Senior Manager - Visual Merchandising

Overview:

The company is looking for a professional responsible for developing and executing customer-centric visual merchandising strategies and space planning solutions. The role will drive store experience, optimize product presentation, improve customer navigation, and ensure alignment between brand identity, commercial objectives, and operational requirements.

The position requires a strong understanding of retail design principles, consumer behavior, merchandise presentation, store layouts, and execution excellence across a large retail network.

You will be leading and mentoring a team of creative VMs and SRD (Space Planning/Store Design).

Key Responsibilities:Visual Merchandising Strategy & Design:

• Develop and implement VM strategies aligned with brand positioning, seasonal campaigns, and business objectives.

• Translate brand guidelines into scalable VM principles for multiple store formats and locations.

• Drive seasonal launches, promotional campaigns, EOSS, and in-store communication strategies.

• Ensure consistency in visual identity and customer experience across stores.

Space Planning & Store Layout Optimization:

• Lead space planning initiatives to maximize sales productivity and customer flow.

• Develop category adjacencies, zoning strategies, fixture planning, and merchandise layouts.

• Partner with buying, category, operations, and store teams to optimize product visibility and accessibility.

• Analyze customer movement patterns and commercial performance to improve store layouts.

• Balance aesthetic design requirements with operational feasibility and business priorities.

Retail Design & Execution:

• Collaborate with store design teams, architects, vendors, and project teams for VM implementation.

• Create design briefs, guidelines, and execution manuals for stores.

• Oversee rollout of VM concepts across new stores, renovations, and existing locations.

• Ensure quality, timelines, and cost efficiency during execution.

• Conduct store audits and provide actionable recommendations for improvement.

Business & Commercial Impact:

• Use sales data, customer insights, and category performance metrics to enhance VM effectiveness.

• Partner with merchandising teams to improve product presentation for sale optimisation.

• Identify opportunities to increase sales through improved layouts, displays, and customer journeys.

Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management:

• Lead and mentor VM designers, space planners, and execution teams.

• Build strong collaboration with merchandising, marketing, operations, and store teams.

• Manage external agencies, design partners, and vendors.

• Establish processes, standards, and best practices for VM excellence.

Required Experience & Qualifications:Education:

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Retail Design, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Visual Merchandising, Architecture, or related field.

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in visual merchandising, retail design, space planning, or store experience roles.

• Experience managing VM strategy for large retail networks preferred.

• Strong exposure to fashion, lifestyle, department store, or specialty retail environments.

• Experience working with cross-functional teams and external design partners.

Technical & Functional Skills:

• Strong understanding of retail space planning principles.

• Knowledge of customer journey mapping and visual navigation.

• Proficiency with design tools such as AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar software.

• Understanding of fixtures, materials, design detailing and retail execution standards.

• Ability to interpret sales data and translate insights into design solutions.