About the position

This Visual Merchandising Analyst position is located at the corporate offices in Bolingbrook, IL, with a hybrid work schedule requiring approximately 6 days in the office per month. The role is responsible for the entire lifecycle of in-store marketing elements, including graphics, product display units (POP), and semi-permanent fixtures for assigned categories. This involves managing projects from concept (request, ideation, strategy build) through completion (creative concepting, production, and logistics to end locations). The individual will perform core job responsibilities such as Project Management, Strategic Sourcing & Budget Maintenance, Supplier Management, Strategic Innovation, Communications, Relationship Management, and Inventory Management. The role manages specific business categories including Marketing Campaigns (Holiday, 21 days of beauty, Gorgeous Hair, Love Your Skin, Fall & Spring Haul, Summer Event), Salon & Skin Services, Loyalty programs (Credit, Gift Card, Ultamate Rewards), and Store Operational Signage (Return Policy, Safety, Navigational, Pricing compliance, Impulse Fixture, Conscious Beauty In-Store Program). Additional projects may include Visual Merchandising Sustainability research, policy implementation, Ulta Beauty Store Events, New Flagship Store Planning, New Brand Launches, Storewide Initiatives (Visual & Communication Audit, Store of the Future), and other special projects.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with internal and external cross-functional partners to scope projects, develop in-store strategy, oversee budget, manage timelines, and monitor project progress from conception to in-store execution.
• Manages ambiguity and develops strategic plans with varying degrees of input, gaining partner support on approach.
• Pivots and maneuvers as plans change while maintaining focus on end-to-end milestones.
• Responsible for all estimating and invoice management of assigned projects, including bidding projects and negotiating costs with suppliers.
• Ensures projects remain on budget and works with finance and other partners to manage expenses, processing all invoices in a timely fashion.
• Resolves discrepancies between estimate and invoice with suppliers and ensures contracted rates are adhered to by suppliers.
• Takes flat design concepts and partners with suppliers to develop and present dimensional produced items.
• Works with supplier partners to determine print techniques, request material samples, and develop temporary POP fixture displays.
• Communicates project scope, asset turnover, timeline, and budget with suppliers and troubleshoots live projects when roadblocks occur.
• Researches new suppliers and printer capabilities to fill supplier voids when necessary and schedules/attends press checks.
• Brings Visual Merchandising and Visual Marketing teams forward as a center of excellence in developing internal strategies and making recommendations to business partners.
• Creates and implements new strategies and processes to streamline the visual team workflow, including developing new systems and processes to move from a manual paper workflow to a systems/database.
• Researches and develops new fixture and visual initiatives to maximize in-store displays and experience.
• Partners with other visual merchandising team members to ensure visual merchandising documents are consistently updated and managed.
• Effectively communicates with all internal and external partners.
• Creates, edits, and contributes to the development of communication guides including Graphic Launch Kits, Promotional Planners, Visual Standards Documents, and Display Instruction Sheets.
• Communicates category strategies and project updates with the extended internal team on an ongoing basis.
• Receives and measures feedback on store implementation and develops a continuous improvement loop.
• Presents project strategy & plans, work in progress, and completed projects to leadership, condensing complex projects into direct and simple terms.
• Engages in researching and providing feedback and direction to field and store teams through the Ulta Beauty support ticket process.
• Manages relationships with cross-functional teams including Creative, Merchants, Store & Service Operations, Field and Store teams, Space Planning, Floor Planning, Procurement, Finance, Facilities, Integrated Marketing, Loyalty & Store Design.
• Analyzes root causes and develops strategies and process improvements to mitigate issues and maximize continuous improvement.
• Manages inventory of graphics for assigned categories, analyzing inventory reports to ensure active and non-obsolete graphics at the fulfillment center.
• Manages replenishment orders and logistics to ensure active items are in-stock and available for store team orders.
• Updates graphic libraries on an ongoing basis for internal and external use and partners with inventory vendors to ensure accurate orders for new stores.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant field (Marketing, Visual Merchandising, Project Management).
• Minimum 4-5 years of merchandising, marketing, buying, or planogram work experience or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Merchandising skills with demonstrated knowledge of store fixtures, design, and store operations.
• General knowledge and prior experience with Visual Merchandising, Visual Marketing, Store Experience Marketing.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Analytical and process management and development skills are necessary for continuous improvement.
• Self-starter capable of meeting tight deadlines while managing multiple projects.
• Exceptional handling in negotiations, value analysis, and supplier management required.
• Knowledgeable and experienced in print procurement, production, & print processes, print equipment and technology to determine the appropriate type and process for all the various print vehicles while maintaining cost efficiencies.
• Significant experience utilizing Microsoft Office Applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Office 365).
• Excel proficiency including V-Look ups, pivot tables, and managing complex data sets (store distribution, UPS tracking reports, Support Ticket Data, Fulfillment Reports).

Nice-to-haves

• Working knowledge with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, PhotoShop).
• Experience with project management scheduling software, workflow management, and other workflow tools like Monday.com & Workfront.
• Experience with CrossCap distribution and sourcing management (or similar applications).
• Previous experience in corporate visual merchandising or in-store marketing experience.
• Additional experience with temporary fixture and point of purchase displays.

Benefits

• Paid time off
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Bonus plan