Visual Merchandising Lead

Why you are important: The Visual Merchandising Brand Lead has overall responsibility for all aspects of visual merchandising across multiple brands to monitor, direct and manage the VM team(s) to ensure the operation runs efficiently and effectively in-line with defined SOPs, and ensure brand & company visual directives are implemented and maintained across all the assigned stores and locations to maximise the sales potential. What you need to do: To work with the brand leadership team to drive, manage and monitor the VM team within assigned store locations to ensure the proper processing and arranging of all new merchandise shipments, rotations and updates including apparel, accessory and mannequins (interior and window), sales promotions and markdowns to maximize sales potential and visual impact though optimal arrangement of merchandise displays in line with the brand guidelines and company visual standards. To work with the brand leadership team to ensure all VM operations within the assigned stores with the aim of creating class-leading visual displays that maximise sales potential and adhere to all relevant SOPs to ensure the operation runs smoothly and efficiently and the business interests of the company are promoted and protected at all times. To direct, monitor, manage & collaborate with the VM team members and the location ASM/SM to ensure the sales floor area is clean and organised and ensure that our products and merchandise are neatly and appropriately displayed in line with the brand guidelines at all times. Your role as a manager To manage, train, develop, motivate, direct and support all reporting VM team members to ensure the team is meeting its objectives, KPIs, brand directives and the overall needs of the organisation, with regular reporting to your direct manager to maximise the smooth operational running. To monitor the store, the merchandise and the VM team and prioritise, communicate, assign or delegate responsibilities to ensure the store meets the required standards and take whatever remedial action is necessary to fulfil the company objectives and brand directives. To ensure the store and all the assigned members of the VM team adhere to defined company policies and all SOPs regarding visual directives, merchandise processing & rotation and submit regular up-to-date accurate records and insights to your direct manager and the senior leadership team. The things that apply to everybody: To maintain accurate, up-to-date records and submit regular reports to your manager and/or senior leadership team as required to track progress and effectiveness, ensuring activities are aligned to overall company strategy. To constantly look for ways to improve operational effectiveness and to suggest and implement improvements to internal procedures and controls to improve efficiency, reduce costs and promote and protect the business interests of the company wherever possible. To carry out duties as tasked, ensuring that the company service standards, objectives, internal policies & procedures and company values are met or exceeded at all times.   SECTION 2. HOW YOUR JOB FITS INTO THE COMPANY Why you are important to us: How the store looks and the customer experience has a massive impact on the success of the business and it is the responsibility of the Visual Merchandising Brand Head to manage and direct the VM team to maintain the brand visual merchandising guidelines that enhance the customer experience, increase the brand/store attraction and therefore, directly impact sales and the success of the brand. Who you need to collaborate with: External: You will need to establish working relationships the mall representatives and/or external service providers and contractors (and the internal projects team) as necessary for the delivery of certain renovations and display projects Internal: You will need to continuously direct, monitor & train the VM team regarding current initiatives, promotions, displays and brand guidelines. The day-to-day implementation of the visual directives will require close cooperation with the ASM/SMs to ensure smooth and successful operational running, with regular reporting of feedback and information to the senior leadership team on all aspects of the operations that impact the success of the business. The challenges that need to be overcome: The retail industry is a competitive business; as such, in line with the brand & company visual directives, you are responsible for creating a difference to the customer experience that stands out from the competition with a visually impactful environment that attracts and influences potential customers. You will need to constantly keep up-to-date with technology, trends and fashions in the industry as well as observing and listening to customers; passing on your skills and knowledge to the VM team as well as regular reporting to the senior leadership team on your observations and feedback to maximise the effectiveness of your assigned stores. The role requires a blend of the artistic and the commercial; requiring you to work with a wide range of specialists from designers, to architects, to contractor and internal VM, support and operations teams How we measure success: The data driven measures of success include ensuring the VM teams under your supervision manage efficient and effective processing and implementation of new products, promotions or display initiatives and overall compliance to SOPs and the brand/company directives. Success is also measured in the soft-skills areas such as team leadership and collaboration with the brand management teams, as well as levels of commitment, proactivity, a willingness to accept challenges, learning and increasing your knowledge & skills. The knowledge and experience you need: A fashion or design related degree would be beneficial and/or 10+ years of fashion retail experience 5+ years previous experience in visual merchandising is essential, with at least 5 years’ experience of working in ladies’ fashion retail outlets. Essential skills include an eye for design and an artistic flair with an extensive understanding of visual merchandising in a fashion retail environment. Team leadership and communication skills are a must, with a collaborative approach and a customer-centric attitude. The essential skills and competencies that lead to success: Technical Excellence The appropriate knowledge and skills to perform the role effectively and understanding how the role connects to colleagues and other functions/departments Consistency & Quality The ability to follow established systems & procedures whilst seeking continuous improvement to drive operational excellence in self and others Customer Focus Demonstrating a customer first attitude and behaviour; consistently improving personal skills to enhance service delivery and the internal/external customer experience Collaboration Works with colleagues and other teams or departments, gaining consensus to win-win solutions and ideas or actions that improve operational effectiveness and efficiency. The competencies we expect from our leaders Customer Centric Drives people & processes to improve operational effectiveness & enhance the customer experience Operational Excellence Continuously seeking to enhance operational delivery and applying technology to optimise efficiency Results Orientation Driven to achieve targets & goals; takes a commercial perspective in decision making to maximise the P&L Educator - Building Team Capability Continuously builds the skills & abilities of the team to increase effectiveness & individual career progression