Merchandising Manager

Job Description:

Merchandising Manager (Floor Planning & Space Optimization) Position Summary

The Merchandising Manager is responsible for driving in‑store execution and optimizing product presentation to maximize sales, profitability, and customer experience. This role flexes between strategic merchandising leadership and hands‑on floor planning, including ownership of planograms, space allocation, and fixture strategy. The ideal candidate combines strong analytical capabilities with disciplined project management to translate insights into effective, scalable merchandising solutions.

• Work with Director of Store Planning to develop and execute merchandising strategies that align with business goals, seasonal priorities, and customer behaviors
• Partner with cross‑functional teams (Sales, Store Operations, and Marketing) to ensure cohesive product storytelling and execution
• Continuously assess and refine merchandising approaches to improve sales productivity and customer engagement
• Partner with Director of Store Planning to develop store floor plans, ensuring optimal traffic flow, category adjacencies, and customer navigation
• Allocate space by category, brand, and product based on performance metrics and business priorities
• Evaluate fixture utilization and recommend improvements to maximize selling efficiency
• Support new store openings, remodels, and resets with effective floor planning solutions

• Create, maintain, and optimize planograms that reflect assortment strategy and visual standards
• Establish planogram guidelines and best practices to ensure consistent execution across locations
• Analyze planogram performance and adjust based on sales data, inventory positioning, and customer behavior
• Partner with sales and operations teams to ensure compliance and gather actionable feedback

• Leverage data to inform decisions
• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities to improve assortment productivity and space efficiency
• Build dashboards and reporting frameworks to track merchandising effectiveness
• Translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for stakeholders

• Manage schedules for merchandising initiatives from concept through execution, ensuring timelines and deliverables are met
• Manage multiple concurrent projects including seasonal resets, store rollouts, and strategic pilots
• Coordinate cross‑functional resources and external resources and maintain clear communication across stakeholders
• Develop tools, templates, and processes to improve efficiency and scalability

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Retail Merchandising, or related field preferred
• 5+ years of experience in merchandising, space planning, or retail operations
• Proven experience with planogram tools (e.g., JDA/Blue Yonder, Space Planning software)
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel or data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau)
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and meet deadlines in a fast‑paced environment
• Strong understanding of retail KPIs, including sales productivity, inventory management, and space optimization

• Analytical Thinking: Ability to interpret data and translate into actionable merchandising decisions
• Project Management: Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders
• Strategic Agility: Balances long‑term planning with short‑term execution needs
• Attention to Detail: Ensures accuracy in planograms, layouts, and execution standards
• Collaboration & Influence: Builds strong partnerships across functions and levels
• Customer‑Centric Mindset: Focused on enhancing the in‑store shopping experience

• Experience in multi‑unit retail environments
• Knowledge of space planning analytics and macro/micro space optimization
• Familiarity with test‑and‑learn methodologies and pilot programs
• Experience supporting store openings or large‑scale resets

SFOC an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and providing a positive workplace for all applicants and employees, without regard to protected characteristics under applicable federal, state, or local laws.