Head of Visual Merchandising

at  Rapha

Rapha, the world’s most beautiful cycling apparel brand, is on the lookout for a best-in-class visual merchandising leader to head up the creative execution and visual standards across our growing global network of 22 Clubhouses.
The ideal candidate will be a natural leader, creative, and collaborator, with experience driving and developing small, high performing teams. Sharp skills in project management for builds and installs is critical to success in the role.
As owner of the annual Visual Merchandising calendar, you will directly manage a head office operational report to co-ordinate delivering it, while influencing and guiding those out in the retail field in the art of visual merchandising. New store openings will form part of your annual planning, as you work with contractors, architects, local project managers and on-the-ground teams to deliver the design vision.
With innate organisational and planning skills, you will tightly maintain strategic alignment and partnerships cross-departmentally to understand and contribute to the business’ goals and customer targets. You will work with your team and Clubhouse leads to solve needs and maximise sales through best-in-class visual displays methods, ensuring Rapha is seen as the very best in the cycling category and beyond.
This role will be based at our London HQ with travel to our global clubhouses.

DESIRED SKILLS:

• Creative vision and the tenacity / attitude to execute and deliver
• A passionate sports lover (ideally a cyclist)
• A minimum of 5 years experience in Visual Merchandising at a mid to senior level in either contemporary or luxury retail and/ or sportswear
• Manager level capabilities
• Strong and/or developing relationships with a network of suppliers, tradespeople and freelance visual merchandisers to help deliver your vision
• Experience with sequential window installations or changeovers on a global stores portfolio
• Keen knowledge of retail best-practises, trends and customer behaviours
• Ability to showcase concepts and ideas in a formal presentation is essential - using CAD, Indesign, Sketchup or similar tools to render them
• Exceptional personal and communication skills
• Ability to manage and interact with all levels of the organisation
• Store planning and zoning experience preferred
• Tight budget management skills
• Willingness to travel frequently to cascade guidelines and maintain standard levels across the Clubhouse network

1: Creative window concepts and installations: leading the coordination of Clubhouse managers, manufacturers, fabricators, electricians and joiners towards installation and launch dates
2: Owning the annual visual merchandising calendar, including new store opening dates and deadlines.
3: Daily communication and partnership with the retail and Clubhouse teams - issuing guidance, feedback and championing polish and excellence across our stores.
4: Campaign-led Visual Merchandising planning and execution in key Clubhouses / markets.
5: Overseeing and sometimes implementing VM best-practises such as zoning and product refreshes / rotations.
6: The creation of Rapha VM Guidelines for use across owned stores and wholesale partners.
7: Tight partnership and planning across key marketing activations and launches
8: Working with our wholesale teams to coordinate and concept partner pop-ups and shop-in-shops.
9: Overseeing store maintenance and advocate for improved polish / tidiness