Brand Manager (East) - Calico AI at Forum Ventures

Location: Toronto (Hybrid) Reports to: Vice President of Brand Management Experience Level: 5–10 years ABOUT CALICO AI At Calico AI, [Upgrade to PRO to see link] we help apparel and accessories brands create better products, faster. Our platform combines decades of product building experience, deep sourcing intelligence, and practical AI tools that fit naturally into the product creation process — helping brands move from concept to sample to production seamlessly. We’re not just building technology; we’re rethinking how brands and factories work together. We believe in close collaboration, transparency, and delivering tangible results for our partners. When our customers win, we win. ABOUT THE ROLE We’re looking for a Brand Manager to serve as the primary partner for some of the world’s most creative and ambitious apparel brands. This role is part relationship management, part product creation expertise, part operational leadership, and all hands-on. As a Brand Manager at Calico AI, you’ll embed within your customers’ design, development, and sourcing teams — helping them integrate our tools into their daily workflow. You’ll guide them through the product creation process using Calico’s AI-powered sourcing technology, be available to coach and answer questions that arise, and ensure that every concept moves efficiently through sampling and into production. This role is ideal for someone who loves the product process, thrives in dynamic environments, and takes pride in helping others succeed. Calico Brand Managers are expected to be available to work with customers as needed, whether in-office or remote. WHAT YOU’LL DO Customer Partnership & Integration - Act as the primary point of contact and trusted colleague for assigned customer brands. - Embed within customer product creation teams to deeply understand their workflow and challenges. - Guide customers in adopting and optimizing Calico’s sourcing and materials intelligence tools. Product Creation Enablement - Support customers from concept through sample to bulk production, ensuring on-time execution and alignment across teams. - Partner closely with design, development, sourcing, and factory partners to solve problems before they become delays. - Translate customer needs into actionable insights for Calico’s product and technology teams. Factory & Supply Chain Collaboration - Work directly with overseas factory partners — including those in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Turkey, Peru, and Mexico — to ensure smooth communication, quality outcomes, and timely delivery. - Bring an informed, real-world understanding of sourcing and production dynamics to every customer conversation. Internal Collaboration & Advocacy - Unlock opportunities for new business through the addition of new styles to the Calico sourcing assignment - Represent the customer’s voice internally to inform product development and feature prioritization. - Collaborate cross-functionally with Calico’s operations, data, and engineering teams to improve our service and technology experience. WHAT YOU BRING - 5–10 years of experience in one or more of the following areas: - Product design or development - Materials sourcing or development - Factory or production planning - Product merchandising or management - Apparel or footwear sourcing - Firsthand experience working with overseas factories and suppliers in key manufacturing regions (e.g., China, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Turkey, Romania, Slovenia, Peru, or Mexico). - Strong understanding of the end-to-end product creation process, from concept through commercialization. Highly detailed orientated, spotting problems before they arise - Customer-first mindset — Warmth, people skills, can-do attitude and dynamic - responding to issues with a problem solving mindset. You measure success by your customers’ success. - High initiative and independence — you’re proactive, resourceful, and comfortable managing multiple accounts in a fast-paced environment. - Technical fluency with digital tools used in product creation and sourcing; curiosity and comfort with AI-driven workflows. WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE - Your customer brands see you as an extension of their team — not just a vendor, but a trusted partner. - Calico’s tools become an indispensable part of their product creation process, and offer opportunities to generate growth by adding new styles to the Calico sourcing scope - You consistently deliver clear communication, proactive solutions, and measurable value. - You help transform how brands create, source, and bring products to life through thoughtful application of technology.