Manager, Store Communications & Signage Strategy

Duties And Responsibilities

• Develop and implement merchandising strategies that align with the company's brand and objectives.
• Collaborate with retail buyers and merchandising teams to plan and execute merchandising projects in-store.
• Lead the development, design direction, production, and installation of in-store graphics and communication programs, ensuring alignment with brand standards and merchandising priorities.
• Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of in-store graphics and communication assets, including concepting, vendor coordination, proofing, production, distribution, and in-store execution.
• Partner with marketing, merchandising, and creative teams to ensure category messaging, seasonal campaigns, and in-store communications are effectively translated into the physical store environment.
• Establish and maintain standards, guidelines, and toolkits for in-store communications and graphic elements to ensure consistency across all stores and formats.
• Coordinate with external vendors, print partners, and fabrication teams to ensure timely and high-quality delivery of fixtures, graphics, and materials.
• Evaluate and optimize in-store graphics placement, messaging clarity, and effectiveness to enhance the customer journey, product storytelling, and conversion.
• Incorporate wayfinding, educational messaging, and experiential visual elements to support customer engagement and ease of navigation within stores.
• Manage the end-to-end project lifecycle, including project planning, budgeting, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Conduct store visits to assess merchandising displays, graphics execution, and in-store communication compliance with brand standards.
• Analyze project performance and provide recommendations for continuous improvement and optimization of merchandising and in-store communication initiatives.
• Stay updated on industry trends and best practices in visual merchandising, retail graphics, and store communications to drive innovation and creativity in projects.
• Communicate project updates, timelines, and key milestones to stakeholders and management.
• Assist Field Merchandising Project Manager with new stores and remodels.
• Provide feedback and approval for in-store displays, graphics, and fixtures with Merchant Team.
• Support a consistent in-store environment through cohesive merchandising and communication standards.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to ensure business strategies and objectives are clearly communicated within all in-store communication tools.
• Capital projects – ensure projects are communicated, executed, and on budget.

Qualifications And Skills Required

• 5+ years visual merchandising experience in a retail environment preferred.
• Proven experience in visual merchandising, retail project management, in-store communications, graphics programs, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of graphic production, materials, print methods, and environmental applications within retail environments.
• Strong customer service skills with the ability to communicate effectively – written and oral.
• Self-starter with a high sense of urgency and ability to execute with little to no supervision.
• Organized with a high attention to detail and follow-through on projects.
• Adaptable, yet able to prioritize projects and effectively resolve problems autonomously.
• Able to collaborate and influence cross-functionally.
• Experience working with 3rd party vendors.
• Strategic thinker able to forecast business needs as well as develop and implement comprehensive solutions to complex problems.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Smartsheet, and the Internet.
• Photoshop or Adobe knowledge is a plus but not required.
• Strong sense of design, color, typography, and visual hierarchy.