Vice President, Store Design & Visual Merchandising

About Westman Atelier

Westman Atelier sets a new benchmark for clean luxury cosmetics. Founded by acclaimed editorial makeup artist Gucci Westman, the brand offers a curated selection of skin-friendly, performance-driven makeup that emphasizes simplicity and effectiveness without excess. Gucci Westman, a mother and advocate for holistic living, merges concepts of luxury, efficacy, and purity into exceptional beauty products.

• Products take a skincare approach to high-performance makeup, formulated with clean ingredients and uncompromising standards.
• The line balances perfect color shades with rich textures that blend seamlessly into the skin, enriched with plant-based actives and innovative science.

About the Founder

Gucci Westman has over two decades of experience as a prominent editorial makeup artist featured in major fashion magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. She is renowned for her "second-skin" makeup technique that delivers natural, radiant skin with a luminous finish.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, the Vice President of Store Design & Visual Merchandising will integrate commercial success with brand desirability and visual presence. This role is highly collaborative and blends creative vision with operational leadership to manage concept development across diverse store types and merchandising formats. The goal is to ensure a unified, luxurious, and convertible retail experience consistent with the brand’s values at every consumer interaction.

Key Responsibilities

• Refine and formalize Westman Atelier’s physical retail presence working with cross-departmental partners like the Founder, CMO, and Head of Sales to balance shopping ease with luxurious aesthetics.
• Collaborate with global teams to implement brand guidelines and quality standards that uphold the brand’s prestige while accommodating regional differences.
• Work with Creative and Content departments to craft immersive consumer journeys that translate digital brand narratives into engaging in-store experiences.
• Design and create fixtures and modular systems aligned with sales targets, ensuring setups encourage upselling, attract high foot traffic, boost conversion rates, and maximize profitability.
• Coordinate with Brand Marketing to develop impactful print media and physical activations including mailers, collateral, and live events.
• Conduct quarterly analyses of visual merchandising trends to maintain competitive leadership.
• Manage a vetted global network of suppliers and production partners focusing on quality manufacturing, cost efficiency, and scalability.
• Oversee budget management and forecasting, collaborating with finance and sales to align design initiatives with profit and loss objectives.
• Lead and mentor a high-achieving, global team in store design, visual merchandising, and project management, promoting creativity, agility, and interdepartmental collaboration.
• Partner with product marketing, events, and education teams to develop brand-appropriate toolkits for ongoing and milestone product launches.
• Use retail sales data and store-specific traffic insights to adapt visual merchandising and design strategies enhancing productivity per square foot.
• Implement an adaptable design approach to respond swiftly to shifts in global retail markets, supply challenges, or local opportunities.
• Standardize project management processes for all installations, ensuring clear communication and efficient workflows across global teams.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Store Design, Visual Merchandising, or a related creative discipline; Master’s degree preferred.
• Between 10-15 years of professional experience within luxury or beauty sectors.
• At least 5 years of leadership experience managing and cultivating high-performance teams with accountability.
• Proven expertise managing design and visual merchandising operations on a global scale across the US, EMEA, and APAC regions.
• Demonstrated ability to build, scale, and inspire multidisciplinary teams committed to creative excellence and responsibility.
• Experience overseeing multimillion-dollar capital expenditures, including vendor negotiation, value engineering, and precise project forecasting.
• Strong capability to collaborate with Sales and Finance departments by interpreting retail performance metrics into actionable design strategies driving sales and traffic.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with aptitude for influencing executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Expertise in directing and curating consistent brand visual identity across 360-degree retail environments.
• Comprehensive knowledge of architectural, regulatory, and safety standards applicable to store design.
• Innovative mindset integrating retail technology and sustainability principles into luxurious store environments without compromising aesthetics.
• Experience in drafting, structural engineering principles, CAD/graphic software, and interpreting technical shop drawings.
• Ability to handle multiple complex global projects simultaneously in a dynamic setting.
• Willingness to travel as needed for role requirements.

Compensation and Benefits

Westman Atelier offers a comprehensive compensation package supporting employees’ overall well-being, including robust health benefits, wellness incentives, 401(k) plans, and paid parental leave. The base salary range for this position is $200,000 to $220,000, subject to variation based on candidate skills, experience level, and location.