Visual Specialist

The Opportunity

The Visual Specialist role supports a customer-first in-store experience through articulate project briefs, creative visual displays, easy-to-follow communication, and expert collaboration. This position will have a strong focus on our Canada stores (DSW + Shoe Co) and will also support the team working on US stores. This is a hybrid role with required routine work in our Columbus-based home office. Occasional travel to Canada may be required.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Visual Communication
• Responsible for store-facing communication for all evergreen, seasonal, promotional, and brand partnership initiatives.
• Creates clearly articulated visual execution documents for stores to flawlessly execute.
• Partners with field communications to make sure documents are posted accurately and on schedule for weekly, monthly, and ad hoc deliverables.
• PARTNERS WITH CROSS FUNCTIONAL TEAMS (MERCHANDISING, PROMO, ETC) TO ENSURE ACCURATE STORE SIGNAGE AND PRODUCT FEATURE DIRECTION IS CAPTURED.
• Visual Merchandising
• Creates impactful visual displays that support merchant buy plans, seasonal and business priorities, and inspire customer engagement.
• Presentation setup for seasonal floorset walk-throughs and other business meetings.
• Documents all displays to provide communication for store associates to set with ease.
• Project Briefing
• Translates store signage and visual strategy into clear and actionable briefs to the creative team.
• Gathers and provides all necessary details (quantities, dimensions, references) to support the most accurate product.
• Self-manages publishing timeline to support existing traffic workflow and comms calendar.
• Cross Functional Collaboration
• SUPPORTS A CUSTOMER-FIRST IN-STORE EXPERIENCE THROUGH CREATIVE VISUAL MERCHANDISING DISPLAYS, STORE SIGNAGE, AND PRODUCT PLACEMENT.
• ACTS AS A LIASON BETWEEN CROSS FUNCTIONAL TEAMS: VISUAL OPERATIONS, MERCHANDISING, MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS, AND STORES.
• SUPPORTS AND HELPS OPERATIONALIZE ALL PROJECTS.
• SOLICITS FEEDBACK AND SUPPORTS IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH INTERNAL PARTNER, FIELD LEADERS, AND STORE MANAGERS.
• EXECUTES IN-STORE AUDIO AND VISUAL CONTENT SCHEDULE WITH THIRD-PARTY VENDORS.

Required Skills

• Strong visual merchandising and communications background focusing on in-store experience.
• Proficient with technology including and not limited to Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, MS Office, Workfront, and Airtable.
• Graphic design experience preferred but not required.
• Personal phone for documentation photos.
• Valid passport during time of employment for occasional travel to Canada.
• Self-motivated with ability to drive projects with little supervision.
• Energetic and eager to tackle new projects and ideas.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Collaborative team player.
• MUST BE ABLE TO WORK IN A FAST-PACED ENVIRONMENT HANDLING MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES SIMULTANEOUSLY.
• Strong customer focus with demonstrated success in teamwork, adaptability, and decision-making.
• Possess a growth mindset.
• TAKES ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DECISIONS AND ACTIONS.

Minimum Experience

• 3 years corporate retail experience, preferably with a mass retailer or equivalent experience.

Minimum Education

• College degree or equivalent work experience.