Career Opportunity
Senior Area Visual Merchandising Manager, Brand Image UK & Ireland PFS
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Company Description
At Ralph Lauren, we unite and inspire the communities within our company as well as those in which we serve by amplifying voices and perspectives to create a culture of belonging, ensuring inclusion, and fairness for all. We foster a culture of inclusion through: Talent, Education & Communication, Employee Groups and Celebration.
Position Overview
We have an exciting new opportunity as a Senior PRO Brand Image Manager. This is a key role within our organization, responsible for maintaining and elevating the brand image across our Polo Retail Stores This position plays a crucial part in ensuring consistent brand representation and visual merchandising standards across multiple locations.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
· Responsible for creative brand leadership, elevation and implementation.
· Being the creative voice for the Region and nurturing cross functional partnerships.
· Balancing art and commerce across existing stores and NSO’s.
· Responsible for the management and coaching of the Brand Image Field team.
· Reports directly into the EMEA PRO Brand Image Lead, providing weekly updates on people, successes and challenges within their region.
Key Accountabilities
- Ensure that all PRO Regional stores creative implementation, is delivered “best in class” to the consumer, aligned with Brand Image strategy.
- Enhance the customer journey, ensuring both art and commerce are balanced and consider local market implications.
- Be brand aware and protect our brand equity externally in the Region.
- Collaborate cross functionally with all stakeholders and keep them informed on changes affecting region on a regular basis.
- Be an integral part of the NSO launch process from planning to delivery. Partnering with Space Planning to determine layout of the store and leading implementation with Field team.
- Define the project goals and the best way to deliver the Brand Image strategy for the stores in partnership with Line Manager.
- Galvanise all relationships that are key to the outcome of each project.
- Responsible for identifying challenges within projects which could put it at risk, escalating to Line Manager.
- Responsible for providing project hindsight and recommendation reports to improve future projects.
Business Development
- Understand seasonal buy strategy, key performance drivers & priority of concepts.
- Understand and be able to articulate the consumer and marketplace.
- Understand the P&L of each store & space metrics, to drive the right balance of sales to space mixes.
Leadership
- Set clear expectations and inspire the team to deliver results.
- Collaborate with Line Manager to create a working team and environment that allows, creativity, strong work ethic and a passion for the Ralph Lauren Brand.
- Challenge others to develop as leaders while serving as a role model and ‘leading from the front’.
- Develop a strong and effective cross-functional network of relationships.
- Develop a broad knowledge and understanding of all functional needs.
- Facilitate regular direct and wider team meetings, and encourage two-way dialogue.
- Be responsible for the team’s seasonal calendar of installs and input into planning calendar before season starts.
- Celebrate success and recognise contributions which are over and above.
- Have a succession plan and keep Talent Diamond up to date, flagging any opportunities and risks with line manager in a timely manner.
- Manage T&E budget in partnership with Line Manager, aligned with company and FP&A targets.
Coaching
- In partnership with employee, develop yearly goal setting, with clear aims and SMART objectives (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely).
- Conduct yearly employee performance reviews and quarterly check in’s, based on competencies and goal setting.
- Identify strengths, development opportunities and career aspirations of employees.
- Collaborate with employees to develop 70/20/10 development plans (in the role/mentoring/training courses).
- Provide ‘in the moment’ feedback of great work and growth opportunities.
Communication
- Champion and drive effective communication between all cross-functional partners.
- Be able to communicate in a variety of forums and choose the right message medium when communicating.
- Balance the need to seek information with the need to be understood.
Be clear, concise and timely. Assume positive intent of others and practice active listening.
- Model Ralph Lauren values & create a psychological safe environment for employees to show up as themselves and thrive.
- Hold regular status meeting with the teams, set clear expectations and provide detailed action plans.
- Resolve and/or escalate issues in a timely manner.
Experience, Skills & Knowledge
- Extensive retail brand management or visual merchandising
- Desired but not essential 5 strategic cycles as a regional/ area visual merchandiser or equivalent
- Strong understanding of luxury retail and fashion industry trends
- Excellent communication and leadership skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Proficiency in relevant software and tools for visual planning and analysis
**Please note that this position requires extensive travel to various store locations to ensure hands-on management of brand image implementation and consistency**
