MANAGER VISUAL MERCHANDISING     

General Summary:

The Manager of Visual Merchandising will manage the entire in store visual experience and process development that drives sales, margin, turn, and provides our customer with a great in-store experience. Responsible for the development of consistent, trend driven and innovative visual presentation strategies and solutions. Develops new strategies to support communication and implementation plans for new fixtures and design elements. This position is HYBRID in our Columbus, OH office.

 

Reports to:  Director, Store Marketing Strategy

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
•    Understands business strategy inputs, including product, brand, promotional and big initiatives and can translate them into strategic in-store presentations
•    Partners with merchants and product marketing to understand assortment to inform and recommend storytelling approach
•    Visual Merchandising – expert in spatial organization and impactful displays
•    Creates seasonal campaign floorplans that appropriately ladder back to business strategy and priorities
•    Effectively and clearly communicates well thought out store marketing strategies through Workfront briefs to kick off work to creative team
•    Partners with print production and Director on new and innovative ideas and prop development to continue to push the envelope, aspiring to deliver a best in class in store experience.
•    Liaison with vendor to update in-store voiceovers as needed.
•    Oversees and proofreads the visual guides for seasonal campaigns and other projects, ensuring easy, accurate direction for the field.
•    Collaborates with Store Communications team to evolve and continually improve direction for the field, reacting to and soliciting feedback from Regional Directors and Market Leaders.
•    Develops and manages one direct report: Visual Specialist.
•    Collaborates and nurtures relationships with key stakeholders
•    Stays up to date on competitive patterning

Required Skills:
•    Proficient in Microsoft Office products
•    Working knowledge of store design concepts, floor planning and fixturing, including lighting, and store ambience
•    Strong written and verbal communication skills
•    Ability to develop and conduct training for visual merchandising for various levels within the organization
•    Detail oriented and capable of juggling multiple project plans simultaneously
•    Ability to motivate, coach and develop talent within their team
•    Ability to lead conversations and gain consensus from business partners

Competencies
Strategic Thinking – Creates and effectively communicates long term vision. Keeps team’s work aligned to strategy. Creates and adjusts plans. Understands big picture to constructively challenge the status quo. Generates new ideas. Encourages innovation. Manages change effectively. Knows internal strengths and weaknesses.

Leading & Motivating – Models and supports DSW values. Assesses, identifies, retains and develops talent. Builds complementary teams. Motivates, supports and challenges associates. Resolves conflict. Makes tough decisions. Provides timely feedback. Works with and through others to exceed expectations of customers (internal/external)

Managing for Results – Produces sustainable results consistently. Holds team accountable. Recognizes and resolves complex problems. Understands underlying issues and addresses root causes. Measures, analyzes quantitative information and presents it effectively. Seeks input from others. Makes timely decisions.

 

Qualifications:

Experience:
•    5+ years of visual experience from a major retail operation preferred

Education:
•    Bachelors in Retail, Merchandising or other business-related degree