Reporting to the Brand and Marketing Director, there is an exciting opportunity for a Visual Merchandising Manager to join the Visual Merchandising arm of the Marketing department on a permanent contract, full-time basis.

This is a new role, based at head office but working across all sales channels. You will be responsible for managing a team of 3 Merchandisers, evolving the Yankee Candle brand, setting the most effective customer shopping experience, whist providing the store, office and field based teams with the best possible tools in order to achieve excellent standards to drive sales, conversion and average basket size.

Key role to include below activities:

• Influencing key stakeholders on the strategic direction of VM for Yankee Candle EMEA.
• To have a strategic outlook on VM to ensure Yankee Candles visual merchandising is always at the forefront amongst any competitors.
• Develop and implement the strategic plan alongside your visual merchandisers and assistant.
• Working closely with marketing to ensure Creative and VM are fully aligned. Accountable for the communication of VM.
• Manage the VM budget as a budget holder.
• Demonstrate high level of knowledge and experience in the visual merchandising decisions that impact the business.
• Ensure a strong commercial approach to VM with an understanding of density, product adjacencies and customer flow in Shops.
• Responsible for the development of new ideas to improve floor layouts ensuring consistency across all sales channels.
• Leading a team of people, ensuring they are all working towards the company’s strategic VM vision.
• Overall responsibility for ensuring your team produces visual guidelines for shops – to include phase launches, sale packs, accessory guidelines, special projects.
• To manage new store openings / refits onsite to ensure shops open to company standards within allotted time frame.
• Partner with the creative team and support marketing initiatives through the execution of in-store signage, windows and in-store creative elements to build a customer connection.
• Manage, build and maintain a close working relationship with the external VM agency in order to coach them and drive best practice, consistency, skill development and improvement in all sales channels.

Role Requirements:

• Excellent creative vision with ability to elevate brand and customer journey.
• Strong awareness of culture, fashion and international trends.
• Great spacial awareness, must have experience of managing the visual proposition in a variety of retail environments including concessions and/or wholesale.
• Delivers real detail in their work and has a thorough approach.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and strategize for the future.
• Be a forward thinker who is focused and solution oriented.
• Great communicator who is positive and an ambassador for the brand.
• Previous team management experience .

The candidate must:

• Be friendly and approachable
• Demonstrate a ‘Can do’ flexible attitude
• Be Self-motivated