Contract type
Location
New York, NY
Specialty
Salary
$150,000/year - $160,000/year
Remote
No
Reference
490880
Contact name
Leah Shirley-Seykoski
Our client is a digital-first, high-growth beauty brand known for innovation, inclusivity, and bold storytelling. As the brand expands its retail footprint, we are seeking a Director of Visual Merchandising & Store Design to lead the creation of immersive, brand-right environments that connect with customers across physical spaces.
The Director will be responsible for developing and executing the brand’s global visual merchandising and retail design strategy. This leader will oversee the design, rollout, and maintenance of physical retail stores, shop-in-shops, and experiential activations, ensuring alignment with brand DNA while delivering elevated, scalable solutions.
Store Design & Development
Lead the end-to-end store design process, from concept to execution, across permanent stores, pop-ups, and wholesale shop-in-shops.
Partner with cross-functional teams (Retail Ops, Marketing, Creative, and Real Estate) to translate brand identity into compelling, customer-centric environments.
Manage external vendors, architects, and fabrication partners to deliver projects on time and within budget.
Visual Merchandising Strategy
Create and implement seasonal and core visual merchandising guidelines that highlight product stories, hero SKUs, and innovation.
Develop adaptable VM toolkits to ensure consistency across company-owned retail, wholesale, and global markets.
Establish metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of VM strategies in driving sales and enhancing customer experience.
Leadership & Collaboration
Build and mentor a best-in-class team of visual merchandisers and designers.
Collaborate closely with Marketing, Creative, and Product to ensure seamless 360° brand storytelling.
Serve as a thought leader, bringing industry trends, sustainability practices, and digital integration into physical retail spaces.
10+ years of experience in retail store design and visual merchandising, preferably within beauty, fashion, or lifestyle brands.
Proven track record designing and executing new store concepts, pop-ups, and global rollouts.
Strong technical knowledge of store design tools (e.g., AutoCAD, SketchUp, 3D rendering software) and visual merchandising planning tools (e.g., InDesign, Photoshop, retail planogram software).
Experience managing external agencies, vendors, and cross-functional teams.
Deep understanding of how digital-first brands translate into physical experiences.
Excellent project management, budget oversight, and leadership skills.
