Manager, Space Planning & Customer Activation

Idist•Worcester, MA

About The Position

The Manager of Space Planning & Customer Activation is a high-impact, creative leadership role at the intersection of strategy, design, and retail execution. This position will support both our Category Management team and our customer facing, Account Management teams with best-in-class product merchandising strategies and solutions to support the growth of existing and new customer programs. Are you someone that can see the vision and execute? This role is responsible for leading the strategic planning and execution of space utilization across our customers’ retail stores as well as within our showroom and planogram lab. This role will ensure that our retail environments are optimized to enhance shopper experience, maximize sales, and reflect the retailer’s brand values and aesthetic while maintaining the integrity of Imperial’s go-to-market objectives. In addition, the Manager of Space Planning & Customer Activation will have ownership for the planning and merchandising implementation of all new business initiatives, including new customer store execution, as well as the reimagining of our existing customers’ environments. About Imperial (IDI) Imperial, founded in 1939 and headquartered in Worcester, MA, is a leading privately lead distributor of supermarket non-foods. We’ve helped our partners grow smarter and stronger—offering unmatched product selection, customized programs, and expert retail support across health and beauty care, seasonal items, general merchandise categories. With more than 700 associates and a state-of-the-art distribution center, Imperial serves chain and independent retailers across 22 states. Imperial is recognized throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic for excellence in distribution, merchandising, and category management. What sets us apart? Our singular focus is on providing retailers with the value, innovation, and differentiation they need to thrive in today's dynamic marketplace. Our Mission prioritizes people, embraces change, and fosters growth. And our Vision is to redefine partnership with a lasting impact on our customers, communities, and the industry. At the center of it all is our amazing team . A full comprehensive job description will be available during the interview process, this is a condensed job posting.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree and or equivalent experience
5-10 years’ direct experience in space planning, visual merchandising, or planogram development within specialty or mass-merchant retail.
Leadership and management of a space planning or equivalent team.
Extensive experience working with space planning tools (e.g., Spaceman, LEAFIO, DotActive)
Strong written and verbal communication, analytical, organizational and problem solving skills
Proven ability to build strong relationships with vendors and retail partners.
Creative and innovative thinking
High attention to detail
Strong business acumen
Ability to adapt to an ever-changing environment and cut through ambiguity.
Entrepreneurial approach and strategic thinking
Proficiency in MS Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PPT, Teams, etc.
Local and overnight travel as needed to support the business.

Responsibilities

Merchandising Management: Ownership and management of Innovation Center, Seasonal Showroom, product & sample flow, fixturing and all customer-facing visual merchandising (including seasonal lobby theming, product trend tablescapes and Show preparation).
Industry Insights: Advance a deep understanding of retail trends, merchandising techniques, consumer behavior, technology integration and channel insights to influence internal stakeholders and external customers.
Standards & Practices: Develop, maintain and champion a comprehensive, best-in-class and unique-to-Imperial set of merchandising standards which guide and support our go-to-market authority.
Project Management: Lead the planning and execution of the category review process, product transitions, brand & product launches, fixture layouts, new store remodels, resets, concept tests and general planogram requests to enhance the customer journey and drive sales.
Operations & Compliance: Accountability for retailer-specific brand and merchandising guidelines, general ADA and safety regulations.
Technology & Data: Enhance utilization of space planning software (Spaceman), BI Tools (product-level data, performance metrics, customer-level data), planogram ticketing and traffic process, NIQ Byzzer market insights.
Team Leadership: Manage, train and mentor space planning specialists and field corporate merchandisers fostering creativity, technical skills, customer service, accuracy and prioritization.
Collaborate and partner with Merchandising, Sales and Operations teams to align execution plans with business strategy and goals.
Other related duties as assigned.