Associate General Manager_Visual Merchandising_Visual Merchandising Concept.Home Centre.UAE_JAFZA_Home Centre

Role Overview

Associate General Manager, Visual Merchandising at Home Box, located in JAFZA, UAE. This role leads visual merchandising and interior design strategy across the Home Centre retail operation.

Role Purpose

Develop and execute visual merchandising strategy to optimize store layout, enhance customer experience, and drive commercial growth by leading a team of store VM/ID managers and ensuring consistent implementation of visual standards across all locations.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Planning

• Develop strategy to improve visual impression of stores and use store layout as a strategic tool.
• Optimize store layout to create good overview and visual impact that delivers the complete Home Centre offer experience to customers.
• Revise layout planning in all stores to create strong destination appeal.
• Incorporate commercial calendar into communication and interior design action plan.
• Manage store opening schematics layouts and lead store opening workshops.

Store Standards & Compliance

• Conduct frequent floor walks and territory visits to ensure standards and implementation conform to VM guideline requirements.
• Ensure all windows are displayed in line with specified marketing calendar and campaigns.
• Comply with window guidelines and ensure window displays are presented to high standard, including window signage, graphics and props.
• Secure that territory commercial team has right understanding of store layout, range presentation and store communication.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, inspire and challenge the ID/VM function in stores to use home furnishing knowledge and understanding of people's life at home with market-relevant solutions to grow the business.
• Build store VM/ID competence and secure succession for future business growth by leading recruitment, development and retention of high-performing store VM/ID team members.
• Identify and develop training opportunities to address merchandise presentation skill gaps.
• Partner with COO and VM Manager to stimulate and increase interest in home furnishing throughout the organization.

Commercial Optimization

• Challenge and work with concept VM team and store VM managers to take actions that exploit commercial opportunities in both short and long term.
• Seek feedback from colleagues and customers on visual impact of displays and implement changes when required to support business needs.
• Conduct comparison shopping to maintain awareness of other retailers' visual merchandising concepts.
• Manage all territory VM costs within budget.

Qualifications & Experience

• 15 years of experience in a senior Interior Design or Visual Merchandising managerial role for a home retail brand.
• Experience leading a team of 5 or more people.

Skills & Competencies

Technical Skills

• Proficient in SketchUp, AutoCAD, Photoshop and MS PowerPoint.
• Highly creative and conceptual.
• Highly developed aesthetic, sense of style and trend awareness.

Professional Competencies

• Understanding of customer buying behaviour and buying decisions.
• Business acumen.
• Knowledge of competition and local market.
• Project management skills.
• Resource management skills.
• Team management skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Behavioural Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, written and verbal.
• Problem solving.
• Confident and positive attitude.
• Passion for design.
• Active listening.
• Adaptable and decisive.
• Organized, efficient and detail-oriented.
• Self-starter approach to work with eagerness to consistently meet and exceed objectives and take on more responsibility.
• Able to multi-task and handle variety of complex assignments.
• Ability to work in fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Additional Information

• Must be able to travel and work flexible schedule to conduct installations outside standard working and retail hours.