Manager, Visual Merchandising Programs

Summary

Imagine what you could do here! The people here at Apple don’t just create products — they build the kind of wonder that’s revolutionized entire industries. It’s the diversity of those people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. At Apple, inclusion is a shared responsibility, and we work together to foster a culture where everyone belongs and is inspired to do their best work.

Apple’s worldwide Retail Engagement, Marketing and Merchandising (REMM) team creates and delivers programs, campaigns, initiatives, and experiences that help Apple Retail’s customers and teams discover, buy, and go further with Apple products and services. These efforts increase awareness, drive conversion, and grow affinity for Apple.

The Manager, Visual Merchandising Programs (VMP) leads a highly-skilled team of producers responsible for the development and delivery of all in-store visual elements across product launches and campaigns in our global Retail Stores. The manager acts as a point of expertise, integration, and accountability for Retail brand initiatives including windows, fixtures, signage, product displays, and elements. This role partners closely with teams across Apple and within the Retail organization to align and evolve our global strategies, driving unique customer experiences that amplify our strategic brand and product focuses.

Description

The Manager, Visual Merchandising Programs supports our Retail Merchandising and Marketing strategy through the creation, development, and in-store implementation of visual elements across all stores. The role ensures worldwide feasibility, through a deep understanding of our customer journey, store operations, and unique store requirements.

Develop and coach a passionate and focused WW team. Set goals for workflow, model collaboration across groups, and develop organizational capability. Identify and communicate key priorities and responsibilities to generate drive for results, teamwork and achieving business goals.

Provide direct reports and partners with recognition, feedback and development opportunities, building effective teams. Challenge and empower team members to achieve business and customer objectives. Communicate inspired team vision and purpose.

Understand Retail’s strategy and engage in conceptualization and planning of initiatives to shape their execution.
Lead partnership and create efficiencies with existing processes, improving implementation in stores, as well as cross-functional work streams across Retail and Apple, Inc., including Product Marketing, Industrial Design, Hardware Engineering (REPD), Marcom, Places, REMM, and Store Operations.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team that owns end-to-end process for all in-store visual elements for global Retail stores. Manage the functional brief content, timeline of milestones, creative development, prototyping budgets, and implementation of elements. Communicate strategy and scope on a regular basis to leadership and partner teams.
• Align with Retail Marketing and Merchandising partners on the brief for all in store deliverables, inspire team to produce new and creative initiatives, translate and communicate strategy to partners and vendors to ensure optimal experience in stores
• Manage and drive planning and execution of large, complex, and strategically significant cross-functional store initiatives. Includes all marketing collateral, product displays, and highly visible flagship store programs.
• Oversee budget for projects, workback schedules for complex and ambiguous programs, and manage end-to-end development process through to implementation.
• Work with vendors to forecast element needs, manage BOMs, track lead-times, and drive process improvements. Maintain visual elements forecasts and distribution lists, and align with Finance on the PO process. Conduct quarterly / annual business reviews with key vendors.
• In partnership with design partners and global field teams, build elements set-up guides. Evolve guides based on store feedback and learnings. Manage FAQs and Escalators. Issue comprehensive store communications and participate in alignment meetings. Participate in overnight installations in stores, as well as regular store visits.

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in retail, merchandising, program management or other related fields.
• 3-5 years experience leading teams, either through direct people management or leading large cross-functional initiatives.
• Bachelor's degree (Business, Marketing, or related degrees preferred) or industry equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Identify talent and build effective teams with a focus of people development.
• Ability to collaborate, build rapport, credibility, and influence across multiple teams and stakeholders to align objectives and get results.
• Experience with process development, project management, problem solving & strategic thinking.
• Drive for innovation and experience leading strategic planning and project management initiatives.
• Supply Chain Management, vendor management or creative/product development experience.
• Ability to thrive in an ambiguous, fast-paced environment, with the ability to flex from high-level strategy to fine attention to detail.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills and can communicate effectively with a broad range of collaborators, including senior leadership.