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Retail Strategy Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Fraud Strategy Lead

Chicago, IL

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

We partner with some of the largest, most sophisticated retailers and carriers in the world (The ... This role applies strong domain knowledge to independently manage complex initiatives ...

Fraud Strategy Lead

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

We partner with some of the largest, most sophisticated retailers and carriers in the world (The ... This role applies strong domain knowledge to independently manage complex initiatives ...

Director, Broker Management

Chicago, IL · Remote

$141K - $198K/yr

  • Medical

  • PTO

The Director, Retail Broker Management will lead the strategic oversight and performance management of six retail broker partners across the Convenience, Grocery, and Walmart channels. This role is ...

Director, Broker Management

Chicago, IL · On-site

$141K - $198K/yr

  • Medical

  • PTO

The Director, Retail Broker Management will lead the strategic oversight and performance management of six retail broker partners across the Convenience, Grocery, and Walmart channels. This role is ...

Account Director

Chicago, IL · On-site

$100 - $115/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Deep experience in client services/account management in an agency with a strong knowledge of Retail Strategy and Implementation * Comfortable paving the way for process and standardization ...

Showing results 21-40

Retail Strategy Manager information

See Chicago, IL salary details

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$23

$36

How much do retail strategy manager jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for retail strategy manager in Chicago, IL is $23.56, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.84 and $27.50 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a retail strategy manager typically collaborate with merchandising and operations teams to drive business results?

Retail Strategy Managers work closely with both merchandising and operations teams to align strategic initiatives with day-to-day execution. They often facilitate cross-functional meetings to ensure that new strategies, such as assortment changes or pricing adjustments, are feasible and understood by all stakeholders. By analyzing sales data and operational feedback, they help identify areas for improvement and coordinate the rollout of pilot programs or process enhancements. This collaborative approach ensures that strategic goals are translated into actionable plans that positively impact store performance and customer experience.

What does a retail strategy manager do?

A Retail Strategy Manager is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to improve a retailer’s performance and competitive positioning. They analyze market trends, customer data, and business operations to identify opportunities for growth and efficiency. Their work often involves overseeing projects related to merchandising, pricing, store formats, and customer experience. Additionally, they collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with the company’s overall objectives. Ultimately, their goal is to drive sales, profitability, and customer satisfaction in the retail environment.

What is the difference between Retail Strategy Manager vs Retail Buyer?

AspectRetail Strategy ManagerRetail Buyer
Primary FocusDeveloping long-term retail strategies, market analysis, and business growth plansSelecting and purchasing products to meet consumer demand and maximize sales
Required SkillsStrategic planning, market research, data analysis, leadershipProduct knowledge, negotiation, vendor relations, trend analysis
Work EnvironmentCorporate offices, retail chains, strategic planning teamsRetail stores, purchasing departments, supplier meetings
Common UsageUsed by companies to plan overall retail growth and positioningUsed by retail companies to manage inventory and product assortment

The Retail Strategy Manager focuses on creating and implementing strategies to grow retail businesses, while the Retail Buyer concentrates on selecting products to meet customer demand. Both roles require analytical skills and industry knowledge but serve different functions within the retail industry.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a retail strategy manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Retail Strategy Manager, you need strong analytical skills, a solid background in business or finance, and experience in retail operations, often supported by a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration or a related field. Familiarity with data analytics platforms, CRM systems, and tools like Excel or Tableau is commonly required, along with knowledge of retail analytics or project management certifications. Exceptional communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities are standout soft skills for influencing stakeholders and driving change. These competencies are crucial for developing data-driven strategies that enhance retail performance, customer experience, and profitability.
What are popular job titles related to Retail Strategy Manager jobs in Chicago, IL? For Retail Strategy Manager jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Retail Strategy Manager jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Retail Strategy Manager jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Senior Manager, Retail Search

Publicis Groupe Holdings B.V

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 15 days ago


Job description

Company Description

A division of Publicis Groupe, Publicis Digital Experience is a network of top-tier agencies designed to develop capabilities and solutions to enable growth and provide scaled access to the digital capabilities of Publicis Groupe in service of our clients. Together, the Publicis Digital Experience portfolio endeavors to create value at the intersection of technology and experiences to connect brands and people.

Our model to transform every brand experience will help clients navigate, develop, and activate commerce in a way that will provide them with a future-proof model for modern marketing. With our unique expertise in consumer engagement, CRM, and commerce, Publicis Digital Experience powers brands and empowers people in a new era of creativity. An ever-changing landscape and the need for fluid thinking is just part of our problem-solving nature. Which means we're untethered from any specific medium or method-we go where ideas will work best.

We are an expanding network of more than 7,000 employees across global offices, unified under the Publicis Digital Experience umbrella. Our portfolio includes agency brands such as Razorfish, Digitas, Mars United Commerce, Arc Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi X, Plowshare and 3Share. Our capabilities span the full customer journey-from creative and experience to Commerce and CRM-through specialized practices like ConnectedCRM and the Publicis Commerce. 

