Senior Manager Visual Merchandising

Job Description

The Senior Manager, Visual Merchandising - Planogram & OSP is a strategic leadership role responsible for defining and delivering enterprise-wide planogram and off‑shelf placement (OSP) strategies that drive sales, margin, productivity, and an improved customer experience. This role leads a high‑performing team of visual space planners and serves as a key cross‑functional partner to Floor Planning, Category Management, Inventory, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Store Operations.

This leader owns the system-based development, governance, and execution of planograms and OSP strategies, balancing analytical rigor with customer‑centric design. The role ensures merchandising strategies are scalable, operationally executable, and aligned to Advance Auto Parts brand standards, construction constraints, and business priorities. Success in this role requires strong people leadership, advanced analytical capabilities, and the ability to influence across functions to deliver results at scale.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES (Other duties may be assigned)

Strategic Leadership & Ownership

• Leads the development and execution of enterprise planogram and OSP strategies that support category objectives, store productivity, and company initiatives.
• Owns micro-space optimization strategy across categories, leveraging analytics and customer insights to influence assortment, adjacency, and space allocation decisions.
• Acts as a visual merchandising subject matter expert, providing thought leadership on space productivity, customer experience, and in-store execution.

Team Leadership & Development

• Directly manages, coaches, and develops a team of Visual Space Planners, establishing clear priorities, performance expectations, and career development plans.

• Builds a collaborative, accountable, and results-driven team culture focused on continuous improvement.

• Ensures resourcing, workload balance, and execution discipline across multiple concurrent initiatives.

Planogram & OSP Development

• Accountable for the conceptual design, creation, governance, and on-time delivery of planograms in support of new item introductions, resets, remodels, seasonal programs, and promotional initiatives.
• Oversees the development and maintenance of planograms that comply with Advance Auto Parts merchandising standards, brand guidelines, construction outlays, and store format constraints.
• Leads the design and execution of off-shelf placement strategies, ensuring alignment with inventory flow, replenishment capabilities, and promotional objectives.

Analytics & Business Insights

• Provides advanced merchandising analysis to support the development of data‑driven category plans and space strategies.
• Determines, monitors, and communicates item eligibility, store support metrics, and space effectiveness, proactively identifying risks and recommending solutions.
• Integrates data from multiple systems and sources to deliver actionable insights and cross-functional analytics.

Cross‑Functional Partnership

• Partners closely with Category Management, Inventory, Floor Planning, Marketing, and Store Operations to align strategy, address execution challenges, and drive results.
• Participates in cross-functional business reviews to identify opportunities and resolve issues impacting sales, margin, and planogram execution.
• Proactively seeks input and feedback from stakeholders to continuously improve merchandising programs and store delivery.

Process & Execution Excellence

• Ensures best practices in planogram processes, system usage, documentation, and communication.
• Balances speed, accuracy, and quality across multiple timelines while ensuring consistency and compliance.
• Drives continuous improvement initiatives to enhance tools, workflows, and team effectiveness.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Project; Access preferred).
• Advanced experience with Blue Yonder required.
• Advanced AutoCAD and/or space management software experience.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize and analyze data from multiple sources to produce actionable, cross-functional insights.

Leadership & Communication

• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, including executive‑level communication and facilitation.
• Proven ability to influence across functions and levels without direct authority.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a collaborative, customer‑focused mindset.

Execution & Decision Making

• Excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills with sound judgment and decision-making ability.
• Proven ability to prioritize, delegate, and manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Outcome‑focused leader with strong project management discipline to ensure timely, accurate delivery.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Merchandising, Interior Design, or related field; and 8-10 years of progressive experience in visual merchandising, space planning, merchandising analytics, or retail store planning, including people leadership; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Directly supervises 5-6 Visual Space Planners.

Responsible for performance management, talent development, and succession planning within the team.

Company Overview:

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. is a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider that serves both professional installers and do-it-yourself customers. Advance operates 4,500+ stores and distribution centers in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Company also serves independently owned CarQuest branded stores across these locations in addition to Mexico and various Caribbean Islands. When you join our team, you become one of 60,000 knowledgeable and experienced Team Members who are committed to providing outstanding customer service to our customers, communities, and each other every day.

Location & Work Availability:

This position is 4 days in office, 1 day remote per week, based at our corporate headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina (North Hills)

Benefits Summary:

We believe in supporting our Team Members and those they love through comprehensive health & wellness benefits. Learn more here: https://jobs.advanceautoparts.com/us/en/benefits

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

#LI-EM1

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

California Residents click below for Privacy Notice:

https://jobs.advanceautoparts.com/us/en/disclosures