Branded merchandise is one of the most visible ways GEICO shows up outside of advertising — in the hands of associates, at events, and increasingly across the physical spaces where people work. As GEICO's office footprint evolves, the brand needs one consistent point of ownership across both: what goes into someone's hands, and what surrounds them at the office.
The Manager, Brand Merchandising owns and leads GEICO's merchandise program, in partnership with API, our GEICO Store platform partner. That means setting the strategic direction for the core collection, managing the full lifecycle of special collections from intake through distribution, and partnering with Hospitality, Supplier Management, and Associate Experience for location-specific store pop-ups. This role also partners with Real Estate & Facilities Management (REFM) on the creative and brand execution of GEICO's offices and sites — extending the same brand standards that govern merchandise into signage, wayfinding, and other brand moments in physical space. This role owns the assortment, the vendor relationships, the brand standards, and the operating infrastructure that keeps both programs running at scale.
This role rewards someone who brings both strategic thinking and operational discipline — someone who can shape what the merchandise and site-branding programs should be and also make sure they're executed well. If you want to own work that shows up visibly across GEICO's culture, events calendar, and physical spaces, and have the experience to build it into something durable, this is that opportunity.
How We Work
The Marketing organization at GEICO is guided by a clear set of principles: we hire the best at every level and invest in developing them. We believe that strategy comes before action — if we don't know why we're doing something, we don't do it. We bring the same care and accountability to how we spend resources as we would if it were our own business. And when there are challenges, we face them directly and collectively. Leaders in this organization are expected to bring that same mindset to their teams.
Key Responsibilities
Core Collection Management
- Own the GEICO Store merchandise catalog — both customizable and non-customizable items — setting assortment strategy and maintaining quality and brand standards in partnership with API
- Lead catalog reviews to assess relevance, identify gaps, and make decisions on additions, removals, and updates
- Partner with Supplier Management on inventory management, platform accuracy, and replenishment; proactively resolve stock issues before they affect the program
- Work with Brand & Creative on design approvals and refreshes to ensure all catalog items meet GEICO's visual and brand standards
Special Collections & Request Intake
- Own the intake process for merchandise requests from across the organization — including event- and milestone-specific collections, People Group programs such as onboarding and new hire kits, and internal needs such as L&D summits or leadership offsites
- Lead the full lifecycle of special collection projects: scoping, pricing, design coordination, production timelines, sampling, quality review, and distribution
- Partner with Associate Experience and Supplier Management on production, vendor selection, and fulfillment
- Build and maintain a scalable intake infrastructure — trackers, playbooks, and workflows — that keeps the program organized as request volume grows
Store Pop-Ups & Location-Specific Activation
- Lead planning and execution of location-specific GEICO Store pop-up experiences at offices and events, in partnership with Hospitality, Real Estate & Facilities Management (REFM), and Associate Experience
- Own logistics end to end: inventory coordination, fulfillment, on-site setup, and post-event reconciliation
- Maintain brand consistency and presentation standards across all pop-up activations
Real Estate & Sites Branding
- Partner with Real Estate & Facilities Management (REFM) on the creative and brand execution of GEICO's offices and sites, including signage, wayfinding, and other brand elements in physical space
- Ensure brand standards are applied consistently as sites are built out, renovated, or refreshed, working with Brand & Creative on design direction and approvals
- Serve as the brand point of contact for REFM on site and facilities projects, translating brand standards into practical creative direction for physical spaces
Vendor & Program Management
- Own the day-to-day vendor relationship with API — driving performance, resolving issues, and ensuring the partnership delivers against program needs
- Partner with Supplier Management on vendor contracting, compliance, and sourcing for special collection production
- Review estimates, negotiate pricing, and make cost-quality tradeoff decisions across merchandise programs
- Own program reporting and financial tracking — working with API and Supplier Management to monitor catalog usage, fulfillment volumes, special collection outcomes, and pop-up activity
You May Be a Good Fit If You
- Have owned a branded merchandise or corporate store program — not just supported one — and can point to the assortment decisions, vendor relationships, and program outcomes you drove
- Bring both strategic and operational instincts: you can shape what a program should be and execute it well
- Can manage a complex portfolio of concurrent work — a catalog refresh, special collections at different stages, a pop-up in planning, and a site branding project — without anything slipping
- Are comfortable serving a wide range of internal clients — from Events and Hospitality to HR, L&D, Onboarding, and Real Estate & Facilities — and can translate very different requests into a consistent, well-managed process
- Are comfortable extending brand standards beyond print and product into physical space — signage, office environments, and site-specific branding — and can partner effectively with Real Estate and Facilities teams to get it right
- Have a strong eye for brand quality and know how to give clear, useful feedback to vendors and creative partners
- Are energized by work that shows up visibly in culture: you'll see your work at events, in offices, on-site, and in the hands of people across the company
Ideal Experience
- Experience: 5–7 years in branded merchandise, marketing operations, procurement, or a related field, with demonstrated ownership of a merchandise catalog, corporate store, or comparable program
- Program ownership: Proven experience owning a merchandise or gifting program end to end — including assortment strategy, vendor management, and production
- Vendor management: Direct experience managing vendor relationships through the full production cycle: scoping, sampling, quality review, and delivery
- Cross-functional leadership: Track record managing intake, timelines, and approvals across a wide range of internal stakeholders in a matrixed environment
- Physical brand execution: Comfort translating brand standards into physical environments — signage, wayfinding, office branding — and partnering with Real Estate or Facilities teams to execute it
- Financial management: Comfort owning budget tracking, purchase orders, invoicing, and cost-quality tradeoffs at the program level
- Tools: Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); experience with procurement or inventory platforms a plus
- Education: Bachelor's degree in marketing, business, communications, hospitality, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience
Strong Candidates May Also Have
- Experience with a company store, branded swag platform, or e-commerce gifting tool (e.g., Cimpress/Vistaprint Corporate, HALO, 4imprint, or similar)
- Experience planning and executing event or pop-up activations with a merchandise component
- Experience with environmental branding, signage systems, or office/workplace design projects
- Familiarity with brand standards and design approval workflows, with enough visual sensibility to give clear feedback on product quality
- Experience working inside a large, matrixed organization where multiple teams share ownership of related programs
Location: Hybrid, 3 days per week onsite. Corporate offices in Bethesda, MD or Manhattan, NY.
A Note on Applications
We encourage you to apply even if you don't believe you meet every single qualification listed. Strong candidates rarely check every box — and research consistently shows that people from underrepresented groups are more likely to hold back when they're not a perfect match on paper. If this role sounds like work you'd be excited to do, we want to hear from you.
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Annual Salary
$109,675.00 - $172,200.00
The above annual salary range is a general guideline. Multiple factors are taken into consideration to arrive at the final hourly rate/ annual salary to be offered to the selected candidate. Factors include, but are not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, the selected candidate’s work experience, education and training, the work location as well as market and business considerations.
