What are we looking for?

Key Responsibilities

• Create and execute the visual merchandising strategy and standards for M&M’s Retail channels globally.
• Partner, coach, and develop store teams to understand corporate visual merchandising standards.
• Create visual merchandising direction for all product categories/departments for each store that are in line with the overall Brand directive and enhance our consumer experience. Create visual merchandising presentations that are compelling, engaging, and executable. 
• Serve as the global Visual representative for M&M’s Retail at all times. Work in collaboration with merchandising and creative partners regarding interpretation of all seasonal visual concepts.
• Leads the creation of in store visual elements with the store teams: signage, graphics, fixtures, and merchandise to bring the company programs to life on the selling floor.

Education

• Required:  Degree in visual merchandising, fashion merchandising, marketing, industrial design, or related field or equivalent business experience.

Experience

• Minimum 7+ years visual merchandising experience in a high paced retail environment, corporate management experience strongly preferred
• Comprehensive understanding of merchandising initiatives, building planograms, zone-o-grams and category sales management
• Experience designing and producing complex visual merchandising displays,  graphics, 2D/3D marketing components specifically for a retail environment
• Advanced computer skills required, including Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite (illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop). Planogramming software, CAD, or rendering skills in Google SketchUp or similar 3D modelling software program is required
• Exposed to current fashion and visual merchandising trends and experienced in interpreting/applying to iconic brands
• Desirable experience in Project Management in complex initiatives and launches, with critical deadlines & budgets or in high pressure environments
• Experience leading a team of direct reports

What will be your additional responsibilities?

• Organize and conduct visual merchandising training sessions for retail.
• Serve as a strong visual team partner with positive, solution based approach to Visual department needs.
• Plan, create, and ensure accuracy of Visual communications content for stores, including monthly stage sets, updates, tiered and layered product assortments for all product categories.
• Implement in-store installations and online product activations according to corporate standards and timelines.
• Develop space plans and plan-o-grams for all merchandise and product categories ensuring the productivity and maximizing sales potential.
• Evaluate and analyze the success of the merchandising plan with regard to sales, implementing changes as needed for all stores.
• Develop and implement floor set turnover process for all stores. Plan and coordinate floor set turnover process to stores/store operations.
• Actively collaborate with store management team to make the best visual decisions for that store while maintaining the corporate visual standards.
• Demonstrate awareness of current M&M’s Brand advertising and marketing campaigns, new product launches, and update store visuals accordingly.
• Communicate visual activity calendar and priorities to the store and online teams.
• Create/Select all graphic and asset requests for the retail channels.
• Collaborate with retail graphic design team to develop creative visual needs for each retail channel.
• Work with merchandising team to gain complete understanding of all product and product initiatives, and ensure full understanding and awareness of all current product and product information to the retail associates.
• Assume all responsibility for communication to store regarding merchandising strategy, plans, and vision.
• Actively seek creative visual excellence through competitive research, industry expertise, and unconventional sources of creative inspiration. Bring forward opportunities for new and cutting-edge VM implementations aligned to and for the M&M’S Brand.
• Utilize applicable reporting and tools to manage inventory levels and evaluate merchandising decisions.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 like-minded and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

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