Senior Director, Visual Merchandising and Buying - New York, 10019

Senior Director, Visual Merchandising and Buying - New York, 10019, United States of America

How we LEAD:

The Sr. Director of Visual Merchandising & Buying is a high-impact executive leader responsible for driving exponential retail growth and brand elevation across the NYC store. This role integrates visual storytelling with sophisticated merchant analytics to architect immersive retail environments that maximize revenue and solidify the brand’s footprint translating the global music culture into a tangible retail experience.

By leveraging UMG’s roster of artists and iconic IP, the role bridges the gap between trend analysis, assortment architecture, and physical execution—turning the NYC flagship into a stage for exclusive artist collaborations, high-fidelity sound integrations, and experiences that resonate with the pulse of the music industry. The Sr. Director spearheads this transformation, ensuring that the intersection of fashion and the UMG music sphere creates an unparalleled sensory destination for the modern consumer.

How You’ll CREATE:

Executive Leadership & Visual Strategy:

• Strategic Market Growth: Architect comprehensive visual merchandising strategies for the NYC location that directly correlate with increased foot traffic, conversion rates, and YOY sales growth.
• Flagship Excellence: Direct the conceptualization and execution of high-profile NYC window stylings and in-store activations, ensuring the store serves as the global benchmark for brand innovation.
• Executive Stakeholder Management: Serve as the primary liaison between labels, executive leadership and local/global partners, providing high-level feedback on product performance and localized market trends.
• Talent Development: Lead and mentor store leadership teams on advanced visual techniques and brand aesthetics, fostering a culture of excellence and obsessive attention to detail.

Assortment Architecture & Merchant Integration:

• KPI-Driven Merchandising: Analyze sell-through data, inventory levels, and performance reports to pivot visual strategies in real-time, optimizing floor layouts for maximum square-footage profitability.
• Assortment Balance & Planning: Ensure the store’s assortment is balanced across labels, departments, seasonality, tours, and color palettes; identify product gaps and provide competitive insights to inform buying decisions.
• Program & Category Management: Support the management of key programs, including carryover styles and new launches, ensuring critical product elements are prioritized within the store’s floor plan.
• Style Tier Prioritization: Assist in prioritizing high-growth styles within the brand to develop balanced line plans that inform regional buying and merchandising strategies.

Market Intelligence & Trend Analytics:

• Trend Research & Analysis: Identify external marketplace trends and monitor the competitive landscape in NYC to inform product development and visual placement.
• Influencer & Social Media Integration: Track social media trends and influencer partnerships to identify emerging product opportunities, ensuring the NYC floor reflects "of-the-moment" social insights.
• Runway & Designer Documentation: Stay informed on runway trends and fashion week events to identify emerging innovations, translating high-fashion concepts into accessible retail displays.
• Competitive Benchmarking: Execute comprehensive marketplace research to ensure brand positioning aligns with the NYC market across style, color, and price point.

Operational Excellence & Administrative Oversight:

• Operational Optimization: Oversee the store’s visual budget and manage administrative workflows, ensuring all stores possess premium resources and well-maintained visual collateral.
• Resource Allocation: Partner with key business stakeholders and respective business leaders to ensure the store has all necessary tools to meet brand standards, including the maintenance of visual inventory.
• Agile Market Response: Maintain a consistent physical presence, providing physical support for high-priority installations, overnights, and holiday events.

Bring your VIBE:

• Proven track record of scaling retail revenue through visual innovation and merchant strategy in a major metropolitan market.
• Expertise in multi-unit flagship management and data-driven assortment planning.
• Ability to translate runway and social media trends into commercial visual directives.
• Open and flexible availability to oversee high-priority installations, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, to meet the demands of the retail cycle.
• Agile Market Response: Remain proactive in identifying shifting consumer behaviors in NYC, implementing rapid-response floor moves and signage updates to capitalize on emerging trends.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Marketing and Inventory teams to ensure product stories are cohesive across all channels, and that physical installations support broader digital and brand campaigns.
• Market Ambassadorship: Represent the brand’s visual identity at major NYC industry events and off-site installations, ensuring the brand remains at the forefront of the retail landscape.
• Executive Presence: Maintain a consistent physical presence across the NYC store, providing high-level guidance on complex floor moves and ensuring "white-glove" standards are met at every touchpoint.

• Expertise in managing high-volume traffic.
• Ability to translate complex data sets into actionable visual merchandising directives.