VISUAL DISPLAY MERCHANDISER BUSINESS PARTNER - MIDLANDS
Department: Operations
Employment Type: Fixed Term Contract
Location: Field
Reporting To: LOUISE WILLIAMS
The Visual Display Merchandising Business Partner (VDMBP) plays a critical role in delivering River Islands brand identity through inspiring, commercially driven visual merchandising & 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 departments 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. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions.
What we can offer you:
* Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, 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 to fill you needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the year.
* Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!
* Flexible working is a given, on top of 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 & private pension plan.
* 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!
Keeping You Safe
At River Island we are committed to the safeguarding of all of our employees regardless of age or job role. We will fulfil our obligation under the Prevent duty which seeks to stop extremism and extremist views from materialising in our business. We promote and encourage the belief in British Values- including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.
Our Island is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.
Responsibilities
1. Coaching & Training
o Coach, inspire, and upskill retail store teams to deliver high standards in windows, layouts, and visual merchandising with a clear commercial focus.
o Ensure basic visual merchandising principles are well understood and implemented clearly to drive consistency.
o Act as a partner to Area Managers and store leaders to set clear and agile visual priorities that reflect trading conditions and business focus.
o Build collaborative relationships across Retail to help drive visual capability and overall performance.
2. Visual Merchandising Execution
o Ensure consistent execution of visual standards across stores, adapting layouts to local needs while maintaining brand integrity.
o Champion the use of model stores to set up and share best practice.
o Ensure commercial awareness underpins all visual decision-making to support trading priorities and customer experience.
o Maintain a strong focus on creating a safe working environment in line with H&S standards.
3. Display & Creative (In-store Installations)
o Deliver high-impact displays and window schemes aligned with seasonal direction, campaigns, and customer expectations.
o Implement all in-store visual installations effectively during store openings, refits, launches, and seasonal transitions
o Take a hands-on approach to mannequin position & styling.
o Work alongside the central VM team on visual rollouts as & when required.
4. Store Team Support & Visual Standards
o Provide day-to-day VM support to store teams, ensuring visual expectations are understood and followed.
o Contribute to a culture of quality, pace, and attention to detail in all VM execution.
o Promote safe working practices in line with Health & Safety policies and visual operational standards.
Requirements:
* 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.
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