Visual Merchandising Manager

Visual Merchandising Manager

About LidsU and The COOP

Lids Sports Group brings sports, fashion, culture, and collegiate pride together through licensed products and memorable retail experiences. LidsU extends that expertise into campus and university retail, pairing enterprise retail capabilities with locally relevant assortments, service, and community engagement.

This position supports The COOP retail experience serving the Harvard and MIT communities, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, members, visitors, and fans. Team members are expected to respect The COOP’s heritage and brand while helping create a consistent, modern, and locally relevant experience across its Harvard and MIT stores.

Position Summary

Lead visual storytelling and merchandise presentation across assigned stores or categories. This role translates LidsU direction, The COOP brand, institutional identity, product priorities, and local campus moments into compelling, commercially effective retail experiences.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Visual Strategy & Execution

• Develop and execute windows, feature areas, mannequins, fixtures, signage, product stories, and seasonal transitions.

• Create consistent portfolio standards while adapting presentations to the physical space, audience, and identity of each Harvard and MIT store.

• Ensure visual execution respects The COOP’s heritage and approved Harvard and MIT brand and licensing requirements.

Commercial Performance

• Use sales, sell-through, inventory, traffic, and customer insights to adjust product placement and visual priorities.

• Partner with merchants, marketing, store leaders, and category partners on launches, collaborations, events, promotions, and storytelling.

• Maintain accurate pricing, signage, fixture standards, product density, and replenishment.

Training & Communication

• Create clear execution guidance and train store teams on visual standards, recovery, folding, outfitting, and maintenance.

• Conduct store walks, document opportunities, establish priorities, and follow up on execution.

• Support visual readiness for orientation, commencement, reunions, seasonal tourism, athletics, and other major campus moments.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• 3+ years of visual merchandising, apparel, specialty, collegiate, or multi-store retail experience preferred.

• Strong portfolio of window, fixture, mannequin, signage, and product presentation work preferred.

• Ability to balance creative storytelling with sales and inventory objectives.

• Strong planning, communication, and influencing skills.

• Ability to travel among assigned stores and work flexible hours for installations and launches.

Physical Demands and Requirements

• Ability to remain standing and move throughout the store for extended periods.

• Ability to frequently communicate with customers, team members, and business partners.

• Ability to operate point-of-sale, inventory, and other retail technology systems.

• Ability to occasionally lift and move merchandise and supplies up to 50 pounds and use ladders safely.

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement plan
• 100% employer-paid benefits, including short-term and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off
• Generous employee discount and exclusive perks
• Ongoing career development, including discounted secondary education courses
• A collaborative, innovative, and team-oriented work environment
• Early Wage Access options
• Bonus eligibility depending on position level

Physical Demands & Requirements

• Ability to operate a computer and work with digital systems for extended periods.
• Ability to communicate verbally and visually with internal teams and stakeholders.
• Ability to work in an office or remote environment with frequent task deadlines.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. For inquiries related to reasonable accommodations, please contact HR@Lids.com.

Work Environment

• Onsite office work environment.
• Standard business hours from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., flexibility may be provided upon request.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Employment Requirements

Candidates must possess the experience, skills, physical abilities, and qualifications, with or without reasonable accommodation, to perform the essential duties of the role and must be able to meet all applicable employment standards. Being legally authorized to work in the United States is a pre-condition of employment for this position. Current or future employment-based visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Notice to Applicants

In connection with your application, we collect information that identifies, reasonably relates to, or describes you (“Personal Information”). The categories of Personal Information we collect include your name, email address, mailing address, other contact information, employment history, and educational history. We collect and use this information for human resources and business management purposes, including identifying and evaluating candidates for employment or future contract opportunities, and maintaining recruiting and hiring records.

Need Accessibility Assistance?

Applicants who require accessibility assistance to submit an employment application may email hr@lids.com. A member of our Talent team will respond as soon as reasonably possible. This email address is only for individuals seeking reasonable accommodation when applying for a career at Lids.