Visual Merchandising Analyst Jobs

Overview
Experience the possibilities of our progressive, omnichannel approach to beauty retail. At Ulta Beauty, our Marketing team is applying the latest technologies to personalize the buying experience of true beauty enthusiasts—in ways that surprise and delight. Building love and loyalty, one communication, one experience, one brilliant idea at a time. We represent the perfect blend of strategy and creativity. Of tactics and analytics. To make Ulta Beauty a brand guests will advocate for. Growing share of heart. Delivering with disciplined consistency. Whether your deepest passion is for design or content, strategy or data, or some combination of all things marketing, Ulta Beauty will provide significant latitude to explore your talents and passions, with opportunities to stretch and deepen, to grow and build. Truly, the possibilities are beautiful.
THE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE:
The Visual Merchandising Analyst is responsible for the development of in-store elements including product display units (POP) and semi-permanent fixtures for assigned categories – from concept (request, ideation, and strategy build) through completion (creative concepting, production and logistics to end locations). The individual will perform a wide variety of core job responsibilities which include:

• Supplier Management
• Project Management
• Communications
• Strategic Innovation
• Strategic Sourcing & Budget Maintenance
• Inventory Management
• Relationship Management

This Visual Merchandising Analyst role manages the following assigned business categories: Brands and projects as assigned by Visual Manager for Skincare and Bath categories. In addition to the primary owned categories additional projects may be assigned – Visual Merchandising Sustainability research, Sustainability policy and implementation, other special projects & other duties as assigned.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES (*Essential Functions)

• Project Management:
• Research industry design trends to inform and develop new fixture and visual initiatives to maximize the in-store displays and experience.
• Able to pivot and maneuver as plans change while keeping focus on end-to-end milestones.
• Responsible for all estimating and invoice management of assigned projects.
• Must analyze root causes then develop strategies and process improvements to mitigate issues and maximize continuous improvement.
• Supplier Management:
• Works with vendors to troubleshoot live projects when roadblocks occur and resolves issues as they arise.
• Authors Universal Brief for projects requiring fixture development. Collaborates with internal and external cross-functional partners across the organization to scope projects, develop in-store strategy, oversee budget, manage timelines, and monitor progress of projects from conception to in-store execution for several projects at a time at different project phases.
• Communicates project scope, asset turnover, timeline, and budget with supplier.
• Effectively communicates with all internal and external partners.
• Partners with internal associates to ideate and/or resolve critical issues that may arise.
• Consistently works to bring the Visual Merchandising point of view to the center of discussions, partnering with cross functional teams to make thoughtful recommendations to business partners as the end owner of the store experience for assigned categories.
• Relationship Management:
• Ensures projects remain on budget and works closely with Procurement team.
• Communication:
• Creates, edits and contributions to development of communication guides including Visual Standards Documents, Display Instruction Sheets and or store communications tasks & news articles for stores.
• Resolves any discrepancies between estimate and invoice with suppliers.
• Communicates category strategies and project updates with extended internal team (New/Remodel store team leads) on an ongoing basis.
• Ensures contracted rates are adhered to by suppliers.
• Shares estimates with merchants & business partners for visibility and forecasting purposes.
• Works with supplier partners to determine design solutions, materials, and fabrication.
• Comfortable with presenting to leadership project strategy & plans, work in progress development as well as completed projects and can condense complex projects in a direct and simple way.
• This Analyst role also requires the ability to take flat design concepts and partner with suppliers to develop and present dimensional produced items (product display units or dimensional signs to support seasonal initiatives.
• Strategic Innovation:
• Strategic Sourcing & Budget Maintenance:
• Partner with other visual merchandising team members to ensure all visual merchandising documents are consistently updated and managed to ensure consistency and reduce overlap.
• Processes all invoices in a timely fashion and before period closing.
• Ability to manage ambiguity and develop strategic plans with varying degrees of input, while gaining partners support on approach.
• Manages relationships with cross-functional teams including: Creative, Production Design, Merchants, Store & Service Operations, Field and Store teams, Space Planning, Floor Planning, Procurement, Finance, Facilities, Integrated Marketing, Loyalty & Store Design.

THE ESSENTIALS FOR SUCCESS:

• Excel (managing complex data sets including store distribution, UPS tracking reports, Support Ticket Data, Fulfillment Reports) including: V-Look ups, pivot tables, reports), Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Office 365
• Analytical and process management and development skills are necessary for continuous improvement.
• Experience with project management scheduling software, workflow management and other workflow tools like Monday.com & Workfront.
• Working knowledge with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, PhotoShop).
• Previous experience in corporate visual merchandising or in-store marketing experience preferred.
• Self-starter capable of meeting tight deadlines while managing multiple projects.
• Exceptional handling in negotiations, value analysis and supplier management required.Significant experience utilizing Microsoft Office Applications:
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Minimum 4-5 years of visual merchandising, POP display design and or fixture design work experience or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Experience with CrossCap distribution and sourcing management (or similar applications).
• Excel (managing complex data sets including store distribution, UPS tracking reports, Support Ticket Data, Fulfillment Reports) including: V-Look ups, pivot tables, reports), Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Office 365
• Undergraduate degree in relevant field (Marketing, Visual Merchandising, Project Management) preferred.

About
At Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA), the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest North American beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. We bring possibilities to life through the power of beauty each and every day in our stores and online with more than 25,000 products from approximately 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points, including Ulta Beauty’s own private label. Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store featuring—hair, skin, brow, and make-up services.
We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.