Sr. Manager, Retail Visual Merchandising

Job Summary

We are looking for a Sr. Manager, Retail Visual Merchandising to help shape the visual strategy of Squishable stores nationwide. This role owns the overall look and feel for roughly 30 stores, overseeing new store layouts, seasonal presentations, and brand installations that bring the Squishable experience to life. This role combines strategy with execution, ensuring our stores are engaging, cohesive, and consistently aligned with brand standards. You’ll collaborate across teams, manage vendors, and lead a small team to design and maintain a great in-store experience across our growing fleet.

This role requires 5–7 years of experience at the corporate leadership level in store design and visual merchandising strategy, including at least 1–2 years managing a team. Retail experience is required; toy or specialty retail experience is a plus. Candidates must be comfortable with 50%-70% travel to Squishable stores nationwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive retail visual strategy by originating and advancing retail store design concepts and in-store experiences for a fleet of stores across the country, including new store layouts, seasonal presentations, specialty installations, and reacting to the changing needs of an evolving brand.
• Lead brand-focused design execution by creating and maintaining brand standards, visual and signage guidelines, and merchandising directives, ensuring consistency with brand identity and retail best practices.
• Manage implementation across the fleet by overseeing the design of new store openings, remodels, and seasonal refreshes, working closely with cross-functional partners, external vendors, and store teams to source, fabricate and manage installation for fixtures and branding.
• Inspire innovation and trend adoption by monitoring retail, design, and cultural trends to proactively evolve Squishable’s in-store experience and keep the brand fresh, fun, and relevant. Provide guidance and training to ensure standards are consistently upheld.
• Lead and develop a team by managing and mentoring a small group of direct reports, fostering creativity and accountability while building strong collaboration with store and HQ partners.
• Execute hands-on implementation by participating directly in bringing the visual strategy to life in stores, building fixtures, setting displays, and ensuring that design concepts translate seamlessly from plan to physical execution.

Requirements

• 5–7 years of experience in multi-unit retail store design and visual merchandising management, with at least 1–2 years of experience managing a team.
• Ideal candidates will have a background in gift, toy, or hard goods retail.
• Strong working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), Google Suite, and related design tools.
• Understanding and familiarity with the use of a space design tool, such as SketchUp, or a willingness to learn
• Strong project management, organizational, and communication skills; ability to balance creative vision with operational execution.
• Up-to-date knowledge of retail design trends and best practices with the ability to apply them to a playful, brand-focused retail environment.
• Must be able to stand and walk for prolonged periods of time and lift up to 40 lbs. unassisted.