Trade Operations Assistant Manager

Position overview:

We are seeking a detail-oriented and creative Trade Operations Assistant Manager to lead the planning and execution of in-store marketing initiatives. This role will be responsible for managing Trade Development, Sellout, POSM, Fixtures, In-store Investments, and Vendor Collaborations to ensure strong brand visibility and impactful customer engagement at the point of sale. Proficiency in English, both written and spoken, is a must.

Focus split: 70% Trade Development, Sellout | 30% POSM, Fixtures, In-store Investments, Vendor Management

Key responsibilities:

Trade development & sellout management

• Target setting & ownership: Define and co-own weekly/monthly sell-out targets by channel, region, and store; align phasing with Sales/Key Account teams to ensure realistic yet stretch goals.

• Field force policy: Establish and communicate clear field force guidelines — including performance KPIs, incentive structure, and compliance expectations — to drive consistent execution across markets.

• Field collaboration: Partner closely with promoters, team leaders, and merchandisers to translate commercial priorities into daily in-store actions and sales focus.

• Performance governance: Run structured weekly performance reviews; track progress vs. target, identify underperforming stores, and issue follow-up actions with clear owners and deadlines.

• Sell-out tracking & analytics: Consolidate and visualize sell-out data from retailer portals; maintain store-level dashboards tracking display run-rate, conversion rate, and gap-to-target.

• Promotion design & mechanics: Propose, test, and refine sell-out programs and incentive schemes for the field team to drive higher conversion and coverage.

• ROI & compliance: Evaluate program effectiveness (incremental sell-out vs. cost), monitor policy adherence, and ensure documentation (attendance records, photo proof, POS invoices).

• Promoter efficiency: Measure cost-to-sell-out ratio to assess manpower ROI across channels and partners; identify optimization opportunities to improve efficiency without compromising coverage.

• Forecast & demand signals: Provide demand and sell-out insights to Sales and Supply teams based on run-rate trends, promoter efficiency, and upcoming campaigns.

POSM & fixture management

• Plan, design, and oversee the production of POSM, display fixtures, and retail marketing materials.

• Coordinate deployment across retail stores, ensuring quality, consistency, and timely execution.

In-store investment & deployment

• Develop and execute in-store investment strategies to maximize brand presence and shopper engagement.

• Work with cross-functional teams to optimize fixture placement, merchandising standards, and campaign rollouts.

Vendor & design collaboration

• Manage relationships with external vendors, agencies, and suppliers to deliver creative and cost-effective solutions.

• Work closely with designers to adapt brand guidelines into impactful in-store executions.

Campaign execution & monitoring

• Support nationwide product launches, promotional campaigns, and seasonal activations in retail environments.

• Monitor deployment status and ensure compliance with brand standards.

• Conduct store visits and audits to evaluate fixture performance and campaign effectiveness.

Reporting & insights

• Track budget utilization for POSM and in-store investment.

• Provide post-campaign reports with insights and recommendations for continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field.

• At least 5 years of experience in retail marketing, trade marketing, or brand activation.

• Strong knowledge of POSM, in-store fixtures, and retail marketing practices.

• Hands-on experience working with vendors, agencies, and design teams.

• Excellent project management and coordination skills with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.

• Analytical mindset with reporting and budget management experience.

• Proficiency in English (written and spoken) is mandatory.

• Advanced MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint) skills; familiarity with design tools (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop) is a plus.

Key competencies

• Strong communication and negotiation skills.

• Creative thinking and attention to detail.

• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

• Collaborative team player with a problem-solving mindset.