Visual Merchandising Manager

At K18, we're about hair freedom for all–engineered with biotech. We are on a mission to liberate expression. To make the impossible possible with the right technology. To build a community of forward thinkers, risk takers, and rabble rousers. To bring fearless innovation forward and push boundaries past where we thought they could go. 

Position Overview

K18 is seeking a highly organized and execution-focused Visual Merchandising Manager to lead retail merchandising programs and secondary animations across international markets. This role will be responsible for translating brand direction into successful retail execution by managing visual merchandising projects from concept through installation.

The Visual Merchandising Manager will oversee international inline merchandising initiatives, retail animations, distributor merchandising guidelines and special project executions. Working closely with Design, Editorial, Sales, Marketing, retail partners, and production vendors, this role will ensure merchandising initiatives are delivered on time, on budget, and in alignment with global brand standards.

This role will be primarily focusing on planogram creation and 3D fixture/spatial design, project execution, vendor management, and visual merchandising implementation. This is not a graphic design position.

Key Responsibilities (including but not limited to)

• Project Execution:
  • Manage the full lifecycle of assigned visual merchandising projects, from planning through delivery and installation, including international inline merchandising, domestic secondary merchandising, temporary displays, gondolas, endcaps, retail animations, and one-off display projects.
  • Oversee timelines, budgets, purchase orders, approvals, and project deliverables to ensure programs launch on time and on brand.
  • Support distributor CAPEX projects, including retailer-specific fixture programs and market adaptations.
  • As needed, support visual merchandising execution for retail animations and events, through spatial design, creative approvals, production timelines management, and vendor communication.
  • Identify project risks, flag timing or budget concerns, and recommend solutions to the Director.

• Vendor Coordination:
  • Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for vendors, fixture suppliers, and production partners.
  • Manage vendor requests, quotes, production timelines, sample reviews, logistics, and installation details.
  • Coordinate prototype development, production approvals, and final vendor deliverables.
  • Ensure vendor deliverables meet brand standards, project requirements, and quality expectations.
  • Maintain organized project documentation, cost tracking, and purchase order and invoice follow-up for assigned projects.

• Creative Implementation:
  • Translate approved creative direction into execution-ready documents, including planograms, schematics, fixture layouts, merchandising guidelines, and production briefs.
  • Create and adapt merchandising solutions for international inline fixtures, secondary merchandising placements, Pro inline adaptations, and distributor needs.
  • Maintain Consumer and Pro distributor merchandising guidelines, ensuring distributors and regional teams have clear execution standards.
  • Support the Director in reviewing prototypes, mockups, vendor proofs, and production samples.
  • Ensure merchandising executions are scalable, functional, and aligned with the K18 retail experience.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration:
  • Partner with Design, Editorial, Sales, and Marketing Teams to align visual merchandising initiatives with product launches, promotions, retailer requirements, and market priorities.
  • Collaborate with international teams, Pro channel partners, distributors, and retail partners to support market-specific needs while maintaining brand consistency.
  • Lead weekly project meetings, providing updates, timelines, recaps, and next steps to keep stakeholders aligned.

• Trend & Competitor Awareness:
  • Conduct retail visits and stay informed on visual merchandising trends, materials, production techniques, and competitive retail experiences.
  • Share insights and recommendations that support stronger execution, improved fixture functionality, and better shopper engagement.
  • Identify opportunities to improve inline and secondary merchandising, distributor guidelines, and international retail execution.

Skills & Qualifications

• 5-7 years in visual merchandising, retail design, store design, experiential marketing, or a related field.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, budgets, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Proven success executing international retail programs, distributor initiatives, and multi-market visual merchandising projects.
• Experience with secondary merchandising, retail animations, temporary displays as well as permanent gondolas, endcaps, linears, and custom displays.
• Familiarity with production vendors, fixture suppliers, fabrication methods, and installation partners.
• Strong skills in planogram development, fixture design, spatial planning, and retail execution.
• Advanced SketchUp skills are required. Candidates must be able to create and modify 3D fixture renderings, retail environments, and merchandising layouts.
• Working knowledge of Google Workspace and project management platforms such as Wrike or similar tools.
• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop) a plus.
• Ability to manage project budgets, purchase orders, quotes, and cost tracking.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and vendor management skills.
• Beauty, fashion, prestige retail, or consumer lifestyle brand experience preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Visual Merchandising, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Interior Architecture, or a related field is a plus.

This position may require occasional travel to local retail locations, merchandising partner meetings, and industry events.

Salary Range: up to $115k (in USD $)

This range represents the low and high end of the anticipated base salary range for this position. The actual base salary will depend on numerous factors such as: experience, knowledge and skills, and if the location of the job changes.

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EEO Statement

K18 is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For more information, please see Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.

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