The Visual Merchandising & Styling (VMS) function is responsible for developing and implementing inspiring, premium, and elevated consumer experiences for the Nike brand across North America. The VMS team collaborates closely with brand, merchandising, design, operations, and retail partners to create compelling product journeys, presentation strategies, styling direction, and tools that bring the brand to life at retail.
Additionally, the team helps drive innovation, retail expansion, and concept development across the marketplace while enabling consistent execution through strong partnerships with territory, city, and store teams. The success of the VMS team is fueled by a connected network of talent across WHQ, territories, key cities, and stores.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for a curious, driven, and highly collaborative Sr. Manager, NVS Visual Merchandising, who is passionate about retail and understands the critical role visual merchandising plays in creating exceptional consumer experiences and driving business results.
The ideal candidate is a self-starter with a growth mindset who can confidently balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution. They thrive in ambiguity, take initiative, and can independently drive work forward while building strong partnerships across functions and levels of the organization.
This candidate should be a proven people leader with a passion for coaching, developing, and empowering talent. They create a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous growth while building organizational capability and developing future leaders.
This individual will possess a strong understanding of visual merchandising, retail presentation, and styling, combined with the ability to influence decision-making, communicate effectively, and bring teams together around common goals. They must be equally comfortable managing upward, leading through influence across cross-functional teams, and coaching others to achieve business objectives.
We are looking for someone who:
- Demonstrates strong business acumen and understands how visual merchandising drives consumer engagement and commercial results.
- Takes ownership and proactively identifies opportunities to elevate the consumer experience and grow the business.
- Builds strong relationships and effectively influences stakeholders across multiple functions and levels.
- Operates with a solutions-oriented mindset and can navigate complexity with confidence and agility.
- Develops and inspires talent while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and high performance.
- Challenges the status quo, embraces innovation, and continually seeks opportunities to improve how we serve consumers and athletes.
WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON
This role plays a critical part in shaping and executing seasonal visual merchandising strategies and retail concepts that elevate the Nike brand and enhance the consumer experience across our Factory Retail fleet.
A typical week includes collaborating with cross-functional partners on seasonal planning, retail concept development, new store opening readiness, business opportunities, and in-season optimization. This role requires strong partnership with territory and city teams to understand marketplace needs, gather insights, and continuously refine tools and strategies to improve execution and drive results.
Key responsibilities include:
- Develop and drive VMS presentation strategies, priorities, and tools that inspire consumers, strengthen brand storytelling, and support business growth.
- Lead key initiatives and projects that improve retail experiences, drive operational excellence, and support marketplace expansion.
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing VMS team by setting clear priorities, establishing challenging goals, providing ongoing feedback, and creating meaningful development opportunities. Drive a culture of accountability, performance excellence, recognition, and continuous learning.
- Build organizational capability by developing future leaders, identifying growth opportunities for team members, and fostering a strong talent pipeline within the VMS organization.
- Partner closely with Global and Geo teams, Merchandising, Design, Operations, and Retail partners to align strategies and deliver integrated solutions.
- Collaborate with Territory and City teams to ensure VMS standards, tools, and direction are clear, executable, and scalable across diverse retail environments.
- Identify opportunities to enhance the consumer experience, improve execution, and drive business growth by leveraging marketplace insights, performance metrics, and evolving retail trends.
- Monitor marketplace trends, consumer insights, and competitive activity to identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement.
- Serve as a trusted leader and thought partner, effectively managing across multiple levels of the organization while balancing strategic priorities, team development, and business outcomes.
WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH
In this role, you will work across a diverse network of cross-functional teams and partners throughout the organization. You will report to the Senior Director, Visual Merchandising & Styling and partner closely with Global and Geo leaders across VMS, Retail Marketing, Merchandising, Design, Operations, and Retail.
You will also work closely with Territory and City VMS teams to ensure strong communication, alignment, and feedback loops that help shape strategies and drive successful execution across the marketplace.
WHAT YOU BRING
- Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing, Visual Merchandising, Design, or a related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education and experience, and training.
- 7–10+ years of experience in visual merchandising, retail marketing, product merchandising, or directly related fields.
- Passion for visual merchandising, styling, retail storytelling, and creating exceptional consumer experiences.
- Proven people leadership experience with a passion for coaching, mentoring, and developing talent.
- Demonstrated success building high-performing teams and strengthening organizational capability.
- Strong business acumen with an understanding of how visual merchandising influences consumer engagement and commercial performance.
- Proven ability to independently lead complex initiatives from strategy through execution in a fast-paced retail environment.
- Demonstrated ability to influence, align, and drive decisions across multiple organizational levels, from senior leadership to field teams and cross-functional partners.
- Growth mindset with a track record of identifying opportunities, solving problems proactively, and driving measurable business results.
- Experience in a large-scale retail environment with a strong understanding of scalable retail execution.
- Demonstrated experience creating compelling and impactful retail presentations; footwear and apparel experience preferred.
- Strong understanding of the retail landscape and emerging trends, particularly within Factory and Outlet retail.
- Ability to travel approximately 4–6 times per year.
We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.
