Senior Director of Visual Merchandising

Location: Denver, Colorado (Preferred)

Lead the vision for innovative retail experiences at cultural attractions nationwide. SSA Group is seeking a creative leader to drive visual merchandising strategies, enhance brand presentation, and inspire a dynamic team. Join us in shaping unforgettable guest experiences!

Senior Director of Visual Merchandising

Report to: Chief Retail Officer

SSA Group works with zoos, aquariums, museums, and other cultural attractions on integrating dining, retail, admissions and more. We increase revenue opportunities for partners across the United States. With 50 years in the business, SSA has refined the basics while pioneering better ways forward. With pillars of focus like sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation, SSA is transforming the cultural attraction industry.

SSA was built by families, for families, with a family’s sense of love and dedication. We don’t just rely on the best practices in our industry, we customize best practices for each partner to set the bar higher and higher, always. We do all we can to further the mission of our partners because their guests and the communities they serve, deserve it.

Position Overview:

The Senior Director of Visual Merchandising is responsible for developing and executing strategic visual merchandising initiatives that elevate the brand, drive sales, and enhance the customer experience across all retail outlets. This role requires a strategic thinker with expertise in retail trends, consumer behavior, and visual design principles. The Senior Director will lead a team of visual merchandisers, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and ensure a cohesive, innovative, and compelling brand presentation.

Key Responsibilities

Visual Merchandising Strategy

• Develop and implement innovative visual merchandising strategies aligned with overall brand objectives.
• Stay informed on industry trends, consumer insights, and the competitive landscape to refine and evolve strategies.
• Deliver a consistent and engaging customer experience across retail locations.
• Oversee the interpretation and execution of the merchandise buying vision through in-store displays, window installations where applicable, and other visual elements.
  
  

Brand Presentation & Design

• Create and enforce brand standards and visual merchandising guidelines to ensure consistency across all channels.
• Design and execute retail concepts, including store interiors, pop-ups, shop-in-shop, in-store experiences, installations, fixtures, and window displays.
• Collaborate with marketing, merchandise buying, and retail district managers to support promotions, product launches, and seasonal campaigns.
• Lead the development of store experiences, incorporating elements such as music, décor, signage, and fixtures.
  
  

Leadership & Team Development

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing visual merchandising team.
• Provide clear direction, feedback, and professional development opportunities to team members.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, diversity, equity, and inclusion within the team.
• Conduct performance evaluations and ensure team alignment with organizational goals.
  
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with merchandise buying, marketing, and retail district manager teams to ensure cohesive and effective visual presentations.
• Communicate visual merchandising strategies and updates to stakeholders.
• Work closely with retail district managers and retail store operations to execute visual merchandising plans at the store level.
  
  

Performance Monitoring & Data Analysis

• Monitor and analyze the effectiveness of visual merchandising initiatives using sales data, customer feedback, and other metrics.
• Provide regular reports on performance and make data-driven recommendations for improvements.
  
  

Budget Management

• Develop and manage the annual visual merchandising budget.
• Ensure financial plans, metrics, and resources align with company goals.
  
  

Global Standards & Training

• Oversee the global rollout of visual merchandising initiatives, ensuring adherence to brand standards.
• Provide training programs to retail partners and staff to ensure consistent execution of brand vision.
  
  

Creative Development

• Collaborate with the capital team to develop store design principles, fixture systems, and signage programs.
• Drive creative strategies that align with brand identity and business objectives.
• Manage the execution of event environments, seasonal initiatives, and special projects.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Visual Merchandising, Design, Marketing, or a related field.
• 10 years of experience in visual merchandising leadership roles, preferably within retail.
• Proven expertise in retail trends, consumer behavior, and visual design principles.
• Strong leadership and team development skills with a track record of building high-performing teams.
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills.
• Experience in budget management and vendor negotiation.
• Proficiency in visual merchandising software and tools.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  
  

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to develop long-term strategies that align with business objectives.
• Collaboration: Proven ability to work cross-functionally and build strong relationships across departments.
• Innovation: A forward-thinking approach to inspire creativity and elevate presentation.
• Customer Focus: Commitment to enhancing the customer experience through compelling visual merchandising.
• Adaptability: Comfort navigating ambiguity and leading through change with positivity.
  
  

Working Conditions

• At least 50% travel will be required for store visits, training sessions, and vendor meetings.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, during key events or product launches.
  
  

Compensation And Benefits

• Salary is based on range in consideration of relevant job experience and certification/education
• Flexible Time off – we want our team to take time as they need, so don’t accrue hours but rather give you freedom to schedule within scope of the business and your needs
• Medical | Dental | Vision
• 401 (K) Plan Match
• Supplemental Insurance
• Company Paid Short- & Long-Term Disability
• Training and Career Development
• Tuition Discount through Partnership College
• Parental Leave
• Meal Plan & Employee Discounts
• $75 monthly cell phone stipend
  
  

SSA Group, LLC. is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and equal opportunity through our commitment to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

All California Residents: By submitting your job application, you agree you have reviewed the SSA Group California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Candidate and Employee Privacy Notice ("Notice").

San Francisco Residents: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Please see the "Fair Chance Ordinance - Know Your Rights" document for more information. By submitting your job application, you agree you have reviewed the "Fair Chance Ordinance - Know Your Rights" document.

Please note that for this position, we accept applications on an ongoing basis. There is no set deadline for submitting your application. We encourage interested candidates to apply at any time via our website at thessagroup.com, and we will review applications as they are received. This approach allows us to continuously consider potential candidates and ensures that opportunities remain open until the ideal candidate is found.