Communications and Interior Design/ Visual Merchandising Manager

Work Area: Graphics and Interior Design
Business Type: Communication
Full Time/Part Time: Full Time
Duration: RegularJob Description:
IKEA has a unique company culture. We have strong values and standards that are special to us - values that create a sense of belonging. We can offer an environment where everyone is part of the team - there are no barriers between management and co-workers and we believe in leadership by example.IKEA is a financially stable global company with a global attitude. We're also a company not afraid to ask "why" and we like to hire people who have that same sense of curiosity. It's how we became successful, and the reason we're enjoying new growth and expansion.To achieve our ambition of expansion, we need a variety of competence and lots of enthusiasm within our organization and the IKEA store located in Tempe, Arizona is preparing for the future through a Communication and Interior Design Manager (trainee)position.This trainee role also provides a unique training and development process to prepare the candidate for a future Communication and Interior Design Manager position with relocation to a majority of US stores a requirement.Your Mission:
Lead the Communication & Interior Design team in creating, establishing, and ensuring an optimal visual level in the store that contributes to realizing commercial objectives, and secures IKEA’s position as the leading home furnishing company in your local market.Goals:
Business Development
? Create a more inspirational and convenient shopping experience for our customers with a focus on home furnishings
??Apply and communicate the IKEA concepts to strengthen the home furnishing experience for the customer and meet the store business goals.
??Remain current and up to date on the development of the store as a media and the individual store media; introduce and implement changes accordingly.
??Understand and analyze the customer experience of the whole store; how the placement and structure of the media in the layout influence the delivery of commercial messages.
??Remain current and up to date on local and national trends and influences in home furnishings, people’s values, lifestyles, living situations, and the competition.
??Remain current and up to date on trends in product display, commercial theme execution, merchandising, visual presentation, and shopping/buying behaviors and selling methods.
Convert business directions, priority commercial messages and the commercial calendar into local strategies and actions:
??Develop, document, and communicate local strategies designed to secure success for the global range priorities and business strategies/goals, and ensure implementation.
??Ensure range presentation solutions support sales objectives and use the IKEA concepts to convert visitors into customers.
??Continuously improve the planning and execution of the store as a media to inspire our customers to make more return visits more often.
??Reinforce the Range Presentation work process and use of best practices.
??Analyze and evaluate the results and feedback from completed projects.Co-worker Development
??Provide feedback and development opportunities for managers, specialists, and co-workers.
??Set clear standards within the Com&In team and the store to secure high quality and consistency in range presentation and home furnishing solutions consistent with the IKEA concept manuals and evaluation documents.
??Recruit, hire, and develop all co-workers as potential successors to provide future leaders, specialists, and Com&In managers.Leadership and Communication
Actively contribute to creating the store business plan, marketing plan, commercial calendar and annual operational plans.
Spearhead the development of the store media to take advantage of business opportunities by visualizing and communicating commercial ideas.
??Partner with Sales and Logistics to ensure successful relationships built on the Communicating & Selling IKEA store core process.
Contribute to an environment where IKEA culture is a strong and living reality that embraces the diversity of co-workers and customers.
REQUIREMENTS
You Have:
Leadership skills:
??Ability to create, plan and to work on strategic, tactical and operational levels
??Strong time management skills, with the ability to plan, prioritize, and organize
??Ability to be objective and consider the whole in order to make informed decisions
??Strong problem analysis and decision making skills
??Ability to review, analyze and share actionable learning with business partners
??Ability to influence teams and individuals and act in a position of leadership
??Proven ability to work through others, set priorities and delegate responsibility
??Ability to clearly communicate ideas, orally and in writing, to a team; take and give feedback and direction
??Ability to recruit, hire and develop high-performing, passionate individuals into an effective team
??Proven ability to coach, motivate and develop managers and specialists
??Self-awareness and the ability and interest to develop yourself accordingly
??Ability to formally present material and information in a training environment
??Ability to form strong business relationships at all levels of the organization
??Ability to use creative problem solving skills in conjunction with IKEA’s core values
Proven yourself to be a dynamic and action-oriented team player that is self-motivated and confident in making independent decisions
??Entrepreneurial-like drive to succeed, embrace challenges and inspire othersExperience:
??Internal: 5 years or more of IKEA experience in Communication & Interior Design, preferably with 3-5 years as a manager or specialist, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design, Visual Merchandising, or Fine/Applied Arts OR at least 7 years directly related experience
??External: 7-10 years experience in Interior Design, Visual Merchandising or an equivalent field/function, with an Undergraduate degree in Interior Design, Visual Merchandising or Fine/Applied Arts OR 10 years of directly related experience
o Prefer fast-paced, retail work environment
o Excellent written and verbal communication skills
o Proficiency with design related software programs
o Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications
o Experience with visual/illustrative methods of communication
o Drafting, space planning, and interior and or architectural designing
o Experience designing effective commercial and residential lighting solutions
o Application of color theory in design solutions
o Prior experience leading several direct reports and or teams
??Domestic and international travel as required (up to 15% of time)Your Business Partners:
??Reports to: Store manager
??Matrix: Com&In managers U.S., Com&In U.S. Senior Specialists
??Supervises: Visual Merchandising Manager, Interior Design Manager, Activities and Graphics Specialists, Carpenters. May supervise Com&In Manager Train