Senior Global VM Manager

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Founded in 1971 in Somerset, England, today Mulberry is a truly global fashion company and the largest manufacturer of luxury leather goods in the United Kingdom. Across all locations, we are united by our employee values: Be Bold, Be Open, Be Responsible, Be Imaginative.

If these are values you share, we would love you to join our team.

Reporting to the Head of Buying and Merchandising, you will be responsible for the visual merchandising of our Mulberry stores and wholesale accounts across the globe.

Working collaboratively with the Head of Buying and Merchandising, Image Team and your regional VM teams you will create excellent visual standards internationally across the Regions, ensuring a consistent and coherent Brand image.

Based from our London office, you will lead and manage a VM network of talented Visual Merchandisers inspiring and motivating the team to ensure smooth day to day running of the VM operations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Creative:

• Work on a structured visual merchandising calendar based on window changes, merchandise delivery drops and Showroom events.

• Present and create imaginative and effective visual merchandising stories that are in line with the seasonal design, marketing calendar & commercial needs of the business.

• Present and create areas of theatre installations in all visual display areas that are in line with the company seasonal window calendar.

• Create VM seasonal guidelines to communicate merchandising themes, polices and standards from the showroom for training manuals for the global network.

• Lead on bringing new Visual Merchandising ideas to the creative department.

• Lead on the visual communication between the Retail Stores and VM teams.

• Present VM guidelines to all regions.

• Build solid working collaboration with internal Departments (Buying & Merchandising, Retail, Store Development & Marketing) to receive the necessary information for a consistent seasonal product display, in accordance with product and image strategies.

• Partner with the Buying & Merchandising department in order to receive the necessary information for a consistent seasonal product display, in accordance with the product and image strategies.

• Manage and coordinate the seasonal VM training to all markets

• Partner with the retail teams to maximize sales opportunities whilst maintaining the corporate standards and brand image. Actively participate with store management to make the best visual decisions for stores, understanding local retail practices and needs whilst maintaining the brand visual standards.

• Check and oversee the VM reports received from regional teams and share feedback to improve the standards.

• Guarantee visual excellence and consistency in product display across all regions to deliver best in class in stores, windows and touchpoints that are on budget and on time.

Events:

• Work with both regional and central marketing teams to bring synergy on creative for all regional events. Plan, coordinate and implement store changes across the region to accommodate activations and marketing activity ensuring full VM cover as required.

• Create effective displays for marketing events.

• Communicate with suppliers on orders for events managing budgets.

• Support in seasonal changes and install, including sourcing prop suppliers and merchandising.

Training:

• Recruit and develop a high performing motivated network of VM and in store VM ambassadors (VMA's) capable of delivering outstanding VM standards across the global network.

• Support the in store VMA's in organising and conducting VM training sessions on guidelines and visual standards to store staff. Train and develop the in store VMA's for the regions, ensuring they are motivated and fully aware of guidelines and strategy.

• Liaising with Retail Managers & General Managers, identify stores who need support and set-up VM training sessions to support with visual standards and techniques.

• Work with store teams and train on visual standards and new techniques, utilising any appropriate training materials available from the central Training team.

Operations:

• Manage all POS & instore animation development maintaining a clear view of overall spend vs budget.

• Deliver and control window props and VM stock.

• With with the image team to develop and implement windows, in store touch points and retail activations. • Develop and maintain a local vendor base to assist in the production and installation of windows and activations.

Brand:

• Understand and demonstrate the Mulberry employee values and behaviours: Be Bold, Be Imaginative, Be Open, Be Responsible.

• Support Mulberry to deliver an inclusive culture, through behaving in a way that is open-minded and respectful towards others, and understanding that your views, opinions and experiences may not always be shared by your colleagues.

• Act as an ambassador for Mulberry and communicate positively about the brand.

Skills and Experience Required:

• Highly motivated and enthusiastic individual with at least five years of experience within luxury retail brands.

• Experience in managing through others, across international regions.

• Applies creativity and innovative thinking to produce sustainable solutions.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to impart detailed information in a clear and straightforward manner across a range of audiences and stakeholders.

• Excellent planning and organisational skills.

• Experienced team manager with exceptional people and influencing skill and the ability to communicate effectively across all levels.

• Good analytical and commercial skills with the ability and confidence to combine commercial needs with the creative needs of the brand.

• Quick thinking with ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

• Innovative and creative thinker idea generator.

• Well-organized and efficient with strong planning capabilities.

• Ability to work to multiple, competing deadlines.

• Strong Photoshop, InDesign & Illustrator knowledge.

What we will do for you:

- Competitive basic salary

- Product allowance

- An enviable staff discount and exclusive access to staff sales

- Pension Contributions & Life Assurance

- Health insurance

- Training and opportunities to develop

Mulberry is an equal opportunities employer and we are passionate about hiring and developing the best talent. All hiring decisions are made only on the basis of qualifications, skills or experience and as they relate to the particular role. If you need us to make any adjustments to our application or interview processes to enable you to be at your best, please email us at talent@mulberry.com.