Head of Retail Visual Merchandising

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Staff discounts

Hybrid work model

Professional development opportunities

Travel opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a visionary Head of Retail Visual Merchandising in Cape Town to define and execute the visual strategy across stores and online touchpoints. You will lead a team of VM professionals, ensuring premium brand aesthetics and a compelling customer experience.

The role requires creative flair, strategic thinking, and deep retail trend knowledge, with a portfolio showcasing impactful campaigns and strong leadership capabilities. Hybrid work model preferred in Cape Town.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in visual merchandising with leadership experience.
• Strong portfolio of visual merchandising projects and campaigns.
• Ability to develop and execute creative and effective visual merchandising strategies.
• Experience budgeting and managing external suppliers.
• Proficiency in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive visual merchandising strategy aligned with brand identity, marketing campaigns, and sales objectives.
• Oversee the design, creation, and execution of in-store displays, window presentations, and POS materials.
• Collaborate with buying and marketing to translate assortments into visual narratives.
• Manage the visual merchandising budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire the visual merchandising team with creative direction.
• Conduct regular store visits and audits to maintain brand standards.
• Develop visual merchandising guidelines and training materials for staff.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and technologies in visual merchandising and retail design.
• Work with e-commerce to ensure cohesive brand presentation online.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Presentation

Budget management

Education

Design degree

Fine Arts

Tools

Photoshop

Illustrator

InDesign

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading fashion retailer renowned for its innovative store concepts and captivating product displays, is seeking a visionary Head of Retail Visual Merchandising. This pivotal role, based in the vibrant city of Cape Town, Western Cape, ZA , will be responsible for defining and executing the visual merchandising strategy across all physical and online touchpoints. You will lead a talented team of visual merchandisers and designers, ensuring that every store and digital platform reflects the brand's premium aesthetic and enhances the customer shopping experience. This position requires a blend of creative flair, strategic thinking, and a keen understanding of retail trends and consumer behaviour. The ideal candidate will possess a strong portfolio showcasing impactful visual merchandising campaigns and a proven ability to drive brand engagement and sales through creative presentation.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive visual merchandising strategy aligned with brand identity, marketing campaigns, and sales objectives.
• Oversee the design, creation, and execution of in-store displays, window presentations, and point-of-sale materials.
• Collaborate with buying and marketing teams to translate product assortments and promotional plans into compelling visual narratives.
• Manage the visual merchandising budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and maximum impact.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire the visual merchandising team, providing creative direction and professional development opportunities.
• Conduct regular store visits and audits to ensure brand standards are consistently met and to identify areas for improvement.
• Develop and maintain visual merchandising guidelines and training materials for store staff.
• Stay abreast of the latest industry trends, competitor activities, and emerging technologies in visual merchandising and retail design.
• Work closely with the e-commerce team to ensure a cohesive brand presentation across online channels.

Requirements

• Extensive experience (7+ years) in visual merchandising, with a significant portion in a leadership role within the retail sector, preferably fashion.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating successful visual merchandising projects and campaigns.
• Proven ability to develop and execute creative and effective visual merchandising strategies.
• Exceptional understanding of design principles, colour theory, space planning, and typography.
• Strong leadership, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience in managing budgets and external suppliers.
• Proficiency in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) is an advantage.
• Degree in Design, Fine Arts, Marketing, or a related field is preferred.
• A keen eye for detail and a passion for creating visually stunning retail environments in Cape Town, Western Cape, ZA.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package including medical aid and retirement contributions.
• Employees are eligible for generous staff discounts on our client's extensive product range.
• This role offers a hybrid work model, providing a balance between in-office collaboration and the flexibility of remote work.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development, including workshops and industry events, are readily available.
• You will be part of a creative and passionate team within a renowned retail brand.
• Occasional travel within the region may be required.
• The chance to leave your creative mark on a beloved brand in the beautiful setting of Cape Town, Western Cape, ZA is unparalleled.