Our International business has the exciting job of bringing our famous clothing, food and home products to over 32 million customers worldwide. Collaborating with our partner businesses, different countries and cultures, you'll work with colleagues around the world to help us reshape International as we know it.

Our ambition is to more than double International retail sales online, so there's never been a better time to join the department and make your mark as we continue to build inclusive and diverse relationships, and put the business and our colleagues at the forefront of every decision we make!

Job purpose

Responsible for creating an inspiring store experience across Christmas and key seasonal events / gifting. Delivering to the customer mission and providing inspiration by bringing together multiple BU’s, to a set of clear principles to deliver a consistent approach. Enabling a clear handwriting balanced by the creative and the commercial, delivering both confidence and relevance in how we present our brand.

Responsibilities

• Working with the Instore VM Manager, to provide a clear plan of delivery across all key pillars of VM – layout & flow, product handling, use of kit and visual display
• Responsible for working to the development and delivery of the VM strategy, enabling clear XBU focus and seasonal story telling through creative and commercial execution
• Work hands on, to the defined VM Journey principles, reviewing and evolving accordingly, whilst maintaining strength of delivery and efficiency of task
• Delivers a clear and focused approach to single and multiple categories across BUs, alongside a clear approach to seasonal amplification and campaign alignment
• Produces events planning documents to inform Customer Experience deck and supplies content to the VM Communications team for the creation of store guidance
• Supports the delivery of seasonal POS briefing templates with the Instore Marketing team
• Works with the VM Operations function to ensure clarity of kit requirements and scaled approach (graded)
• Works across multiple BU’s to understand the full product offer and flag concerns to delivery to principles
• Works with space to confirm seasonal layouts / flows for all product ranges
• Is pro active in approach and builds relationships across both the wider Store Experience and Marketing teams
• Always champions our customer, by relating everything back to the customer and how it engages / inspires / enables ease of shop.
• Be the instore expert within the team, showcasing problem solving product handling capabilities and a strong awareness of kit usage
• Ensure awareness of key market trends and competitor analysis

Skills & experience

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience as Assistant VM Manager
• Multiple BU experience (clothing or non clothing)
• Great practical Visual Merchandising – hands on approach
• Good level of creativity and ability to use initiative
• Good communication skills – written and verbal
• Influencing skills and a positive approach to challenge
• Key stakeholder management
• Commercially aware

This is an excellent opportunity to join us at an exciting time of change and transformation! In exchange for your experience, we will reward you with a competitive salary and market leading benefits package.

Please note - This is a 12 month fixed term contract

Interested? Apply here!

Marks & Spencer aims to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make an immediate impact. We are committed to an active Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunities Policy, which starts with our recruitment and selection process. Applicants with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation either by phone on 0345 300 3725 or by email recruitment.online@marksandspencer.com, so we can make alternative arrangements for you.