VISUAL DISPLAY MERCHANDISER BUSINESS PARTNER - MIDLANDS
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Description
The Visual Display Merchandising Business Partner (VDMBP) plays a critical role in delivering River Island's brand identity through inspiring, commercially driven visual merchandising and great looking windows. The role focuses on coaching and training store teams, ensuring consistent visual standards, and enhancing team capability across the estate. Working closely with Area Managers and store leadership, the VDMBP ensures store‑level priorities align with wider brand and business objectives. Support the VM Lead in delivering the department's operating plan and strategic visual goals, ensuring alignment with brand direction.
About Us
We’re a much-loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. This role is based at our Head Office in West London.
What we can offer you
* Generous 50% staff discount and a bargain staff shop on site
* Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through Reward Gateway
* A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café, various social events
* Support for all family setups, maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment; support through the Retail Trust
* Flexible working, including payday and summer early finish Fridays
* Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding
* Support with upskilling through on‑the‑job training and qualifications; a succession plan if you want to progress
* A generous bonus scheme and private pension plan
* 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays, with option to purchase additional holiday twice a year
Keeping You Safe
At River Island we are committed to the safeguarding of all of our employees regardless of age or job role. We fulfil our obligation under the Prevent duty. We promote British Values, equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all backgrounds. We consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.
Responsibilities
* Coach, inspire, and upskill retail store teams to deliver high standards in windows, layouts, and visual merchandising with a clear commercial focus.
* Ensure basic visual merchandising principles are well understood and implemented consistently.
* Act as a partner to Area Managers and store leaders to set clear and agile visual priorities that reflect trading conditions and business focus.
* Build collaborative relationships across Retail to help drive visual capability and overall performance.
* Ensure consistent execution of visual standards across stores, adapting layouts to local needs while maintaining brand integrity.
* Champion the use of model stores to set up and share best practice.
* Maintain commercial awareness underpins all visual decision‑making to support trading priorities and customer experience.
* Maintain a strong focus on creating a safe working environment in line with H&S standards.
* Deliver high‑impact displays and window schemes aligned with seasonal direction, campaigns, and customer expectations.
* Implement all in‑store visual installations effectively during store openings, refits, launches and seasonal transitions.
* Take a hands‑on approach to mannequin position & styling.
* Work alongside the central VM team on visual rollouts as & when required.
* Provide day‑to‑day VM support to store teams, ensuring visual expectations are understood and followed.
* Promote safe working practices in line with Health & Safety policies and visual operational standards.
* Strong communication, influencing, and relationship‑building skills across all levels of retail & Head office leadership.
* Excellent coaching and mentoring abilities with a focus on capability building.
* Commercial awareness with the ability to link visual execution to trading outcomes.
* Agile thinker with strong prioritisation and problem‑solving skills.
* Team player with a proactive, hands‑on approach and a solution‑oriented mindset.
* Comfortable delivering visual execution under tight deadlines during peak trading periods and store events.
* Commitment to promoting a safe and compliant working environment aligned with company H&S practices.
Seniority level
* Entry level
Employment type
* Contract
Job function
* Marketing and Sales
* Retail Industry
Location
Field
Posted
1 week ago
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