VP, Store Design & Visual Merchandising

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

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.

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