OverviewWe're looking for a Senior Manager, Retail Search to work in a hybrid remote capacity from one of the Mars United Commerce hub locations. Amazon Ads experience is required. Candidates must reside in a commutable distance to one of these locations: Detroit, Chicago, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Dallas, Bentonville, AR or New York.Responsibilities
  • Own and develop retail search activation strategy and oversee Search Manager to build and flawlessly execute best-in-class retail media campaigns across search
  • Direct and train Managers and Specialists on best practices for hands-to-keyboard set-up, management, optimization and reporting of retail search
  • Lead strategy on keyword, ad group, audience and targeting strategy, and refine overall activation plan based on client objectives and vendor/platform capabilities
  • Work with Director to develop and refine processes to improve the daily and weekly optimizations and performance across a variety of platforms and clients
  • Create and share presentations recommending campaign strategy and collaborate with senior internal leaders on search strategy and convey final plan to the search teams and clients
  • Support developing holistic retail strategy, client media mix, and budget allocations, while leading Search Managers and Search Specialists in executing tactics that support the strategy
  • Maintain oversight as the leader of the team that activates against campaign set-up, performance, optimization, and reporting
  • Clearly set and communicate performance expectations with Search Managers, and Search Specialists, along with key internal commerce media partners
  • Lead, manage, mentor, and scale the skillsets of the team of Search Managers and Specialist in workflow, training, and development and adherence to best practices
  • Lead the search team on providing high-quality insights and strategic recommendations based on client objectives, media strategy and results
  • Reports to Director Retail Search, immediate direct reports with Search Manager
Qualifications
  • 5+ years of experience in retail search space
  • Confident presenter and clear, persuasive communicator (verbal and written) of complicated information.
  • Owner and leader mentality, with willingness to "roll up your sleeves."
  • Exceptional Excel skills are necessary (Pivot Tables, Vlookups, etc)
  • Google Suite Experience (Google Sheets, Docs, Slides)
  • Must have hands-on-keyboard media buying experience, including actively building and implementing keyword, ad group, audience & targeting strategies in-platform; real-time bidding expertise; proactive campaign monitoring; optimization; and results-based reporting.
  • Retail media buying experience on one or more of the following platforms is required - Amazon, Walmart, Criteo, Citrus Ads, Kroger/Promote IQ, Instacart
  • Google SEM or similar experience is a plus, but not required.
  • Strong attention to detail and talented multi-tasker with an ability to organize and prioritize workload to manage timelines, budgets and deliverables for self, client, vendor and internal team.
  • Ambitious self-starter who takes ownership of and great pride in his/her work.
  • Passion for and strong knowledge of all elements of the retail and omnichannel media landscape.
  • Creative and strategic thinker who gets excited about taking on and solving complex challenges.
  • Curious and dissatisfied with the status quo, always thinking of ways to improve and grow.
  • Collaborative team player and great listener, but unafraid to challenge peers or clients when necessary, in order to achieve the best results for the project.
  • Experience managing & mentoring direct reports, of whom the manager empowers to take on more strategic work than their current knowledge to grow and evolve skills.
  • Very strong soft skills with presenting to clients, including a high degree of storytelling. Expressed by creating, and presenting strategically oriented decks, with a focus on business strategy & catering to the clients organizational and personal motivations, vs. a focus on campaign performance.
  • Ability to operate independently, where client deliverables are consistently polished, complete, and done to convey a sense of expertise, confidence, and professionalism.
  • High degree of skill in understanding, responding to, challenging, and mitigating client objections to strategic and tactical recommendations.
 Additional Information

The Power of One starts with our people! To do powerful things, we offer powerful resources. Our best-in-class wellness and benefits offerings include:

  • Paid Family Care for parents and caregivers for 12 weeks or more
  • Monetary assistance and support for Adoption, Surrogacy and Fertility
  • Monetary assistance and support for pet adoption
  • Employee Assistance Programs and Health/Wellness/Comfort reimbursements to help you invest in your future and work/life balance
  • Tuition Assistance
  • Paid time off that includes Flexible Time off Vacation, Annual Sick Days, Volunteer Days, Holiday and Identity days, and more
  • Matching Gifts programs
  • Flexible working arrangements
  • 'Work Your World' Program encouraging employees to work from anywhere Publicis Groupe has an office for up to 6 weeks a year (based upon eligibility)
  • Business Resource Groups that support multiple affinities and alliances

The benefits offerings listed are available to eligible U.S. Based employees, are reviewed on an annual basis, and are governed by the terms of the applicable plan documents.

Publicis Digital Experience is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our employment decisions are made without regard to actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, medical condition as defined by applicable state law, genetic information, marital status, military service and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.

If you require accommodation or assistance with the application or onboarding process specifically, please contact USMSTACompliance@publicis.com.  All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation Range: $95,950- $124,735 annually. This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. Temporary roles may also qualify for participation in our 401(k) plan after eligibility criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 11/17/2025.

 Minneapolis: $95,950- $137,865Dallas: $95,950- $137,865Bentonville: $95,950- $124,735Cincinnati: $95,950- $124,735Detroit: $95,950- $131,300 Chicago: $95,950- $137,865 New York: $95,950 - $150,995   #LI-Hybrid#LI-LO1  Compensation Range: USD $ - . This is the pay range the Company believes it will pay for this position at the time of this posting. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position, and the Company reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. Temporary roles may be eligible to participate in our freelancer/temporary employee medical plan through a third-party benefits administration system once certain criteria have been met. For regular roles, the Company will offer medical coverage, dental, vision, disability, 401k, and paid time off. The Company anticipates the application deadline for this job posting will be 11/17/2025.Employment Type: OTHER