establish that strong processes are in place. Constantly evaluate processes and challenge existing ways of working to ensure future fitness.
- Execute replenishment orders for the local 3PL warehouse and counters, forecasting needs, analyzing sales, and resolving inventory discrepancies, to optimize inventory and sales. Drive improvements in forecast accuracy and contribute to the development of replenishment methods and parameters in line with business changes and feedback from retail teams.
- Ensure inbound shipments to the counters and the local 3PL warehouse are received physically and systematically in an accurate and timely manner
- Prepare, allocate, manage via timely sell in of all new product launches, re-promotes, and brand initiatives, including the upload of master data into retailer portals and preparation of new line forms. Manage allocations and retailer requests in collaboration with Demand Planning team, ensuring optimum allocation of inventory, balancing forecasts with retailer requests
- Communicate with Operations teams in the global warehouse in Los Angeles to ensure the smooth flow of retailer orders and deliveries, ensuring on time, in full delivery to all partners. Ensure internal and external teams are kept updated on status of business-critical orders and deliveries.
- Proactively problem solve and respond to day-to-day queries from internal and external stakeholders
- Partner with internal and external stakeholders to monitor and improve order fulfilment, DC inventory availability, and in-store availability. Consistently review metrics to learn lessons and identify process improvements.
- Develop and maintain retail reporting documents across the region, ensuring the business has robust and reliable retail sales data at group, door, area, category, franchise and product line level
- Collaborate with regional Demand Planner on the region’s SKU-level forecast
- Manage the day-to-day sales-related functions including staff gratis and tester orders, damages and returns, POS technology management and communication with retailers.
- Oversee the cycle count process, confirming timely and accurate counts. Periodically reviews processes to ensure relevance and suitability to business changes.
- Manage monthly invoices/invoice reconciliation with retail partners.
- Closely monitor retailer fill rates, partner with global team to identify key missed opportunities and find solutions for recurring and problematic SKUs. Collaborate with peers in other regions to share experiences and solutions.
- Support the General Manager with new product forecasts, providing robust data analysis, insights and recommendations to inform initial and ongoing demand plan
- Participate in regular meetings with internal and external partners ensuring the smooth running of the Operations department and enhancing its impact on the overall business
- Support local colleagues with operational prowess in set up of internal and external events
- Assist in the setup of any new launches/retailers/counters
- General ad hoc office operations support
YOU’LL LOVE THIS JOB IF:
- Attention to detail: You are thorough and accurate in the work you do.
- Strong communicator and collaborator: You work and communicate effectively with members across multiple functions.
- Strategic and adaptive: You can efficiently anticipate, identify, and articulate problems in a fast-paced environment.
- Results-oriented: You have a bias for action. When problems arise, you reliably produce responses and thoughtful solutions.
- Entrepreneurial: You always question if something can be done better, and don’t overly rely on external resources when it comes to getting things moving.
- Ambitious: You have the enthusiasm to persevere through setbacks and help support your team as needed.
- Curious: You are a natural learner with a genuine interest in beauty, luxury, design & art.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- 7+ years experience in a relevant operations, merchandising or planning role
- Experienced in effectively interfacing with people at all levels within cross-functional teams, challenging status quo in order to constantly refine and improve processes
- Demonstrates strong analytical, organizational, and time management skills.
- Self-driven solution seeker who thrives in a fast-paced environment.
- Position requires attention to detail, adaptability, and high degree of collaboration.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Working knowledge of ERP software systems preferably NetSuite.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office, with advanced Excel skills.
- Fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, and English.
- Experience working in multiple business models: concession, wholesale, distributor & travel retail
- Ability to travel within the markets as needed.