Director, Visual Creative - Ready to Wear

Macy's•New York, NY

6d•$136,440 - $227,280

About The Position

The Director, Visual Creative Planning drives sales, profit, and an extraordinary customer experience by shaping and executing innovative visual strategies that bring the Macy’s brand to life. This leader serves as a strategic and creative partner to the General Merchandise Manager (GMM) and Divisional Merchandise Managers (DMMs) of a designated family of business, translating fashion, style, cultural trends, and customer insights into inspiring retail experiences that engage customers and differentiate Macy’s in the marketplace. Acting as the visionary behind the visual expression of the business, the Director balances creativity with commercial impact, identifying new ways to tell stories, showcase product, and elevate the customer journey. They challenge conventional thinking, introduce fresh ideas and emerging trends, and continuously evolve visual strategies to keep Macy’s relevant, inspiring, and customer-focused. The Director provides clear direction to store teams on interpreting and implementing visual initiatives while considering business opportunities, architectural constraints, customer traffic patterns, and the intersection of art, science, and retail strategy. This leader champions innovation, fosters creative excellence, and ensures visual presentations not only drive results but create memorable experiences that strengthen customer connection to the brand.

Requirements

Visual Merchandising Expertise: Deep knowledge of visual merchandising principles, store layout, and the ability to translate fashion and trend strategies into engaging in-store experiences.
Fashion & Trend Awareness: Strong personal interest and professional expertise in fashion, styling, design, and emerging cultural trends.
Innovative Thinking: Ability to conceptualize fresh visual strategies and integrate new technologies, research, and market trends.
People Leadership: Proven experience leading and mentoring creative teams; fosters talent development and supports career growth.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Builds and maintains strong relationships with merchants, marketing, store teams, and vendor partners.
Project Management: Manages multiple visual projects from concept to execution, ensuring alignment with timelines and budgets.
Resource Allocation & Prioritization: Efficiently manages workload and directs team efforts toward high-impact business priorities.
Vendor Management: Experience sourcing and managing external vendors for visual elements such as props, displays, and environments.
Design Software Proficiency: Skilled in InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, SketchUp, and Excel.
Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to influence across levels of the organization.
Analytical Thinking: Uses data and performance insights to drive decisions and assess visual effectiveness.
Problem Solving: Demonstrates flexibility and creativity in solving complex challenges.
Retail Market Understanding: Deep understanding of the retail industry, customer behavior, and how visual strategies impact sales and the customer experience.
Financial Acumen: Ability to manage budgets and align visual initiatives with profitability goals.

Nice To Haves

Candidates with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in a related field are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Lead the creative development of visual merchandising concepts and presentations for a designated family of business, ensuring every customer touchpoint reflects a compelling and distinctive point of view.
Identify emerging cultural, design, retail, and consumer trends, translating inspiration into new visual concepts that keep Macy’s relevant, engaging, and ahead of customer expectations.
Create inspiring seasonal narratives, styling concepts, and presentation strategies that elevate product storytelling and strengthen the emotional connection between customers and the brand.
Partner with Merchants, Marketing, the Fashion Office, and Vendor Partners to bring key campaigns, fashion moments, trend stories, and special events to life across the customer journey.
Challenge conventional thinking and continuously explore new approaches, technologies, and creative solutions that enhance the in-store experience and evolve visual standards.
Provide direction, coaching, and feedback to field teams to ensure visual concepts are executed consistently while allowing for thoughtful interpretation based on store environments and customer needs.
Oversee the planning and delivery of visual initiatives from concept through installation, ensuring seamless coordination across teams, vendors, and key stakeholders.
Manage project budgets and resources to deliver high-quality creative work while maintaining financial discipline.
Develop and inspire a team of visual professionals by fostering creativity, curiosity, collaboration, and continuous growth.
Guide teams in prioritizing work and allocating resources to support business objectives while maintaining creative excellence.
Foster an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives, bold ideas, and innovation are encouraged and valued.
In addition to the essential duties mentioned above, other duties may be assigned.

Benefits

Comprehensive health and wellness coverage
401(k) match
Paid time off
Eight paid holidays
Continuous learning and leadership development
Colleague Resource Groups
Volunteer opportunities
Merchandise discounts
Performance-based incentives
Annual merit review
Employee Assistance Program with mental health counseling and legal/financial advice
Tuition reimbursement