Project Manager

Creative Circle; Pawtucket (RI); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading marketing and merchandising firm is seeking a Trade Merchandising Project Manager to oversee retail merchandising projects. This hybrid role requires managing projects from concept through to in-market activation, collaborating with various teams and vendors. The ideal candidate should have over 5 years of project management experience, be detail-oriented, and proficient in tools like Smartsheet and Microsoft Excel. This position is focused on delivering effective merchandising solutions while ensuring project timelines and budgets are met.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of project management experience in retail or trade merchandising.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams under tight timelines.
• Project management certifications are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage merchandising projects from concept to activation.
• Maintain project trackers and ensure alignment across stakeholders.
• Identify risks and communicate updates to operational teams.

Skills

Project management expertise

Strong communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

Smartsheet

Adobe Frame.io

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Teams

SharePoint

Job description

The Trade Merchandising Project Manager

The Trade Merchandising Project Manager oversees and executes retail merchandising projects that drive in‑store sales and elevate the customer experience. This role manages projects end to end, partnering closely with cross‑functional internal teams and external vendor partners to deliver creative, cost‑effective displays that meet timelines, budgets, and program objectives within an omni‑channel retail environment.

The Basics:

• Duration: 4 months
• Hours: The position is expected to be full‑time at approximately 40 hours per week.
• Location: Hybrid role with work from home on Mondays and Fridays and onsite work Tuesday through Thursday at a Pawtucket‑area office.

Top Three Required Qualifications:

• Proven project management expertise with the ability to lead end‑to‑end merchandising or retail projects, manage multiple workstreams simultaneously, and deliver against tight timelines and budget requirements.
• Exceptional attention to detail, including strong organizational skills and the ability to accurately maintain project documentation, trackers, budgets, and timelines across multiple stakeholders.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with demonstrated experience partnering cross‑functionally and effectively managing expectations with both internal teams and external vendor partners.

Other Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in a relevant field
• 5+ years of project management experience; experience supporting retail or trade merchandising initiatives; consumer packaged goods experience, with toy or game industry exposure a plus
• Ability to prioritize and deliver under tight timelines and budget constraints; project management certifications are a plus
• Experience Smartsheet and Adobe Frame.io is a plus
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage merchandising projects end to end, from initial concept and kickoff through approvals, design adjustments, production, shipping, and in‑market activation.
• Maintain project trackers, shared drives, databases, and budgets while ensuring alignment across all stakeholders.
• Partner with sales, marketing, finance, and product teams to develop innovative, cost‑effective retail merchandising solutions.
• Proactively identify risks, troubleshoot issues, and communicate status updates to internal operational teams to keep projects on track.
• Lead weekly project management calls with internal teams and external vendors to drive accountability and maintain strong working relationships.
• Apply a results‑oriented, detail‑focused approach to decision making in fast‑paced and ambiguous situations while enthusiastically supporting a broad portfolio of consumer products through retail displays.