SNIPES Senior Visual Manager Bensalem, PAHybrid Overview: Reporting to the Vice President of Stores and Operations, the Senior Visual Manager owns the visual identity of SNIPES stores across the US, translating brand strategy, cultural moments, and seasonal campaigns into VM direction that brings product to life across all merchandise classifications: footwear, apparel, and accessories across our fleet of 365+ stores. This role sits at the intersection of Merchandising, Marketing, and Store Operations, turning strategic concepts into clear, executable in-store guidance that reflects sneaker and streetwear culture at the store level, and helps bring SNIPES' mission and vision to life in every store. The Senior Visual Manager will lead a team of visual professionals.
This is a corporate leadership role for someone who thinks like a merchant, designs like a stylist, and communicates like an operator, able to build a national VM strategy and write a directive so clear that a store team in any market can execute it flawlessly.
Responsibilities:Strategy & Brand Storytelling- Own the seasonal and campaign VM strategy (e.g., Back-to-School, Holiday, Air Max Day, brand launches) from concept through fleet-wide execution
- Translate brand partnerships and cultural moments (Nike, Jordan, streetwear collabs, Exclusives, shop-in-shop concepts) into compelling, on-brand store environments
- Partner with Marketing and Merchandising leadership to ensure VM reinforces campaign narratives and product priorities
- Develop and deliver clear, actionable visual merchandising directives aligned to seasonal priorities and product strategies
Cross-Functional Partnership- Partner with Marketing to bring national and regional campaigns to life in-store, ensuring visual execution aligns with campaign creative and messaging
- Provide support and direction for signage, POP, and campaign collateral, partnering with internal design/creative teams and outside vendors
- Partner with vendor and brand partners on co-branded assets, shops, and product presentation in compliance with brand visual standards
- Provide visual merchandising input into product strategies, ensuring product assortments are "VM-ready" at launch, and partner with the Merchant team (buying, planning, and allocation) on seasonal visual initiatives
- Serve as the primary VM point of contact for brand partners, managing shop-in-shop concepts, co-branded initiatives, and launch requirements
Execution & Field Enablement- Develop and issue clear, phased VM directives (window, mannequin, fixture, signage, shop-in-shop setup, etc.) that scale across store formats and square footage
- Build visual standards and playbooks that District Managers and Store Managers can execute independently, with minimal ambiguity
- Partner with Store Operations to align VM rollouts with store opening timelines, reset calendars, and labor considerations
- Support new store openings and shop-in-shop launches (e.g., Nike SIS) with tailored VM plans
- Translate SKU assortments and launch calendars into detailed, store-ready floor set and directive documentation
Visual Operations- Own visual operations processes, including fixture inventory, POP/signage distribution, and reset logistics across the fleet
- Partner with Marketing and Procurement to ensure timely, accurate delivery of VM materials to stores
- Develop and maintain visual operations calendars, timelines, and budgets that support seasonal resets and campaign rollouts
- Manage in-store print, digital, and fixture requirements, including specs, quantities, and timelines
Team Leadership & Field Development- Train and coach Field Leadership on visual merchandising standards, execution expectations, and brand storytelling
- Create training tools and standards that elevate visual merchandising at the store and district level
- Conduct quarterly market travel and audits to assess VM compliance, gather field feedback, and course-correct standards
- Build and lead a high-performing visual professionals, including hiring, training, and developing; assigning tasks and objectives
Reporting & Continuous Improvement- Establish and track VM compliance metrics across the fleet, reporting out on execution quality and business impact
- Use sales and conversion data to inform where VM investment drives the greatest return
- Continuously evolve visual standards based on field feedback, competitive landscape, and cultural trends
- Other projects and duties as required
Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Visual Merchandising, Fashion Merchandising, Marketing, Design, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered
- 7+ years of visual merchandising experience, with at least 3 years in a multi-unit or corporate VM leadership which includes leading a team of visual professionals, ideally in specialty retail, sneakers, streetwear, or fashion
- Proven ability to translate brand and marketing concepts into scalable, field-executable VM direction across a multi-store fleet
- Design sensibility and experience partnering with creative teams on campaign assets, signage, and POP
- Strong project management skills, able to run multiple seasonal launches and store initiatives simultaneously and meet deadlines
- Experience partnering with cross-functional teams (Merchandising, Marketing, Operations, Planning) in a fast-paced, culture-driven retail environment
- Outstanding leadership abilities; able to provide feedback, develop others, embrace and lead change, and make decisions under ambiguity
- Excellent interpersonal skills; able to act with integrity and professionalism to ensure all business is conducted without bias or prejudice
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to write directives that are both creative and easy to understand and execute
- Comfort with retail analytics and using data to prioritize VM investment
- A genuine connection to sneaker and streetwear culture, with an eye for what resonates with today's consumer
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. and perform frequent standing, walking, repetitive finger, hand, and wrist motions, as well as bending, stooping, reaching, squatting, kneeling, pushing, pulling, climbing ladders, and working with cleaning chemicals
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) required
- SketchUp, AutoCAD, or similar planogram/space-planning tools a plus
- MS Office and PowerPoint/Keynote for directive presentation
- Managing multiple priorities simultaneously
Travel Requirements- 50% travel to stores and markets
- Valid US Driver's License required
Cultural Success Factors- Enthusiasm for the brand
- Consumer obsessed
- Ownership mindset
- Innovative mindset
- Collaborative nature
- Skillful communicator
- Data-driven decision making
- Adaptable and flexible
- Disciplined and self-motivated
Benefits with SNIPES- Generous Employee Discount
- Paid Holidays
- Summer Hours
- Hybrid work schedule
- PTO (Paid Time Off)
- Bonus Plan
- Affordable Health Insurance
- Retirement Contributions
