Global Visual Merchandising and Brand Environment Lead | London

For over 35 years, Aesop has carefully cultivated an inspiring and inclusive environment in which our employees are supported and encouraged to thrive. As a global retail organisation, we offer professional development and advancement opportunities to complement career goals and aspirations.

Our approach to skin care involves meticulous attention to detail, using only the most efficacious ingredients to create formulations which stir the self and senses. The same meticulous approach is taken during our recruitment process, seeking out considered and inspired individuals with a wealth of perspectives who bring out the best in themselves and others.

We aim to strike the right balance between people, planet and profit, actively reducing our footprint on the planet that generously sustains us. So far, this journey has led us to become a certified B Corp. We are committed to building a more sustainable and inclusive society.

Role purpose

The Aesop Visual Merchandising and Brand Environment team design distinct retail and brand spaces, from storefronts to PR activations and wherever the name Aesop appears. This role leads this team.

It is vital for the preservation of Aesop’s brand image that what customers and colleagues experience in-store, offices and during events, is exceptional. This role aims to make all physical customer touchpoints consistently captivating, by setting a global standard of visual excellence, creating specialised training and onboarding for regional VM teams, and renewing Aesop’s general merchandising guidelines.

The role reports directly into the Creative Director and will co-ordinate and execute visual coherence across the brand through a 360-degree approach, by providing considered strategies for general visual merchandising and styling standards, ensuring all retail touchpoints follow a consistent aesthetic code and supporting the business vision through creativity that is clear, culturally sensitive, sustainable, delivered on time, and can be precisely executed across all regions.

In addition, the role involves building a strong relationship with the Store Design team to ensure VM is visually coherent and serviceable for NPD, spatial wayfinding, and new store expansion.

This is a full-time position, sitting within the Global Creative team based in London, operating with a hybrid working pattern.

Role responsibilities include, but are not limited to –

Manage and nurture a team of Global designers, while liaising with Regional VM and Heads of Marketing to ensure that all VM activations are aesthetically, sustainably, and culturally delivered, and representative of Aesop’s meticulous codes
Foster a positive working environment that allows the Visual Merchandising and Brand Environment team to flourish and grow in their expertise and as creative professionals
Work collaboratively with CD, AD Lead, and Copy Lead to ensure all disciplines are harmonised to deliver Aesop’s messages in one vision and one voice
Clearly communicate project timelines, budgets, and progress with fellow creative leads, project managers and our marketing colleagues globally
Alongside CD, be a bridge to Store Design and Retail teams to ensure that general-merchandising considerations, for NPD and visual wayfinding are considered in store construction and training.
Renew and set clear VM styling guidelines to be executed at all global store installations, openings, events
Alongside CD and VM colleagues create a renewed General-Merchandising training and onboarding programme that supports new and current VM members implement consistently
Communicate closely with Regional VM heads and Heads of Marketing and collate constructive feedback and recommendations to share with global VM team and vice versa. Support and integrate Global VM designers in these communications to ensure they are engaged with their creative colleagues and have clear accountability within their respective projects
Conduct regional market visits to review progress, issues, new business and brand opportunities and participate in on-site top priority installations and ‘special projects’
Design PR and Brand events in collaboration with the Creative and PR Teams globally
Develop and endorse Aesop’s culture and values.

What we are looking for

Open mindset and deep curiosity seeking to understand others, listen without judgement and act on diverse perspectives
Commitment to fostering an inclusive and psychologically safe work environment
Extensive, demonstrable experience within VM, architecture or relevant fields
Interior Architecture degree or similar
A strong operational background in Visual Merchandising
Experience managing cross-regional Visual Merchandising teams
Excellent organisational and project management skills. Proven ability to deliver projects on time, within budget
An excellent communicator with great diplomacy and an ability to nurture and build collegial relationships within Aesop and beyond
Strong conceptual thinking and design methodology to support designers who can drive three dimensional activations
Experience co-ordinating and managing external fabricators
A meticulous level of detail, in all endeavours. A drive for perfection with a willingness to explore
An ability to build good rapport with key cross functional teams
Exceptional visual, written and verbal communication.

What’s on offer

We take a holistic approach to employment, promoting professional development, career growth, employee wellbeing initiatives and encouraging deep connections with the local community through the Aesop Foundation, volunteering and matched giving programs. Employee benefits include -

Flexible, hybrid working pattern
Generous product discount allowance and bi-annual complimentary product allocation
Paid volunteering allowance for all employees
Bonus opportunity based on personal, and business, performance
Suite of options to aid development, including complimentary access to LinkedIn Learning, in-house Product and Core skills training and study support opportunities
Access to employee assistance programmes, complimentary subscription to Headspace mindfulness app and summer hours options.

Aesop is committed to attracting, developing and retaining the very best people by offering a creative and inclusive workplace where talent is truly recognised and rewarded. We are committed to promoting inclusion for all with the belief that diversity, inclusion and belonging plays an important role in the success of our organisation. We actively encourage everyone to consider becoming a part of our journey.

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Global Visual Merchandising and Brand Environment Lead