Merchandising Manager

Position Title: MERCHANDISING MANAGER - New York, NY

Salary: $90000 - $100000

Become part of Restaurant Associates, the industry’s leading provider of dining and event catering for some of the nation's most prestigious museums, performing arts centers and corporations!
Voted Glassdoor's Employee Choice Awards - Best Places to Work, This is R/A!

Restaurant Associates is seeking a motivated and creative Merchandising Manager to join a corporate creative services team. Reporting to the Director of Visual & Style, this individual will support food & beverage presentations, manage merchandising strategies and implementation, oversee logistics, as well as drive operational excellence across contract dining, restaurant and catering operations. The ideal candidate will bring 2–3 years of experience in merchandising management within the food, beverage, or hospitality industry and have a passion for creating memorable guest experiences through impactful visuals and storytelling.

Must be willing to travel, regularly (local and multi-state within Restaurant Associate's portfolio).

Visual Merchandising & Styling

• Support the Director of Visual & Style in researching, developing, and implementing merchandising programs to include promotional activities resulting in increased check average, participation, and awareness.
• Style and merchandise food, beverage, and retail spaces with strong attention to aesthetics and functionality.
• Curate, source, and recommend display vehicles and visual fixtures aligned with brand standards and operational needs.
• Support uniform and tabletop programs, ensuring consistency across accounts.
• Create inspirational visual assets including mood boards, mock-ups, and style presentations.

Project Support & Execution

• Provide hands‑on styling for new unit openings, refreshes, renovations, and seasonal resets.
• Conduct site visits to merchandise products, confirm layouts, and capture visual documentation.
• Drive execution of new retail innovations and impulse‑driven displays in the field.
• Coordinate ordering with vendors and track deliveries, ensuring timely implementation.
• Manage sourcing, tracking, and organization of deliveries to meet project timelines.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Culinary to align merchandising with food program guidelines and operational flow.
• Partner with Marketing to support promotional campaigns and storytelling.
• Participate in the development and rollout of merchandising and sales‑building training for managers and hourly associates.

Creative & Strategic Development

• Assist with the creation of toolkits, visual standards, and operational guides that support consistent execution and operational excellence.
• Research and identify emerging trends in hospitality, retail, fashion, and design to inform concepts and merchandising strategy.

Additional Details

• Some weekend work and travel will be required.

• Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising, Marketing, Business, Hospitality Management, or a related field.
• 2–3 years of merchandising experience in the hospitality or retail industry.
• Hands‑on experience styling displays and executing merchandising programs.
• Creative mindset, strong aesthetic sense, high level of attention to detail, and understanding of food and design trends.
• Excellent communication, organization, and project management skills.
• Ability to collaborate cross‑functionally and manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft products and presentation tools. Adobe Suite is a plus.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Restaurant Associates maintains a drug‑free workplace.

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and…