VP, Store Design & Visual Merchandising

Westman Atelier; New York (NY); On-site; USD 200,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holistic health benefits

401k

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Westman Atelier in New York is seeking a VP of Store Design & Visual Merchandising to elevate brand presence and commercial viability. The role involves collaborating with the Founder and CMO to lead various physical installations, ensuring a seamless luxury experience.

Candidates should have 10-15 years in the luxury beauty sector, with extensive experience managing teams and multi-million dollar budgets. A competitive salary ranging from $200,000 to $220,000 is offered, alongside a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 10-15 years of experience in the luxury/beauty industry.
• 5+ years managing teams and building a culture of accountability.
• Proven track record in managing multi-million dollar budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead concept end-to-end across store and merchandising types.
• Partner with regions to execute global brand guidelines.
• Design and develop fixtures tailored to revenue objectives.

Skills

Team management

Budget management

Visual merchandising

Design operations

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Store Design or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

CAD/graphics

Job description

About Westman Atelier

A new standard of clean luxury. Founded by world-renowned editorial makeup artist Gucci Westman, Westman Atelier is a curated edit of skin-loving, performance-first makeup that is always effortless, never overdone. A mother, makeup artist, and champion of holistic living, Gucci believes passionately that ‘luxury’, ‘efficacy’ and ‘clean’ can be synonymous with exceptional makeup.

• A skincare approach to high performance make-up formulated with clean ingredients and no-compromise integrity
• Balancing perfect shades and buttery textures that melt into the skin with plant-based actives and cutting-edge science

About Our Founder

Gucci Westman has more than 20 years of professional experience as a major editorial makeup artist, contributing to publications like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Gucci is known for creating dewy, supernaturally glowy looks and her highly coveted “second-skin approach” to makeup, resulting in naturally beautiful, radiantly amplified skin.

Position Summary

Reporting to the CMO, the VP, Store Design & Visual Merchandising will focus on marrying commercial viability with desirability and brand presence. This highly collaborative, equal parts creative and operational role will lead concept end-to-end across several store and merchandising types to ensure a cohesive, high-touch, and saleable experience reflecting our brand ethos across every consumer touchpoint.

Responsibilities

• Evolve and document Westman Atelier’s physical footprint in collaboration with relevant cross-functional partners, including Founder, CMO and Head of Sales, ensuring every touchpoint across installations marries shoppability with high-touch luxury aesthetic
• Partner with regions to ensure global brand guidelines and quality standards are executed in a way that protects Westman Atelier’s prestige positioning while allowing for local market nuances.
• Partner closely with the Creative & Content teams to design immersive, cohesive consumer journeys that seamlessly translate online brand stories into tangible in-store experiences.
• Design and develop fixtures and modular merchandising systems tailored to revenue objectives. Ensure all installations are optimized for up-selling, high-traffic engagement, increased conversion rates, and profitability.
• Partner with Brand Marketing on high impact print and physical activations such as mailers, collateral, and IRL eventing
• Conduct quarterly competitive analysis across VM types to ensure we stay ahead of the landscape
• Curate and optimize a database of global suppliers and production partners. Focus on maintaining high-quality manufacturing while utilizing value-engineering to ensure scalability and cost-efficiency.
• Manage overall budget and project forecasting. Partner with finance and sales teams on annual budget, reforecasts and to ensure design initiatives are aligned with P & L goals.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing global team across store design, VM, and project management. Foster a culture of creativity, agility, flexibility, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Partner closely with product marketing and events and education to create a brand right toolkit for evergreen and tier a launches.
• Partner closely with Sales to understand store-specific performance data and traffic patterns, adjusting VM and design strategies to maximize the productivity of every square foot.
• Establish an agile design framework that allows the team to pivot quickly in response to shifting global retail landscapes, supply chain disruptions, or localized market opportunities.
• Standardize the project management lifecycle for all installations, ensuring clear communication, streamlined workflows, and accountability across all global regional partners.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Store Design, Visual Merchandising or related creative field; Master’s preferred.
• 10-15 years of demonstrated work experience in the luxury/beauty industry
• 5+ years of demonstrated work experience managing teams, building a culture of accountability
• Proven experience managing design & VM operations across multiple global regions (US, EMEA, APAC)
• Demonstrated success in building and scaling high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams. Ability to foster a culture of accountability, mentorship, and creative excellence.
• Proven track record of managing multi-million dollar capex budgets, including vendor contract negotiation, value engineering and project forecasting
• Demonstrated ability to partner with Sales and Finance teams to translate retail performance data into design strategies that drive conversion and traffic.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence C-suite leadership and cross-functional stakeholders
• Expert ability to direct and curate the brand’s visual identity across 360-degree environments.
• Deep understanding of architectural and regulatory standards
• A visionary approach to integrating retail technology and sustainability into store design without compromising the luxury aesthetic.
• Demonstrated experience with drafting and structural techniques, engineering, drawing, CAD/graphics, and reading of comprehensive shop drawings
• Ability to lead multiple global projects across disciplines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to travel as required

Benefits

Westman Atelier offers a holistic total compensation package designed to support employees in all aspects of life, including a robust suite of health benefits, wellness perks, 401k, and paid parental leave. The base salary for this position will range from $200,000-$220,000. Exact compensation may vary based on job related skills, experience, and location.