Love's Travel Stops
Sr. Manager of Space Strategy & Format
Love's Travel Stops, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73116
Overview
The Senior Manager, Space Strategy & Format plays a key leadership role in shaping the in-store customer experience across all store types in the enterprise. This position is responsible for developing and executing space optimization strategies, store format innovations, and merchandise placement standards that maximize sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
Responsibilities
Lead the development and execution of space planning strategies that align with company financial, and customer experience goals and balance the needs across the Merchandising, Fresh Kitchen, and Other Income departments
Analyze category performance, traffic flow, and market trends to optimize product adjacencies, space allocation, and planogram effectiveness
Partner with Analytics and Data Science teams to develop solutions and measure the impact of space decisions on sales, margin, and customer experience
Drive the evolution of store formats to support evolving customer needs, including new prototypes and remodels
Establish best practices and benchmarks for space planning activities across departments and store types
Collaborate with Real Estate, Construction, and Design teams to ensure store layouts balance operational efficiency with financial goals
Provide thoughtful leadership and insights to senior leadership on space utilization, customer behavior, and industry trends
Synthesize findings and recommendations into clear, compelling presentations for executives and cross-functional partners
Oversee the operation and strategic use of the Innovation Center, including its model store and collaborative meeting facilities
Direct the operations of the model store as a test lab to evaluate planograms, floorplans, new fixtures, and customer flow patterns in real-world conditions
Partner with vendors and category managers to co-develop merchandising solutions and assess their performance before chain-wide rollout
Lead, coach, and develop a team of Space Planners and Floor Planners to establish best practices and benchmarks that ensure accurate, scalable, and high-quality execution of merchandising strategies
Manage relationships with technology vendors that support space planning and store design tools
Own and manage the technology budget for space planning, ensuring efficient investment in systems, tools, and Innovation Center capabilities
Build team capability in space planning tools, process efficiency, and data-driven decision-making
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability within the team
Experience And Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or related field
Master’s degree in relevant field preferred but not required
8+ years of experience in retail space planning, merchandising strategy, or store development
4+ years of leadership/management experience with demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams
Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with ability to translate insights into actionable strategies
Ability to balance long-term innovation with near-term execution priorities
Skills And Physical Demands
Hard Skills: Proficient with Microsoft Office products and space planning software (e.g., JDA/Blue Yonder, Apollo, or similar), knowledge of retail operations, merchandising, store design best practices, and survey platforms (Medallia & Qualtrics)
Soft Skills: Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, exhibit a customer-first attitude, detail-oriented, self-motivated, good time management and planning skill
Our Culture Fueling customers’ journeys since 1964, innovation leads the way for this family-owned and operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City. With nearly 40,000 team members, travel stops are the core business along with products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, traveling public, RVers, alternative energy and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities and an inclusive workplace are hallmarks of the award-winning culture.
Love’s is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Veterans encouraged to apply.
Job Details
Job Category: Corporate
Seniority level: Director
Employment type: Full-time
Job function: Management and Manufacturing
Industries: Retail
Location: Oklahoma City, ON-SITE
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Responsibilities
Lead the development and execution of space planning strategies that align with company financial, and customer experience goals and balance the needs across the Merchandising, Fresh Kitchen, and Other Income departments
Analyze category performance, traffic flow, and market trends to optimize product adjacencies, space allocation, and planogram effectiveness
Partner with Analytics and Data Science teams to develop solutions and measure the impact of space decisions on sales, margin, and customer experience
Drive the evolution of store formats to support evolving customer needs, including new prototypes and remodels
Establish best practices and benchmarks for space planning activities across departments and store types
Collaborate with Real Estate, Construction, and Design teams to ensure store layouts balance operational efficiency with financial goals
Provide thoughtful leadership and insights to senior leadership on space utilization, customer behavior, and industry trends
Synthesize findings and recommendations into clear, compelling presentations for executives and cross-functional partners
Oversee the operation and strategic use of the Innovation Center, including its model store and collaborative meeting facilities
Direct the operations of the model store as a test lab to evaluate planograms, floorplans, new fixtures, and customer flow patterns in real-world conditions
Partner with vendors and category managers to co-develop merchandising solutions and assess their performance before chain-wide rollout
Lead, coach, and develop a team of Space Planners and Floor Planners to establish best practices and benchmarks that ensure accurate, scalable, and high-quality execution of merchandising strategies
Manage relationships with technology vendors that support space planning and store design tools
Own and manage the technology budget for space planning, ensuring efficient investment in systems, tools, and Innovation Center capabilities
Build team capability in space planning tools, process efficiency, and data-driven decision-making
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability within the team
Experience And Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or related field
Master’s degree in relevant field preferred but not required
8+ years of experience in retail space planning, merchandising strategy, or store development
4+ years of leadership/management experience with demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams
Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with ability to translate insights into actionable strategies
Ability to balance long-term innovation with near-term execution priorities
Skills And Physical Demands
Hard Skills: Proficient with Microsoft Office products and space planning software (e.g., JDA/Blue Yonder, Apollo, or similar), knowledge of retail operations, merchandising, store design best practices, and survey platforms (Medallia & Qualtrics)
Soft Skills: Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, exhibit a customer-first attitude, detail-oriented, self-motivated, good time management and planning skill
Our Culture Fueling customers’ journeys since 1964, innovation leads the way for this family-owned and operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City. With nearly 40,000 team members, travel stops are the core business along with products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, traveling public, RVers, alternative energy and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities and an inclusive workplace are hallmarks of the award-winning culture.
Love’s is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Veterans encouraged to apply.
Job Details
Job Category: Corporate
Seniority level: Director
Employment type: Full-time
Job function: Management and Manufacturing
Industries: Retail
Location: Oklahoma City, ON-SITE
#J-18808-Ljbffr