Manager Visual Merchandising & Strategy

Role & responsibilities

A Manager of Visual Merchandising & Strategy in fashion leads the creation, planning, and execution of in-store displays, store layouts, and seasonal campaigns to boost customer engagement and drive sales .

Key Responsibilities

• Visual Strategy & Calendars: Develop seasonal, festive, and promotional visual merchandising calendars aligned with brand positioning and global standards.
• Store Layout & Experience: Optimize store floor plans, customer flow, lighting, signage, and product adjacencies to maximize product visibility and the shopping experience.
• Window & Campaign Design: Plan and execute high-impact window displays, feature zones, and mannequin styling for new collections and launches.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Buying, Merchandising, Marketing, and Retail Operations teams to translate commercial goals into visual stories.
• Team Leadership & Audits: Mentor visual merchandising teams, conduct regular store audits, and ensure compliance with brand presentation guidelines.
• Vendor & Budget Management: Manage external vendors and contractors for display props, fixtures, fabrication, and rollouts within set budgets and timelines.
• Analytics & Performance Tracking: Monitor retail KPIs, sales trends, and customer feedback to adapt and refine display strategies

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Experience: Typically 3 to 8+ years in visual merchandising, retail design, or brand presentation within fashion, luxury, or premium retail.
• Technical Proficiency: Hands-on knowledge of design and layout tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, CorelDraw, SketchUp, or AutoCAD, alongside Microsoft Office.
• Core Competencies: Strong sense of color theory, spatial planning, trend forecasting, project management, and commercial awareness.
• Education: A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, Visual Communication, or Retail Management (frequently preferred)

Preferred candidate profile