Visual Merchandising Manager_USD

Aquent is partnering with a leading and innovative retail company that is revolutionizing the customer experience. This organization is at the forefront of its industry, driven by a mission to deliver visually compelling and consumer-centric retail environments. Joining this team means contributing to a vibrant culture where creativity meets strategy, directly impacting how customers discover and engage with products. Are you a visionary who can transform retail spaces into captivating experiences?

Our client is seeking a dynamic individual to join their team and make a significant impact on how customers interact with their brand. In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in shaping the in-store visual journey, directly influencing customer engagement and sales. You will drive innovation, bringing marketing and merchandising strategies to life through best-in-class retail displays and print collateral, ensuring timely delivery and budget adherence. As a key contributor, you will partner with various internal teams and external suppliers to design and produce exceptional retail displays. This involves expertly handling visual space design, product merchandising, and managing the entire lifecycle of purchasing, manufacturing, and distributing retail graphics and merchandisers. Your work will directly contribute to creating an unparalleled shopping experience for customers.

**Key Responsibilities:**

* Build and nurture strong collaborative relationships with internal teams, including design, creative, merchandising, operations, and procurement, as well as with established and new external suppliers.

* Effectively communicate project schedules, cost options, and trade-offs, demonstrating determination and proactive problem-solving in the face of obstacles, setbacks, or rush projects.

* Clarify ambiguous situations by acting decisively without complete information and planning for various scenarios to ensure project continuity.

* Drive results by collaborating with merchandising and creative teams and external suppliers to optimize product display, customer wayfinding, and product information for an exceptional client experience.

* Partner with operations business partners to estimate store workload and develop clear store communications, enabling field teams to flawlessly execute product displays.

* Regularly visit retail environments to stay current with best-in-class merchandising design, materials, and customer experiences, continuously building knowledge of store layouts and operational practices.

* Manage the purchasing, manufacturing, and distribution of merchandisers, graphics, props, and displays for multiple retail environments, adhering to corporate compliance practices.

* Actively seek and implement improvements to enhance the client experience and optimize store execution of in-store materials.

* Independently anticipate and fulfill store needs related to operational execution, ensuring issues are resolved within service level agreements.

* Maintain accurate data for asset versioning on distribution lists and apply expertise to create unique, innovative, and successful workflow processes, continuously exploring new ways of working.

**Required Qualifications:**

* 4+ years of experience in a program, project, production management, or visual merchandising role within a retail advertising or marketing organization.

* 4+ years of daily experience utilizing design software, office productivity suites, and project management tools for budget and schedule tracking.

* Proven track record of successfully implementing visual merchandising strategies that drive sales and enhance the positive customer experience.

* Experience with vendor engagement, purchasing, and procurement processes within a corporate environment.

* 2+ years of experience with single project-based budget management, including forecasting, evaluating estimates, and awarding work.

* Bachelor's degree in Visual Merchandising, Design, Communications, Marketing, or a related field.

* Strong collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships.

* Ability to work both independently and as a highly effective member of a team.

* Willingness to be flexible with change and approach projects with a proactive, can-do attitude.

* Demonstrated experience with budget tracking and reporting.

* Ability to travel to retail stores and supplier locations as needed.

**About Aquent Talent:** Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands. Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits! Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.