We are looking for a Field Visual Merchandising Manager to join Team OB in our Support Office on a maternity cover contract.
As a Field Visual Merchandising Manager at OB you will lead and inspire the VM team to ensure all OB stores understand and implement OB’s visual identity keeping stores exciting and ensuring the customer journey works creatively and commercially.
You will support the VM team to implement the Visual strategy as well as training OB stores to become self-sufficient in VM execution in their stores.
You will line manage the Area VM team, coaching the team to ensure they develop stores, whilst supporting the Senior VM Manager and wider VM team on any broader business projects.
Additionally, you will collaborate with the wider VM and retail teams to ensure a smooth VM setup and execution of all new store openings, delivering the OB brand vision.
Our Support Office is based in Tolworth, near Chessington, only a 30-minute journey from London Waterloo. This role will be office based but will also include travel and overnight stays in the UK and Ireland.
A bit about us …
At Oliver Bonas (OB), our values of Work Hard, Play Hard & Be Kind are integral to everything we do. Collaboration, imagination, curiosity, and teamwork are key to our success, and everyone has their part to play in making OB a special place to work.
Having fun is key, and a playful and positive approach creates an optimistic environment. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we are serious about what we do.
Our team knows their stuff. They’re confident and creative and unafraid to challenge convention to find solutions, taking accountability for their actions, but always with kindness and humility.
More about the role …
An OB Field Visual Merchandising Manager will:
- Support Senior VM Manager with developing the VM strategy, implementing new ideas and improve current processes to achieve business goals
- Agree and delegate visual project work, coordinating VM team ensuring the team are aware of deadlines and priorities
- Ensure OB stores are working to the most commercial and creative layout
- Inspire, challenge and develop the VM team’s creative skills by attending shadow days with them to their stores
- Research and keep up to date with current and emerging trends and bring new ideas to the VM team and how we can inspire at OB
- Build on relationships with the Retail team and react to trade patterns – updating VM team on how to implement these changes in store
- Collaborating with VM Product Group managers in Fashion & H&G by bringing creative solutions and ideas to support the stores
- Feeding back and providing insight to VM Product Group managers on product in store and how this is working
- Lead VM training for the business, working with VM PG managers, SVMM, L&D to ensure we support stores to make them self-sufficient by producing up to date training sessions, videos and documents
- Guide VM team on weekly inspirational comms for the wider business, ensuring these are executed to the highest standard
- Support the VM team in seeking opportunities to deliver their creative best for store visuals and commercial growth keeping the customer journey exciting
- Understand the complexities of each store and their space, using this for creative and commercial solutions
- Instil commerciality within the VM team teaching how to use this in their roles daily
- Manage the VM team planner, ensuring key dates are added and up to date liaising with other VM supports
- Conduct all VM team 1:1’s, progress chats and appraisals
- Lead the Area Visual Merchandising team for all new store openings, planning their whereabouts and ensuring the team lead by example in delivering OB excellence in VM
Bonas Benefits:
- Generous employee discount up to 50% off all OB products
- Free access to our 24 hour employee assistance programme with Care First – offering financial, emotional and vocational support
- Flexible holiday – 30 days (including bank holidays) – increasing to 35 days with length of service
- Annual discretionary profit related bonus scheme
- Free membership for our Westfield Health Cash Plan or Private Medical
- Auto-enrolment into our pension plan
- Free access to our onsite gym
- Cycle to work scheme
- Refer a Friend incentive
- Quarterly free lunch
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Voice network and EDI team
- Mental Health First Aider support
- Education and support throughout Looop eLearning platform
What we look for:
- Visual Merchandising and commercial understanding
- Strong management experience
- Excellent time keeping skills and the ability to manage multiple projects
- Supportive and agile style of working
- Strong communicator with the ability to deliver information with confidence
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at OB
At Oliver Bonas, our promise is to do our bit to make living a joyful experience and give cause for optimism. This promise is central to our work in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). To bring joy to others, we must first ensure everyone at OB feels valued, included and most importantly, can be themselves at work.
It is important to us that our brand reflects wider society and the communities in which we operate. As a result, we welcome all eligible applicants for this role however we are particularly interested in speaking to eligible candidates from the Black, Asian & Mixed Heritage communities.
Oliver Bonas is a Disability Confident Committed employer under the Disability Confident employer scheme.
To read more about our ED&I commitments, head over to the EDI page on our website: https://www.oliverbonas.com/meet-the-team/diversity