Director, Visual Merchandising - New Store Openings Job at Crate and Barrel in N

Director, Visual Merchandising - New Store Openings

We are seeking a driven professional with an inclusive mindset to join our team as the Director, Visual Merchandising - New Store Openings.

This on-site position (Monday through Thursday) is based out of our Northbrook, Illinois office with the flexibility to work remotely on Fridays.

A day in the life

• Lead the visual merchandising strategy, planning, and execution for all new store openings and remodels in collaboration with Retail Operations and Store Design teams.
• Develop and present detailed floorplans and fixture layouts to optimize customer flow, shopping experience, visual appeal, and product density.
• Coordinate with Store Design, Operations, Merchandising, Allocation and Marketing teams to ensure a unified, on-brand launch.
• Manage calendars, milestones, deadlines, and executive approvals of layouts, designs, details, and budgets.
• Travel to new store locations to direct visual installations and lead large teams prior to openings.
• Develop scalable visual merchandising playbooks, guidelines, and tools specific to store openings.
• Build and lead a high-performing visual team supporting new store openings across multiple regions.
• Monitor post-opening performance and apply learnings to future projects.
• Provide feedback to Store Operations and Corporate Visual Team for ongoing improvements.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, entrepreneurship, and excellence in store experience and visual merchandising.

What you’ll bring to the table

• Deep expertise in visual merchandising and spatial planning.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams through complex, fast-paced store launches.
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proactive problem solving and adaptable communication style (verbal and written).

We’d love to hear from you if you have

• Must provide a link to portfolio (including password) on resume or provide PDF samples.
• 10+ years of experience in retail visual merchandising.
• Experience with CAD, InDesign, Photoshop; proficient with Google and MS Office.
• Proven experience opening new stores and building visual strategies from concept to execution.
• Ability to travel as needed and work non-traditional hours during launch periods.
• Bachelor’s degree (preferred).

Compensation

• Minimum Starting Rate: $160,000.00 annually
• Up to: $200,000.00 annually
• Pay ranges may be adjusted to comply with applicable law. Eligible for additional compensation such as bonuses or incentives based on role.

Company

Crate and Barrel – Corporate Office

Seniority level

• Director

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Marketing and Sales

Industries

• Retail