At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the in-store experience strategy for Fashion, Home & Beauty, ensuring visual excellence.
- Company: Dynamic retail brand focused on innovation and customer experience.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and a chance to shape retail strategies.
- Other info: Field-based role with travel; excellent career growth and collaboration with senior leaders.
- Why this job: Be a key player in transforming retail spaces and enhancing customer journeys.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in Visual Merchandising at a senior level with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
The Head of Field VM is accountable for driving the instore experience strategy across Fashion Home & Beauty, encompassing the pillars of layout, product handling, kit usage and styling. Manages a clear end to process from engagement, through to training and implementation, in order to deliver a defined standard of visual excellence across our stores, which delivers to the business strategies to enable commercial growth through our UK retail spaces.
Leads through expertise of the fashion retailing sector, with a detailed lens on the evolving landscape of competitors, globally. Leads through decisive and commercial strategic planning, and provides the Field VM team with clear prioritisation and structured ways of working. Takes the central guidance and implements with an expert understanding of space, layout and market opportunity, measuring commercial impact of decision making practical implementation to inform the ongoing evolution of our stores.
Working across the UK, the Head of Field VM is an ambassador to delivering the marketing and product strategies and ensuring buy-in, to deliver the customer journey which both inspires and delivers ease of shop. This is a field based role, with travel and on site working expected as part of the remit.
Manages the plan to deliver the Model Store strategy by division which delivers in seasonal best practice and enables a format for delivering training to all VM colleagues. Leads all new store/renewal planning, including managing resource requirements. Manages the flow of trade actions both from retail and into retail (via the support centre). Proposes updates to guidance in season to maximise commercial gain.
Manages the day to day ways of working with the Field VM Team, leading by example in terms of effective movements with a cost conscious lens. Confirms the tools required to deliver the Store Experience strategy across the varied store formats and concepts - i.e kit, new formats of POS, additional information. Is the primary contact for senior leadership within Retail and works in collaboration with support centre team, to engage and knowledge share at a senior retail level (Regional Managers, Store Directors).
Manages relationships with key stakeholders and ensures the correct level of information is provided - Inform/ consult/ engage/ collaborate. Champions an open dialogue with Retail to obtain feedback on strategy, as well as initiating regular instore review enabling informed feedback/PIR, to obtain key learnings and inform the way forward. Champions a customer point of view and relates everything back to our customer, using relevant customer insight, commercial/industry data/KPIs to inform decision making and measure success.
Supports strategic opportunities, inclusive of our Omni proposition, to aid business transformation, and encourages innovative thinking across team. Drives company values and behaviours across immediate and wider team, through effective leadership. Accountable for enabling an informed, engaged, and effective team who are experts in their roles.
Proven experience working in VM in FH&B at senior manager level with proven leadership capability. Strategy management with proven commercial success in driving KPIs. Shows resilience and persistence through periods of change and challenge. Excellent technical Visual Merchandising and coaching capability. Excellent communication and key stakeholder management. Confident understanding/articulation of the brand identity.
Head of Field VM in London employer: Marks and Spencer plc (UK)
As the Head of Field VM, you will join a dynamic and innovative team dedicated to enhancing the in-store experience across Fashion, Home, and Beauty sectors. Our company fosters a collaborative work culture that prioritises employee growth through continuous training and development opportunities, ensuring you can thrive in your role while contributing to our commercial success. With a focus on strategic planning and customer engagement, this field-based position offers the unique advantage of working closely with senior leadership and key stakeholders, allowing you to make a significant impact in our UK retail spaces.
Contact Details:
Marks and Spencer plc (UK) Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Field VM in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the fashion retail sector and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Get your hands dirty with some field experience! If you can, volunteer or take on short-term projects that allow you to showcase your skills in visual merchandising. This will not only boost your CV but also give you real-world examples to discuss in interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company’s current strategies and challenges. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re someone who understands their vision and can contribute to their goals right from day one.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Field VM in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Head of Field VM role. Highlight your expertise in visual merchandising, strategic planning, and team leadership to show us you’re the perfect fit!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about the fashion retailing sector and how your experience can drive our instore experience strategy. Be genuine and let your personality come through!
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your impact on KPIs and commercial success. We love numbers, so if you can quantify your successes, do it!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us during the process!
How to prepare for a job interview at Marks and Spencer plc (UK)
✨Know Your Visual Merchandising Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends and techniques in visual merchandising, especially within the Fashion, Home, and Beauty sectors. Be prepared to discuss how you've successfully implemented strategies in previous roles and how they can translate to the company's needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of Field VM, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and inspire a team. Prepare examples of how you've managed teams effectively, prioritised tasks, and driven commercial success through strategic planning. Highlight your coaching capabilities and how you've developed others in their roles.
✨Understand the Customer Journey
Be ready to talk about how you’ve used customer insights and KPIs to inform your decisions in visual merchandising. Discuss specific instances where you've enhanced the customer experience and how that aligns with the company's goals for inspiring and facilitating shopping.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement
Since this role involves working closely with senior leadership and various stakeholders, think about how you can effectively communicate and collaborate. Prepare to share your experiences in managing relationships and how you’ve successfully engaged with different teams to drive results.
