Regional Leader - Shop Design and VM

AlFuttaim; Dubai; On-site; AED 22,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Al‑Futtaim in Dubai invites applications for a Regional Leader – Shop Design and VM to shape IKEA store design and visual merchandising across the region. Based in Dubai, you will translate the regional calendar, insights, and brand standards into compelling layouts and range presentations.

You will lead and coach design and VM colleagues, collaborate with store teams and stakeholders, and drive store concepts, refurbishments, and seasonal updates that boost customer engagement and commercial

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in shop design, visual merchandising, interior design, or a comparable regional leadership role.
• Experience with IKEA concepts, standards, or operating methods would be highly advantageous.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to interpret global brand concepts and adapt them for regional markets.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional shop design and visual merchandising planning in line with the business calendar and commercial priorities.
• Mobilize Communication and Interior Design teams to deliver consistent home furnishing solutions across regional stores.
• Plan and implement new shop design concepts, range presentation solutions, and visual merchandising initiatives.
• Develop store layouts that improve navigation, product visibility, customer inspiration, and commercial performance.
• Adapt global IKEA design and merchandising solutions to local customer needs and national market conditions.
• Ensure store environments maintain IKEA brand identity while remaining relevant to regional lifestyles and buying behaviour.

Skills

Shop design

Visual merchandising

Interior design

Regional leadership

Store planning

Brand standards

Tools

Design software

Store planning tools

Presentation platforms

Project management systems

Job description

Regional Leader – Shop Design and VM

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Full‑time – 5+ years in shop design, visual merchandising, interior design, or a comparable regional retail role. Salary: AED 22,000–32,000.

Job Details

• Country: United Arab Emirates
• City: Dubai
• Industry: Retail
• Function: Visual‑Display Merchandising
• Gender: Any
• Nationality: Any
• Experience: Minimum 5 years in shop design, visual merchandising, interior design, or a similar regional leadership role

Context

The Regional Leader – Shop Design and VM will provide strategic direction for shop design and visual merchandising activities across IKEA stores in the region. The position is responsible for translating the regional commercial calendar, customer insights, and IKEA brand standards into effective store layouts and range presentation solutions. Working within the Marketing, Communication, and Interior Design team, the role will support store expansion, commercial planning, refurbishments, seasonal updates, and new concept implementation. It will also serve as a regional reference point for visual merchandising competence, helping store teams improve performance, consistency, and customer engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead regional shop design and visual merchandising planning in line with the business calendar and commercial priorities.
• Mobilize Communication and Interior Design teams to deliver consistent home furnishing solutions across regional stores.
• Plan and implement new shop design concepts, range presentation solutions, and visual merchandising initiatives.
• Develop store layouts that improve navigation, product visibility, customer inspiration, and commercial performance.
• Adapt global IKEA design and merchandising solutions to local customer needs and national market conditions.
• Ensure store environments maintain IKEA brand identity while remaining relevant to regional lifestyles and buying behaviour.
• Use customer insights and consumer decision‑making patterns to improve range presentation and store design.
• Strengthen the competitiveness of the IKEA product range through effective visual storytelling and commercial display.
• Guide store teams in presenting products in ways that support customer needs, seasonal demand, and business priorities.
• Coach shop design coworkers, visual merchandisers, and interior designers to improve creativity, execution, and commercial awareness.
• Build visual merchandising capability through structured coaching, mentoring, training materials, and knowledge transfer.
• Support aspiring interior designers and visual merchandisers with development guidance and practical learning opportunities.
• Act as the regional reference for shop design and visual merchandising standards, processes, and best practices.
• Sponsor change initiatives and help store teams understand and adopt new design and merchandising processes.
• Contribute to the regional Marketing, Communication, and Interior Design plan and support shared business objectives.
• Measure performance across assigned areas and use results to improve productivity, consistency, and commercial impact.
• Review store execution and identify opportunities to improve layouts, displays, range presentation, and customer flow.
• Support regional expansion projects through commercial planning, store build‑up, installation, and opening activities.
• Coordinate with project, store, commercial, and operational stakeholders during new store and refurbishment programs.
• Improve existing methods, tools, and working practices related to shop design and visual merchandising.
• Monitor market competition, home furnishing trends, customer expectations, and emerging design practices.
• Balance creative design objectives with commercial priorities, operational requirements, and implementation timelines.
• Ensure design and merchandising solutions support sustainable growth and long‑term store profitability.
• Maintain strong communication with regional leaders, store managers, design teams, and commercial stakeholders.

Ideal Profile

• Minimum 5 years of experience in shop design, visual merchandising, interior design, or a comparable regional retail role.
• Previous experience with IKEA concepts, standards, or operating methods would be highly advantageous.
• Strong understanding of the role and responsibilities of Communication and Interior Design functions.
• Demonstrated passion for interior design, home furnishings, visual merchandising, and customer‑focused retail environments.
• Broad knowledge of project management, creative development, store planning, and implementation processes.
• Strong understanding of customer buying behaviour and retail decision‑making patterns.
• Knowledge of the competitive retail landscape and changing home furnishing trends.
• Ability to interpret global brand concepts and adapt them effectively for regional markets.
• Proven experience coaching interior designers, visual merchandisers, and shop design professionals.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence peers, store teams, and senior stakeholders.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to identify commercial and customer experience opportunities.
• Ability to prioritise competing requirements and maintain a holistic view of regional operations.
• Competence in measuring performance, interpreting KPIs, and improving operational results.
• Strong presentation, communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to lead change and support teams through new processes, store concepts, and working methods.
• Experience supporting store openings, expansions, remodels, or refurbishment projects is preferred.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple regional priorities.
• Familiarity with design software, store planning tools, presentation platforms, and project management systems is beneficial.

Skills Set

• Shop design
• Visual merchandising
• Store layout planning
• Interior design
• Range presentation
• Retail space planning
• Customer journey design
• Consumer behaviour
• Commercial merchandising
• Home furnishings
• IKEA concept implementation
• Regional store support
• Brand standards
• Store expansion
• New store openings
• Commercial planning
• Visual storytelling
• Team coaching
• Talent development
• Knowledge transfer
• Stakeholder management
• Change leadership
• Project management
• KPI measurement
• Performance improvement
• Customer experience
• Competitive analysis
• Design implementation
• Retail strategy
• Cross‑functional collaboration

Why Join Us

This position offers the opportunity to influence IKEA store design and visual merchandising across a diverse regional retail network. The role provides direct involvement in commercial planning, customer experience, store expansion, team capability development, and the adaptation of global retail concepts for local markets. It is a strong career opportunity for an experienced visual merchandising or interior design professional seeking regional responsibility, creative influence, and long‑term development within the Retail sector. Al‑Futtaim is committed to creating a professional and supportive candidate experience throughout the recruitment process. The recruitment team assesses both technical capability and alignment with the organisation’s values of respect, integrity, collaboration, and excellence.

About the Company

Al‑Futtaim Group is a diversified regional organisation headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with operations spanning automotive, financial services, real estate, retail, and healthcare. Through its retail division, Al‑Futtaim manages internationally recognised brands across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Its IKEA business combines global home furnishing expertise with regional customer knowledge to deliver practical, inspiring, and commercially effective retail experiences.