Job DescriptionThe Visual Merchandising (VM) Planner is a strategic individual contributor and divisional subject matter expert responsible for developing and advancing customer-centric merchandising strategies that drive sales performance, strengthen brand presentation, and enhance the customer experience. This role establishes visual merchandising standards, department priorities, and execution strategies that ensure consistency, scalability, and excellence across the Nordstrom full-line fleet. The VM Planner translates business objectives, customer insights, and market trends into impactful merchandising solutions that support divisional growth while reinforcing brand integrity. Through the development of innovative tools, standards, and visual frameworks, this role drives alignment between merchandising strategy and store execution, enabling compelling and consistent customer experiences across all locations. Success in this role requires strong cross-functional influence and partnership with Merchandising, Planning, Marketing, Store Design, Regional Leadership, and Store Teams. The VM Planner serves as a trusted advisor, shaping divisional visual strategies and ensuring alignment between business priorities, product storytelling, and in-store execution. Additionally, the VM Planner leads capability-building initiatives through training, coaching, and field engagement, equipping store teams with the knowledge and resources required to execute visual strategies at a high level. Through strategic leadership, operational excellence, and deep merchandising expertise, this role drives continuous improvement, elevates visual standards, and contributes to achieving divisional and company performance objectives.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:- Maintain current team reoccurring work cadence (department standard updates, seasonal product priorities, monthly refresh, planogram decks, training tools).
- Develop and refine merchandising strategies aligned with divisional objectives and customer trends.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, including leadership, merchants, store design teams, buyers, and planning directors.
- Analyze data to inform strategic merchandising decisions and drive business outcomes.
- Research industry trends, competitive landscapes, and customer preferences to enhance merchandising effectiveness.
- Ensure brand consistency while integrating innovation into visual merchandising strategies.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams on signing, hangers, sensors, and store communications.
- Manage numerous projects concurrently to ensure each aligns with the Nordstrom brand ethos, meets dead-lines, and business priorities.
- Align merchandising strategies with marketing editorial calendars to reinforce brand messaging.
- Drive fashion messaging across departments, providing styling guidance for visual merchandising teams.
- Lead virtual and in person visual merchandising training sessions, sharing knowledge and best practices with store • teams.
CORE COMPETENCIES:Strategic Mindset: Thinks ahead about how to enhance the performance of their team. Is aware of how own work connects to the broader organization’s strategy.Drives Vision: Takes steps to advance the organization’s vision and ensures that own efforts align with the team's goals and priorities. Operates with a clear sense of purpose that gives meaning to everyday activities.Builds Trust: Gains trust by showing consistency between what is said and what is done. Fairly represents the interests of others and is trusted to speak up on their behalf.Customer Focus: Speaks clearly about the importance of the customer; fosters a sense of urgency toward customer needs. Secures appropriate organizational resources and support to meet current customer needs. Supports efforts to build customer satisfaction, loyalty and commitment.QUALIFICATIONS:• 5+ years of experience in Visual Merchandising management or equivalent required• Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent experience• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suites, Adobe Suites, and AutoCAD (SketchUp is a plus).• Experience building planograms.• Proven knowledge and experience in fashion trends, visual merchandising styling techniques and how they relate to specific customers• Experience delivering concepts from ideation to execution.• Experience in public speaking and delivering information, direction, and strategy to an audience.• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in written form• Ability to travel up to 30% of the time, work weekends, early AM shifts, and PM shifts as needed.Pay Range Details
The pay range(s) below has been provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different for other locations.
Pay offers are dependent on the location, as well as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
$93,500.00 - $155,000.00 Annual
We’ve got you covered…
Our employees are our most important asset and that’s reflected in our benefits. Nordstrom is proud to offer a variety of benefits to support employees and their families, including:
- Medical/Vision, Dental, Retirement and Paid Time Away
- Life Insurance and Disability
- Merchandise Discount and EAP Resources
This position may be eligible for performance-based incentives/bonuses. Benefits include 401k, medical/vision/dental/life/disability insurance options, PTO accruals, Holidays, and more. Eligibility requirements may apply based on location, job level, classification, and length of employment. Learn more in the Nordstrom Benefits Overview by copying and pasting the following URL into your browser: https://careers.nordstrom.com/pdfs/Ben_Overview_17-19.pdf
A few more important points...
The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive. There may be additional duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this job.
