Director of Visual Merchandising

Overview

Director of Visual Merchandising Jobs in Seattle, WA at Confidential Careers

POSITION SPECIFICATION

Director, Visual Merchandising

Department: Store Experience & Brand Presentation

Location: Seattle, WA

Reports To: Confidential

Travel Requirement: Approximately 25–30%

POSITION SUMMARY

We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Director of Visual Merchandising to lead the end-to-end visual strategy for a national specialty retail fleet. This is a senior leadership role responsible for translating brand identity into a productive, consistent, and compelling in-store customer experience.

The successful candidate will oversee all aspects of visual merchandising — from floorset planning and field execution to fixture development, new store openings, and cross-functional alignment with Merchandising, Marketing, and Store Operations. This individual must be equally adept at setting long-range strategic direction and maintaining close involvement in day-to-day execution quality.

This is a lean, high-accountability organization. The Director will carry broad end-to-end ownership and is expected to move with speed, decisiveness, and a bias toward measurable results.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Brand & Visual Strategy

• Define and maintain the organization's visual merchandising standards, ensuring consistent brand expression across all store formats and geographies.
• Develop and execute a multi-year VM roadmap aligned to brand evolution, including fixture refresh cycles, signage systems, and format-level guidelines.
• Translate seasonal go-to-market strategies into actionable, fixture-level in-store storytelling that drives both brand affinity and commercial performance.
• Establish clear visual language and standards that allow for appropriate regional and format-specific flexibility while preserving brand coherence.

Floorset Planning & Execution

• Oversee the full floorset calendar — from initial concept through in-store implementation — ensuring every set reflects current brand priorities and inventory strategy.
• Collaborate with Merchandising and Planning on fixture productivity, allocation alignment, and seasonal assortment flow.
• Establish measurable execution standards and hold the organization accountable to floorset timing, quality, and storytelling fidelity.
• Partner with Store Operations to effectively plan and resource all major floorset workload periods.

Field Visual Merchandising

• Lead the field VM function, setting standards for training, coaching, and in-store execution quality across all districts.
• Develop strong partnerships with District Managers, Store Managers, and Store Operations leadership to drive brand consistency and swift resolution of execution gaps.
• Establish a structured cadence of store visits to audit execution quality, identify opportunities, and provide on-site coaching to field leaders.
• Implement reporting mechanisms to track and communicate execution performance against established standards.

VM Operations

• Manage the full VM operations function, including fixture development, sourcing, production, inventory allocation, and replenishment.
• Own the VM capital budget and monthly operating expenses, balancing cost discipline with investment in high-impact fixtures and signage.
• Oversee the organization's mock store environment, maintaining current assortment representation and using it as a controlled proving ground for floorset concepts.
• Drive operational excellence through rigorous planogram documentation, photo standards, and timely, clear store communications.

New Store Development & Store Experience

• Partner with Real Estate, Store Construction, and Design teams on new store openings, remodels, and relocations — from initial planning through grand opening.
• Shape the visual expression of new store format concepts, working with Merchandising leadership to develop productive, brand-forward environments.
• Strengthen in-store service destinations and experience zones through deliberate fixture placement, signage design, and wayfinding improvements.
• Lead initiatives to improve navigation, product comparison signage, and conversion-driving presentation standards.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Serve as the primary VM partner to Merchandising and Buying leadership, ensuring visual strategy reflects assortment priorities and commercial objectives.
• Collaborate with Brand Marketing on seasonal campaign integration, go-to-market planning, and in-store brand expression.
• Partner with Product Development on packaging and product presentation consistency as expressed in the retail environment.
• Work closely with Creative Services, Distribution Centers, and Supply Chain to ensure seamless delivery and implementation of all visual assets and fixtures.
• Partner with Store Operations to balance visual quality standards against labor efficiency in store workflows.
• Present visual merchandising strategy and performance updates to senior leadership at key business forums.

Vendor & Budget Management

• Manage relationships with strategic vendors across fixtures, signage, props, and visual materials — negotiating favorable terms while maintaining quality and delivery standards.
• Own and manage the multi-year VM capital plan, aligning fixture investment with real estate activity and brand evolution priorities.
• Partner with Supply Chain on logistics planning for fixture and visual asset distribution to stores.

Technology & Innovation

• Champion the adoption of technology solutions that improve VM operations — including digital planogram distribution, floorset execution tracking, photo reporting, and signage workflow tools.
• Leverage AI-enabled tools to drive efficiency in planogram creation, field communications, and floorset documentation.
• Continuously evaluate emerging visual and retail technologies that can meaningfully enhance the in-store experience.

Team Leadership

• Recruit, develop, and retain a high-performing Visual Merchandising organization across both field and corporate functions.
• Set clear performance expectations, provide regular and direct feedback, and invest substantively in the career development of team members.
• Build a strong bench of VM talent and foster a team culture defined by craft, accountability, and operational excellence.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Visual Merchandising, Design, Retail, Marketing, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience will be considered.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive visual merchandising experience, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role with responsibility for multi-store field teams.
• Demonstrated success translating brand strategy into in-store execution at scale within a specialty retail environment.
• Proven experience leading field VM teams and collaborating with Store Operations in a multi-district organizational structure.
• Track record of managing capital and operating budgets; direct experience with fixture and signage vendor management.
• Experience contributing to new store openings, remodels, and relocations from a visual merchandising perspective.
• Strong creative portfolio demonstrating brand-forward, commercially productive visual work.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop); familiarity with planogram tools and retail management systems.
• Willingness to adopt AI and emerging technology tools as applied to retail visual operations.

Preferred

• Experience in premium lifestyle, experiential, or culinary retail environments.
• Established fluency with AI tools as applied to VM workflows — planogram generation, field communication, content production.
• Experience with store format development or retail concept testing.

LEADERSHIP PROFILE

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following leadership competencies:

• Commercial acumen paired with creative vision — the ability to produce a visually excellent store environment that measurably supports sales performance.
• Executive communication and influence — capable of presenting visual strategy to senior leadership and building alignment across diverse cross-functional partners.
• Operational discipline — an ability to manage a high-volume floorset calendar at scale while maintaining standards for timing, budget, and quality.
• Field credibility — respected by store teams for a genuine understanding of the operational environment and the realities of in-store execution.
• Organizational agility — comfortable leading through multiple concurrent initiatives and organizational change.
• People development orientation — actively invests in team capability and maintains a strong talent pipeline.
• Decisiveness and speed — exercises sound judgment under ambiguity and acts with appropriate urgency.

SELECTION PROCESS

• Initial screening conversation with Talent Acquisition
• Hiring manager interview
• Functional case discussion / portfolio review
• In-person interview with cross-functional stakeholders
• Executive-level interview
• Professional reference verification (conducted concurrently with final stages where possible)
• Offer extended — candidates who advance to final stages can expect prompt communication.

Title: Director of Visual Merchandising

Company: Confidential Careers

Location: Seattle, WA

Category: