Head of Visual Merchandising

Title: Head of Visual Merchandising

Location: Vancouver, BC

Salary: 80-90k

Job Summary:

We are looking for a highly creative and strategic Head of Visual Merchandising to lead our visual merchandising initiatives across all store locations. The ideal candidate will combine a strong design sensibility with a commercial mindset to elevate our brand presentation, maximize sales, and enhance the overall customer experience. This role emphasizes the development and coaching of the VM team, cross-functional collaboration with key departments, and the creation of weekly visual directives. A hands-on leader, you will drive consistency in execution and ensure that our stores are visually compelling and customer-focused.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Development:

• Coach, mentor, and develop the Visual Merchandising team, cultivating a culture of excellence, creativity, and accountability.
• Build a high-performing team through ongoing development initiatives, including training programs, one-on-one coaching, and performance reviews.
• Identify and nurture high-potential team members, providing them with growth opportunities and preparing them for future leadership roles.
• Lead the recruitment and onboarding process for new VM team members, ensuring they align with brand values and performance standards.
• Establish clear expectations for the team, ensuring all visual merchandising strategies are executed consistently and effectively across all stores.
• Conduct regular field visits to assess visual execution and provide hands-on training ensuring continuous improvement and adherence to brand standards.

Cross-Department Collaboration:

• Partner closely with the Buying, Planning, Marketing, E-commerce, and Store Operations teams to ensure visual merchandising supports key product launches, promotional campaigns, and business objectives.
• Collaborate with the Buying and Planning teams to understand upcoming product assortments and trends, enabling the development of visually impactful product displays that support sales targets.
• Act as a key liaison between the VM team and store leadership, ensuring that visual directives are clearly communicated and implemented effectively at the store level.
• Work with Marketing and E-commerce to ensure that in-store visuals align with online and social media campaigns, creating a cohesive brand experience across all channels.
• Collaborate with the Training and Development department to create and deliver visual merchandising training programs, equipping store teams with the knowledge and skills to execute VM guidelines independently.

Visual Strategy & Execution:

• Develop, plan, and implement weekly visual merchandising directives that support business priorities, product launches, and seasonal campaigns, ensuring alignment with the brand’s overall aesthetic and commercial goals.
• Lead the design and execution of visual concepts for key promotional periods (e.g., Black Friday, holiday season, product launches), ensuring an engaging and immersive customer experience.
• Manage the creation and rollout of window displays, in-store layouts, fixture plans, and signage that reflect the brand’s identity and elevate the customer journey.
• Ensure that all stores are merchandised in a way that maximizes sales, enhances the customer experience, and aligns with the brand's goals and strategies.
• Partner with Store Operations to ensure that VM execution is seamless across all store formats, adapting directives where necessary to accommodate unique layouts, customer profiles, or regional nuances.

Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement:

• Track and analyze the performance of visual merchandising strategies through KPIs such as foot traffic, conversion rates, and average transaction values, making data-driven decisions to optimize visual presentations.
• Regularly review store performance data in collaboration with the retail and planning teams to identify opportunities to enhance product placement, store layouts, and customer flow.
• Conduct regular store visits and audits to assess the execution of visual standards, identify areas for improvement, and ensure a consistent level of excellence across all locations.
• Develop and implement a feedback loop with the field team, store managers, and district managers to ensure that VM initiatives are effective and that challenges are promptly addressed.
• Innovate and experiment with new visual merchandising techniques, staying ahead of industry trends and customer preferences, while maintaining alignment with the brand’s core identity.

Project Management & Execution:

• Lead the visual merchandising efforts for new store openings, remodels, and relocations, ensuring that the visual identity is reflected in all aspects of store design and layout.
• Oversee the timely rollout of visual merchandising guidelines across all stores, ensuring that materials, directives, and execution timelines are clearly communicated and met.
• Work closely with the Store Design and Construction teams to provide input on fixture layouts, lighting, and space planning to optimize the visual impact of new stores.
• Manage the allocation and distribution of visual merchandising tools, fixtures, and materials across the store network to ensure efficient implementation of VM strategies.

Leadership Qualities:

• Visionary Leadership: Set a clear and inspiring vision for the Visual Merchandising department, aligning team efforts with company objectives while pushing creative boundaries.
• Collaboration & Influence: Work cross-functionally with key departments to influence strategies, drive results, and ensure cohesive brand experiences across all touchpoints.
• Strategic Thinker: Develop and implement long-term visual merchandising strategies that elevate the brand and align with commercial objectives.
• Problem Solver: Navigate challenges with a solution-oriented mindset, quickly identifying areas for improvement and implementing effective fixes.
• Resilient & Adaptable: Thrive in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and maintaining composure during high-pressure situations like key promotional periods and new store openings.
• Strong Communicator: Articulate ideas and strategies clearly and confidently, with the ability to inspire and engage at all levels of the organization.
• Decision-Maker: Make sound business decisions based on a combination of creative insight, data analysis, and business acumen.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in Visual Merchandising, with at least 3-5 years i a leadership role.
• Proven experience in coaching and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to align creative vision with business objectives.
• Excellent project management skills, with a track record of managing multiple projects across a large retail network.
• Proficiency in VM software tools and design programs such as InDesign, Adobe Creative Suite, and SketchUp.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data and customer insights to drive visual merchandising decisions.
• Knowledge of current fashion and retail trends, with an eye for design, color, and detail.

Personal Attributes:

• Passion for retail, fashion, and customer experience.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to juggle multiple priorities.
• Proactive and results-driven, with a creative mindset that challenges the status quo.
• Approachable, empathetic, and a strong team player with a passion for people development.