Lead Visual Merchandising Design

Job Title: Lead Visual Merchandising Design

Location: London (Hybrid)

Contract: End of year

Client overview:

• We've chosen to do something incredible. We're totally transforming our business and building our future on smoke-free products with the power to improve the lives of a billion smokers worldwide. With huge change comes huge opportunity. So, wherever you join us, you'll enjoy the freedom to dream up and deliver better, brighter solutions and the space to move your career forward in endlessly different directions.

Background:

• BA/BS and/or MA/MS in visual/graphic design, retail design, and/or relevant design field.
• 6+ years of relevant design experience (corporate/consultancy), with proven success cases in the market.

Purpose of the role:

• Creation of Visual Merchandising design solutions across all consumer journey touchpoints and formats, for Direct and/or Indirect Channels.

Accountability:

• Creative-doing: Drive the creative process hands-on in all phases, from ideation and concept development to refinement and technical development/prototyping, across formats (including expression for restricted markets), on specific projects or activities. This includes the ability to self-generate concept sketches, scenarios & mood boards, concept brainstorming, fast 3D visualization, 3D rendering, and presentation. Collaborate hands-on with external design agencies & freelancers to achieve business needs, participating in creative brainstorming, steering, and down-selecting.
• Creative strategic thinking: Ladder up creative solutions to business & brand strategy, delivering compelling creative solutions that fully answer the brief (channel business needs & strategy/brand expression and storytelling) on all kinds of assigned projects, spanning across: Brand Campaigns / Limited Edition launches / Product launches / Seasonal Campaigns / transient and permanent VM systems / Retail fixtures & concepts.
• Deliver design adaptation - alongside the Head of VM Design - for key locations (both direct & indirect), in close partnership with the Brand and the Omnichannel Brand Retail management team.

Design Methodology:

• Ability to translate CX desired outcome, channel business strategy, and strong consumer-centricity into compelling VM design solutions in retail.
• Ability to lead co-creation creative workshops with multidisciplinary audiences/stakeholders.
• Drive design concept, refinement, and development of the global identity, across formats (including expression for restricted markets), on specific projects or activities. Be part of the creative process both internally and with external design agencies and/or design consultants.
• Design finesse: Creatively push the boundaries of retail with an eye for the latest standards & trends in retail design; be at the forefront of both continuous improvement and more disruptive innovation programs. Knowledgeable about sustainable design and materials.

Key competencies & skills:

• Experienced in managing design projects on-time/on quality/on-strategy/on budget, including managing and/or working alongside external creative agencies and freelancers.
• Experienced in VM concept design across direct and indirect formats (from smallest corners to flagship).
• Knowledgeable of VM design development, and how to design to target (cost/business & brand strategy).
• Knows how to use data to inform the design solutions proposed, as well as their continuous improvement.
• Skilled in industry standard design tools (2D/3D visualizing, Adobe CS, SketchUp), experienced in material research and handling prototyping process.
• Hands-on creative.
• A natural collaborator and problem solver.
• A person who isn't afraid of corporate complexity.
• Ability to present effectively to and influence both peers and more senior stakeholders.