Product Operations Manager

Indigo is a physical and digital place inspired by and filled with books, ideas, beautifully designed lifestyle products, and the creative people who help make it all happen. We believe in real books, living life fully and generously, being kind to each other and to the environment, and that stories — big and little — connect us. Indigo is our customer's happy place — for joyful moments of discovery and to connect with people who share their passion for reading, their belief in ideas, and their commitment to making the world a better and more beautiful place.
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLESOur Mission is to inspire reading and enrich the lives of booklovers. As such, we believe in the power of people and their stories. We aim to attract top talent, nurture the potential of our employees, and create space for everyone to thrive. Our Guiding Principles are the few key ideas that are meant to influence everything we do, every day.
We Will Hire, Inspire, Promote and Retain the Best
We Will Be Entrepreneurial
We Will Be Committed to Caring About Each Other, Our Communities, and Our Environment
We Will Be Committed to True and Shared Value Creation
We Will Be Systems Thinking, Data Driven and AI enabled
Job DescriptionAs a Product Operations Manager, you'll help bring the Indigo brand to life by ensuring products are displayed, stocked, and promoted in a way that creates an exceptional customer experience and drives sales.
In this role, you'll lead key store operations including merchandising updates, inventory management, promotions, product launches, markdowns, and stock accuracy, shipping and receiving. You'll ensure products move efficiently from delivery to the sales floor while maintaining Indigo's visual standards.
You'll also coach and support your team, drive operational excellence, and identify opportunities to improve processes, helping create a high-performing store environment that delights customers and delivers results.
KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS
Net Promoter Score (NPS)
Net sales and profitability
Key Process Scorecard results
Visual Merchandising Assessment (VMA) execution and action plan completion
Door-to-floor units per hour (UPH)
Store engagement score
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES – what the work is
Leads execution of product operations priorities at the store level, translating Indigo's strategic direction into operational plans that drive inventory accuracy, product availability, operational efficiency, and profitability.
Supports the General Manager in delivering store objectives, identifying operational risks and barriers to execution and implementing solutions that improve consistency, productivity, and results.
Provides leadership, direction, and ongoing support to Product Operations Leader(s)/Visual Operations Leader(s), ensuring inventory management, product flow, merchandising, promotional execution, and operational standards are executed consistently and effectively.
Ensures the Indigo Experience and R.E.A.D. customer service model are consistently brought to life through strong Sales Generation Leader (SGL) practices, including active, in-the-moment coaching to reinforce behaviours, elevate execution, and drive customer engagement and results.
Owns clear and consistent communication of business priorities to the operations and visual team, leveraging Employee Hub, communication boards, and the DSR process to ensure alignment, understanding, and execution.
Owns the operational cycle and product flow within the store, leveraging sales, inventory, shrink, and process performance data to establish priorities, identify opportunities, and drive consistent execution of inventory management routines, including MyCount, Reportal, returns, audits, markdowns, and related inventory control processes.
Drives operational excellence across inventory and back-of-house processes, maintaining strong organization, compliance, inventory integrity, and loss prevention practices.
Leads merchandising and operational execution, ensuring product presentation, promotions, signage, inventory routines, and story changeovers are executed consistently and in alignment with company standards.
Supports labour planning and workload management by helping align operational priorities, team deployment, and available resources.
Reinforces clarity of roles, responsibilities, and accountability across the operations and visual team, ensuring alignment to the store structure and RASI model.
Recruits, develops, and retains high-performing teams through structured onboarding, coaching, and ongoing development.
Participates in store talent review, calibration, and succession planning, identifying high-potential employees and supporting their development and growth.
Identifies and addresses performance, conduct, and engagement risks within the team, taking appropriate action to maintain a strong, values-aligned culture.
Drives employee engagement through strong employee relations, meaningful action planning, and fostering a collaborative, inclusive team environment.
Leads store health and safety practices, ensuring compliance with all provincial policies, procedures, and standards while fostering a safe environment for employees and customers.
Models and embeds Indigo’s guiding principles and values, fostering a positive, inclusive, and high-performing team culture.
Reports to: General Manager
Manager once Removed (MOR): Regional Director/District Manager
KEY RELATIONSHIPSInternal:
Store employees
Store leadership team
Regional Human Resources Manager
Regional Visual Merchandising Manager
Retail Operations team
External:
Customers
Landlord/facilities contacts and service providers, as required
Qualifications
2-3 years of progressive leadership experience in a specialty retail and/or multi-unit environment, with experience leading teams in a customer-facing environment
College degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
Experience leading and executing operational, inventory, and/or merchandising processes, translating direction into clear actions that drive results
Strong business acumen, with the ability to interpret sales, inventory, shrink, and operational performance metrics to identify opportunities and implement focused action plans
Proven ability to recruit, develop, and retain engaged, high-performing teams, with a focus on coaching and developing front-line employees
Effective communication and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and resolve escalated customer and team member situations
Demonstrated operational discipline and strong understanding of merchandising, inventory control, product flow, compliance, and loss prevention, with the ability to drive consistent execution across multiple priorities in a fast-paced retail environment.
Adaptable and agile, with the ability to respond to change and leverage technology (including AI-enabled tools) to improve operational efficiency and team effectiveness
Maintains/obtains required role-specific certifications (e.G., First Aid, Joint Health & Safety Committee) in alignment with provincial and store requirements
Demonstrates sound judgment, resilience, and a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset
Full alignment with Indigo's values as reflected in the Guiding Principles
A passion for Indigo's mission and delivering exceptional operational execution, product presentation, and team experiences
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays
Ability to be mobile on the sales floor for extended periods and safely lift medium to large items (up to 40 lbs) using appropriate equipment and techniques
Bilingualism (French/English) required for roles based in Quebec
Additional informationIndigo uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist with certain aspects of the hiring process, such as screening and assessments. These tools support our team but do not replace human judgment. We are committed to using AI responsibly, fairly, and in compliance with applicable employment and anti-discrimination laws. We regularly review these tools to help prevent bias or discrimination.
At Indigo, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility are core to our values. We integrate these principles into our training, policies, and hiring practices and continuously evolve to reflect the needs of the communities we serve. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and lived experiences, including but not limited to individuals who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour), members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and persons with disabilities. If you require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at
View email address on ca.hrm.tc.
We respect your privacy throughout the recruitment process. Our Candidate Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you apply for a role with Indigo, and the choices available to you.
This posting is for a current opportunity within Indigo.
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