The Program Manager, Brand Activation will lead the development and execution of REI's Visual Merchandising (VM) brand strategies within the Stores Organization, a pivotal component of the Commercial Division. This role involves close collaboration with cross-divisional teams and vendor partners. 

This role is pivotal to REI’s success, managing Visual Merchandising's Brand Activations for in-store implementations. Responsibilities include identifying assignments, coordinating project activities, and managing resources for both small-scale tasks and large strategic initiatives. This position supports the execution of brand initiatives throughout the project lifecycle, collaborating with merchandising, marketing, and other cross-divisional teams. Key duties encompass budgeting, planning, intake, project management, resource allocation, optimization, maintenance, and comprehensive risk and opportunity analysis.

• Drives execution in all project stages throughout the year and maintaining open lines of awareness and communication between cross-divisional partners, including the REI in-store experience.
  • Collaborating with the store design, fixture team, marketing, and visual merchandising is crucial to deliver on the visual strategies for REI's store visual programs, aligning with the overall business objectives.
  • The position encompasses various administrative responsibilities for VM projects, including managing schedules, arranging assignments, preparing action plans, and ensuring excellent communication and collaboration for on-time, quality, and on-budget project delivery.
  • Owns and drives content collection and delivery on various intake forms and datasheets across a wide variety of work. 
  • Managing vendor relationships is another key aspect, leveraging resources and finding ways to collaborate for REI's differentiation.
  • Defining and managing VM program execution processes in partnership with the Project Management (PMO) team and VM Program and project manager cohorts involves ensuring clear descriptions of inputs, hand-offs, outputs, and timelines, with a focus on day-to-day actions feeding key success metrics.
  • Accountability for accurate resource allocation within a project schedule is a priority, with proactive measures to address resource concerns and advocate for the team to alleviate capacity issues.
  • Managing both external and internal business relationships with vendors, clients, strategic partners, and agencies is a key responsibility.
  • Evaluating partnership opportunities and proposals for strategic relevance, business needs, and alignment with REI's core values is part of the role.
  • Handling purchase orders and experiences with receiving, reviewing, and auditing invoices, RFQs, RFPs, etc., for visual merchandising and store graphics initiatives is essential.
  • Leveraging Smartsheet, Workfront, and other work management tools daily to centrally house project requirements, schedules, documentation, and resource time tracking is part of the daily routine. This may involve leading and/or providing support relative to tool releases

Qualifications

• 5 years of operational and strategic experience working with vendor and brand partnerships. 
• Merchandising experience in the retail industry a plus. 
• Comfortable communicating and navigating ambiguity with a large cross-divisional and external network. 
• Experience in producing high-level leadership decks summarizing and details work within applications such as Figma and PowerPoint. 
• A solid foundation in managing operating costs both at a program and project level. 
• MAC/PC Proficiency (including Microsoft Office Applications). 
• Experience utilizing project management software & scheduling tools, such as SmartSheet, WorkFront, and Sharepoint. 
• Ability to be productive and flexible in a fast-paced environment 
• Excellent strong verbal and written communication skills. 
• Builds rapport with all kinds of people inside and outside the organization.

At REI, we believe the outdoors is for all. We are committed to becoming a fully inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization. We know that there's strength in our diversity – that each employee brings unique skills, experiences, and perspectives. Every day you are driving change, fostering a culture of respect, and knowing you're backed by benefits that support your whole life. To work towards this commitment and fulfill our brand promise of inspiring and enabling a life outside for everyone, we seek employees who demonstrate different ways of working, create a sense of belonging, and actively listen and learn.  

Pay Transparency

We are committed to practices that promote pay equity and transparency. As required by applicable Pay Transparency laws, REI provides a range of compensation for roles that may be hired in locations under these requirements. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include a wide array of factors, including: your specific skills and experience, geographic location or other relevant factors.   

REI offers all regular employees a generous employee discount, access to health benefits, a retirement savings plan and accrued time off.  Click here for a detailed overview of benefits plans by employee profile.