No two days are the same at Al-Futtaim, no matter what role you have. Our work is driven by the desire to make a difference and to have a meaningful impact with the goal of enriching everyday lives. Take our engaging and supportive work environment and couple it with a company culture that recognises and rewards quality performance, and what do you get? The chance to push the limits every single day.

As a humble family business that started on the banks of the Dubai Creek in the 1930s, Al-Futtaim has expanded to a presence in 31 countries, a portfolio of over 200 companies, and 42,000 employees. You'll find us in industries ranging from automotive and retail, to finance and real estate, and connecting people with international names like Lexus, Ikea, Robinsons, and Adidas. Our team is proudly multicultural and multinational because that kind of diverse representation gives us the global mindset to grow and impact the people, markets, and trends around us.

Come join us to live well, work better, and be the best.

Job Purpose:

To contribute to positioning the IKEA store as the “Leader in life at home” in our market in order to maximise sales and long-term profitability. I do this by securing the effective implementation of global solutions using my knowledge of people's life at home and consumer buying behaviour in my market and using my Visual Merchandiser skills to adapt these to meet our national needs. I am responsible for ensuring we communicate and visualise the uniqueness of the IKEA Brand, inside and outside the IKEA store to strengthen the IKEA brand and distance us from the competition by: communicating the IKEA Concept, our Swedish roots and unique services enabling the IKEA mechanical sales system, which is a prerequisite to fulfill the IKEA Business idea/promise of the store and for customers to buy supporting sales steering to commercial priorities.

To work with the Service Office (SO) Communication & Interior Design (Com&In) colleagues and other functions to secure the alignment of our stores with global and national priorities within the assigned areas of responsibility. To lead and inspire the store Visual Merchandiser/ Activity Leaders to develop and implement store solutions that secures one IKEA identity through a consistent range presentation.

Description of the Accountability

REGIONAL SUPPORT

• Actively support the country Com&In manager in implementing the country business plan and the country Com&In plan to support the optimisation of sales and our long-term growth by:

• Support the stores to ensure the uniqueness of the IKEA Brand identity in range presentation and store communication in order to distance us from the competition. Taking ownership for how we are working with our Commercial Calendar and Store activities.

• Using store Activities themes to strength the connection between life at home, the needs of people living in our market and the solutions we show in all store media.

• Using knowledge of the IKEA Concept, strategic messages and the IKEA Swedish identity to plan, create and implement store solutions that support the commercial priorities and facilitate the mechanical sales system.

• Working with SO Com&In colleagues, Sales leaders, In-store Logistics and other SO functions to agree and focus on our national priorities. Together developing solutions that present and communicate the IKEA product range in a way that reflects its width and depth and strengthens our low-price profile on all levels.

• To working closely with the Com&In country graphic communication leader, country marketing department colleagues and other SO colleagues to ensure the country commercial calendar messages are implemented in a clear, consistent and inspiring way, supporting commercial priorities and reflecting seasonality.

• To work with the SO commercial team and store Com&In managers to ensure they have a deeper knowledge and understanding of how the effective application of the store layout as a commercial tool, range presentation and store communication give us a competitive advantage.

• Working with SO Com&In colleagues and the commercial team to plan and implement new stores and rebuilds to secure that the IKEA Concept reflects our local market needs.

• Work with marketing supporting and planning external activities, events and exhibitions to secure one IKEA visual identity

STORE SUPPORT

• Work with the store Visual Merchandiser/ Activity leaders to develop and implement store Activities solutions to meet and exceed visitor's expectations on the IKEA shopping and buying experience, strengthen the uniqueness of the IKEA product range, visual identity and tone of voice.

• Demonstrate a deep knowledge and understanding of people's needs and wants, their living situations and living conditions and consumer buying behaviour in my national market and I am inquisitive to find out more.

• To use Visual Merchandise skills and this knowledge to provide relevant store solutions to secure one IKEA identity.

• Analyse the IKEA Customer Satisfaction survey, IKEA Brand Capital and other visitor feedback and use these insights to work with the store Com&In teams to improve the experience of our visitors and convert them into satisfied customers.

• Work with the SO Com&In colleagues and other SO functions to provide the store Visual Merchandiser/ Activity leaders with specific, relevant support which enables the stores and other IKEA units

• Working with the country visual merchandise leader, country graphic communication leader and the country interior design leader to ensure consistency in how we work with range presentation and graphic communication throughout our stores.

• Supporting the stores to ensure the implementation of store Activities using the layout to create optimal visual impact, a good overview and support our commercial priorities.

• Working with my SO Com&In colleagues to ensure that all we communicate to the stores is consistent, understandable and cost-effective for them to implement.

• Work to key performance indicators (KPIs) Evaluate the return on investment (quantitative and qualitative) of any Activity initiatives to ensure value for money and the achievement of our stated objectives. Ensure all Activities initiatives grow our business and support sustained long-term profitability.

COACHING

• Sharing good ideas and coaching our store Visual Merchandiser/ Activity leaders to improve their competence.

• Support and coach the store Visual Merchandiser/ Activity leaders to secure range presentation and quality perception, products are placed correctly, consistent and understandable home furnishing message, with the customer in focus.

• Ability to coach and educate SO Com&In colleagues, other functions and our store Visual Merchandiser/ Activity leaders on how to work with manuals, global directions and tools within my area of responsibility.

PROJECTS

• Support with the regional expansion plans whenever necessary including commercial planning, build up and opening phases.
• Supporting with new ways of working and business practices.

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