Visual Merchandising Manager

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Job Description

Summary

Every day we engage with our customers through inspiring, impactful marketing. From show-stopping, above-the-line campaigns to the simplest POS designs in store, every step of the customer journey is crafted by our standout teams to build the very best experience, at every touchpoint.

We explore the data and learn from our successes - constantly driving our Clothing & Home category to be the market leader. And we're just getting started. There's no better time to join our team as we continue to elevate our style, break boundaries and take the M&S brand to the next level.

Please note this role is a 6 month fixed term contract.

About the Role

• Deliver the strategic global visual strategy across focus regions.
• Supports the development and delivery of inspirational, 'best in class' VM Principles and standards with a focus on International store formats.
• Takes ownership of multiple business units (Womenswear and Lingerie), ensuring key information is shared amongst peers and team.
• Responsible for VM set-ups, providing exceptional content to the VM Communications Team to facilitate the Seasonal/Campaign Guidelines.
• Plans and delivers seasonal market trips to provide inspiration and scalable interpretation of brand principles.
• Establishes great relationships with Market VM Managers to maximise team excellence and progression.
• Provides in-country VM and Styling training to upskill Franchise VM teams.
• Supports the delivery of the International Buying Fairs, helping to sell M&S to the world.
• Implements agreed trading actions in line with the Monthly and Quarterly Business Reports.
• Partners with Store Planning on store modernisations and new store developments.
• Manages VM trials in market, providing feedback to Store Planning and the International Senior VM Managers.
• Acts as a Brand Ambassador in the region to uphold the values of Marks and Spencer.
• Ensures a customer first approach, to ensure the customer is at the heart of all activities carried out.
• Confident in a hybrid working approach, combining office and home working with international travel.

Key Skills

• Comprehensive understanding of Global Trends, and Regional Market Trend Awareness.
• Exceptional Visual Merchandising and Product Presentation Skills.
• Understanding of Macro and Micro Space.
• Confident stylist, with a strong technical ability to coach and train others.
• Capable of operating across multiple locations and ensure consistency remotely.
• Strong influencing skills and communication skills.
• Confident to deliver feedback to partners and peers on the visual team.
• Managing relationships effectively with franchise, joint venture and owned market teams.
• Mac, Adobe, Microsoft 365 proficient.
• Sketch Up software experience a plus.

What's in it for you...

Being a part of M&S is exactly that - becoming a part and playing your part. We're an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and always evolving business built on core values. We offer a flexible / hybrid approach - talk to us, if it's meaningful to you, it's important to us.

Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special...

• 20% Colleague discount on most things from furniture, fashion and food.
• A first class welcome to M&S with a tailored induction.
• Attractive annual bonus, based on company performance and personal objectives.
• 29 days holiday including bank holidays!
• Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices website. Including GymSave - that offers up to 25% off Gym Memberships and the option to become an M&S Shareholder using our ShareSave & ShareBuy Schemes
• A wide range of training schemes to help with your learning and development. Having options to progress is something we're proud of at M&S.
• Charity Volunteer Day - A paid day away from work to support your chosen charity.
• A very generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance
• Every colleague at M&S has access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support - this includes access to our 24/7 Virtual GP, PAM Assist to support you & your family & free access to the UnMind App as well as many other schemes

#LI-CA1

About Us

M&S is ready to push boundaries to lead the industry into a greener, speedier, more inspiring digital era. That's why we're revolutionising how we work and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. There's never been a better time to be part of our team.

Marks & Spencer aims to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make an immediate impact. We are committed to an active Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy, which starts with our recruitment and selection process and we are happy to talk smart/flexible working.

About the Team

Marks and Spencer is a unique British heritage brand with a history of 'firsts' and we enjoy the fact that everything we do has the potential to impact and delight over 29 million customers daily.

Our International business is now being invested in and the results are starting to show as we outgrow competitors. M&S has a significant International presence: 433 wholly owned, jointly owned or franchised stores in 56 territories across Europe, Asia and Middle East and have online sites in over 100 markets.

We have a team in place who share some impressive International experience and have created a clear strategy which will deliver ambitious goals. We have the benefits of being a smaller team, we've removed unnecessary rules and we want entrepreneurial thinking. There is a lot to do and we'd like your expertise.