Global Junior Visual Merchandising Manager

Founded in Japan in 1887, Kao is passionate about making a difference in people's lives with our high quality products and services to create a Kirei Life for all - a beautiful life that respects the needs of our consumers and customers as well as the planet. We never compromise on quality and craft our products with care for the consumer and the environment.

As a company driven by purpose and strong corporate values we pride ourselves to be listed among the World's Most Ethical Companies since 19 consecutive years. Our corporate philosophy, the Kao Way, guides us in everything we do - acting with integrity, courageously driving innovation and treating each other with trust and respect.

The role

Play a key role in supporting our Visual Merchandising Managers to bring product and campaign launches to life across global stand-alone stores and partner environments. You'll help shape and communicate best-in-class VM practices—from planograms to props—ensuring consistency, compliance, and creativity that elevate the customer journey, boost retail performance, and reinforce our brand purpose at every touchpoint

What you will do

• Visual Merchandising Strategy & Development
• Support the development of visual merchandising strategies for new product launches (NPD), driving profitable growth of core categories and addressing underperforming areas.
• Collaborate closely with Marketing, Retail, and Customer Experience teams to ensure aligned and effective communication and implementation of VM tactics.

• Campaign Execution

• Develop strategies for and deliver VM tools (e.g., VM Guides, planograms, props, graphics) in support of the global marketing campaign calendar.
• Lead the execution of all sale campaigns to ensure commercial and creative success across global stand-alone stores.

• International Store Support

• Work alongside International teams to adapt and communicate VM tools for new market entries and the ongoing maintenance of international stand-alone stores.

• Evergreen Visual Merchandising

• Review, improve, and maintain evergreen VM tools to ensure they effectively communicate the brand purpose in-store.
• Own and manage ongoing assets such as props, planograms, and window displays.

• Store Design & Customer Journey

• Partner with the Store Design team to support the development of the in-store customer journey, focusing on service messaging, product visibility, and storytelling.
• Contribute to store refit programs and new store openings globally.

• Team & Budget Management

• Support, coach, and develop the VM team to build skills and improve execution.
• Manage the global VM budget for stand-alone stores, including raising purchase orders and maintaining cost tracking.

• Asset & Operational Ownership

• Own and maintain key operational tools including the central VM hub, store records, in-store equipment, and music systems.
• Provide support for key seasonal or branded events (e.g., International Women’s Day).

• Store Communication & Feedback

• Conduct regular store visits to strengthen communication between head office and retail teams.
• Gather and act on feedback from internal teams and external customers to improve execution and experience.
• Provide constructive feedback to partners to develop their VM capabilities.

• Research & Competitor Insights

• Proactively research competitor activity and share relevant insights to inform strategy and ensure competitive positioning.

What you will need

• Minimum 3 years' experience in a brand-led luxury retail environment
• Experience in beauty, cosmetics, fragrance, or lifestyle sectors is a plus
• Proven background in Visual Merchandising within a retail setting
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite
• Experience using planogram software
• Willingness to travel within the UK