Assistant VM Manager - UKI

Sol de Janeiro; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Hybrid work environment

Diversity & inclusion

Job summary

Sol de Janeiro is seeking a seasoned Visual Merchandising (VM) lead based in our London office. You will steer design across UKI retail environments, ensuring brand consistency with global VM guidelines, and drive new retailer rollouts, permanent counters, and large-scale pop-ups with cross-functional partners.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years in VM/design, a beauty or luxury portfolio, and strong software skills (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop).

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in VM/design roles.
• Portfolio focused on beauty or luxury demonstrating VM design stages.
• Ability to travel within the UK and Ireland for openings & events.

Responsibilities

• Oversee design in all UKI retail environments per global VM guidelines.
• Lead new retailer rollouts, permanent counters and large popups.
• Coordinate planograms, NPD updates and retailer communications.
• Develop training manuals for Field team and agency staff on VM standards.

Skills

Creative design

Coordination

Travel flexibility

Vendor management

Communication

Education

Product/Industrial/Retail design degree

Tools

InDesign

Illustrator

Photoshop

SketchUp

Adobe Creative Suite

Excel

Word

Job description

Launched in 2015, Sol de Janeiro is a globally recognized, award-winning beauty brand, drawing inspiration from Brazil’s beauty rituals, warmth, and spirit. Sol de Janeiro delivers a sensory experience beloved by multi-generational consumers worldwide, with clinically proven results, transformative textures, and transportive fragrances.

Headquartered in New York and launched as a digitally native brand, we have expanded globally with teams in Paris, London, and Germany. Our commitment to excellence has earned high-profile honors, including being named one of TIME1 00’s 2024 Most Influential Companies, Fast Company’s 2024 World's Most Innovative Companies, and WWD Beauty Inc’s Power Brands of 2024, underscoring its leadership in the beauty industry and outstanding workplace. These accolades highlight our dedication to being a leading brand in the beauty industry and an exceptional workplace.

What You’ll Do

The Role will be based in our London office and will report to the International Senior VM Manager who is based in Paris. Primary responsibilities include overseeing design in all physical retail environments, technical & operational execution of all visual merchandising requirements for UKI while ensuring strict adherence to global VM guidelines, brand standards and timelines. This role will lead new retailer rollouts and permanent counters in department stores and specialty multi-channel retailers as well as large-scale pop ups, events. This includes (but not limited to) permanent merchandising: Instore design (creation starting from retailer guidelines) with all VM displays, visuals and consumer-facing communication tools part of it with close collaboration with the UKI designer; planogram updates, NPD updates, pricing updates; temporary merchandising: pop-up and brand activations in key UKI retailers, projects coordination along with UKI designer and INT senior VM manager. Under the supervision of INT Senior VM Manager, this individual will collaborate closely with the regional and global VM teams to ensure brand consistency and excellence in execution across all VM touchpoints. Additionally, on a project basis, they will partner with cross-functional partners within the UKI sales and marketing teams to ensure all VM executions are aligned to the UKI business objectives and priorities. This individual must have an entrepreneurial spirit, strong VM design sensibilities and excellent time management skills to thrive and make an impact in a dynamic, fast paced environment of a rapidly growing and a category-disrupting brand.

What You’ll Be Working On

VM, Pop-ups & Events

• Ensure consistent brand executions that adhere to Global guidelines and brand standards across all Sol de Janeiro retail environments
• Coordinate, review & approve detailed designs of all VM activations (permanent & temporary) with INT Senior VM Manager and UKI Designer.
• Own the update of all planograms in each retailer for all NPD launches & sharing these with retailers and field partners in a timely manner
• Oversee and support the development of any local unit, POS for NPD and small to medium VM activations/events
• Manage suppliers through a clear briefing process using design skills for all assigned projects, managing timelines & budgets to launch projects on time
• Coordinate all relevant timelines to retailers, sales, and marketing teams regarding key timelines in order to get speedy approval on all deliverables
• VM spending/budget ownership: tracking all VM spending and making sure to keep on track with given AOP, for both CAPEX and OPEX.
• Responsible for regular store visits with a focus on Flagship and top doors in partnership with the Sales & Education/Field team. Act on feedback in a timely manner to rectify all issues in the field
• Develop a reporting and maintenance process for our newly developed Field team for any issues within the field. Champion housekeeping and maintenance in store
• With support of the INTL Senior VM Manager, develop training manuals for our Field team as well as agency staff on VM best in class. Enforce highVisual Merchandising standards at all times

New Store Opening/Renovations

• Create planogram/product layout for new store designs in partnership with the Sales Team, using consumer and retailer insights as well as VM knowledge to inform our planograms and make suggestions for better shopper navigation
• Work with supplier to create new store opening collateral orders to ensure we have all the correct artwork and glorifiers ready to print
• VM dressing at point of launch, or guidelines to support
• Ensure our stores reflect the global and local VM strategy by adhering to the VM guidelines

Must Haves

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience
• Creative and good sense of design
• Relevant Product, Industrial, Interior or Retail design degree
• Software - competent with InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Adobe Creative Suite. Sketch up experience
• Understanding of print process for all in store 2D graphics
• Portfolio focused on beauty or luxury demonstrating all VM design stages
• Office 365 - Excel and Word capabilities required
• Coordination skills and ability to manage multiple projects concurrently
• Ability to come up with ideas and VM designs and bring them to life
• Focus on elevating self-navigation and in store consumer experience in all store environments, with guidance
• Experience managing vendor relationships
• Materials, manufacturing, and installation execution knowledge
• Experience in Boots/Sephora/Department Stores
• Ability to travel within the UK and Ireland for new store openings & events
• Must be comfortable working a 3-day hybrid office schedule
• Proven ability to manage multiple deadlines with a high level of detail and autonomy
• Clear communication skills and the ability to receive and integrate constructive feedback
• Strong collaborative mindset and ability to work with cross-functional teams, while maintaining creative consistency

• Competitive salary and bonus program for full-time team members
• Flexible hybrid work environment with opportunities for collaboration and growth
• Inclusive culture that values diverse perspectives and celebrates individuality
• The chance to be part of a fast-growing, award-winning global beauty brand

The information contained herein is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee, as these may change or new ones may be assigned at any time.

Sol de Janeiro is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

Requests for accommodation due to a disability or any other protected characteristic can be made at any stage of the recruitment process and during employment by contacting our People Experience Team at [e-mail].