UAEN Regional Communication Manager | Retail | IKEA RSO Jebel Ali

Job Requisition ID: 173897 

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United A”rab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organisation to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate. 

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day.

Overview Of The Role:
This role is responsible for positioning IKEA as a leader in Life at Home across all markets by developing strategies for store design, communication, and visual merchandising. The Regional Communication Manager focuses on protecting IKEA's brand identity and creating impactful visual presentations across all touchpoints. The role demands a deep understanding of consumer behavior, communication systems, and global solutions to effectively adapt to regional needs. Collaboration with Service Office Marketing, Digital teams, and cross-functional partners is crucial to align initiatives with brand priorities and ensure a consistent IKEA identity.

What You Will Do:

Strategic Communication Development

• Develop and steer the integrated communication strategy across all business areas, internal sales support functions, and 360 marketing campaigns.
• Lead the creation of visual communication, graphic design, and multimedia communication assets.

Communication Infrastructure & Content Strategy

• Map and analyse the communication channel landscape and content ecosystem for effective communication.
• Establish and maintain a regional Communication & Digital Publication Content Strategy.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Digital teams in Inter IKEA and INGKA Group.
• Introduce new communication strategies to support implementation of country business plans.

Brand Expression & Customer Touchpoints

• Support all stores and customer touchpoints to secure a strong IKEA Brand identity.
• Ensure communication standards in the region are distinct from competitors.

Concept-Driven Communication & Commercial Support

• Plan and deliver graphic solutions that support commercial priorities.
• Collaborate with several SO functions to define national priorities.

Publications & Production

• Lead brochures, CRM, and publication processes to ensure alignment with IKEA brand guidelines.
• Manage content localization and translation for clear communication across languages.

Content Creation & In-House Studio

• Lead production of high-quality content for various channels including video, social media, and internal platforms.
• Manage scheduling and equipment coordination for efficient content workflows.

Store Communication Coaching & Leadership

• Coach Store Graphic Communication Leaders to enhance the IKEA shopping experience.
• Maintain understanding of customer insights and behaviors to improve store communication.

Competence Development & Best Practice Sharing

• Share best practices to strengthen graphical communication competence.
• Provide training on using global communication tools and guidelines.

Projects & Expansion Support

• Support expansion project phases with graphic design expertise.
• Contribute to strengthening current ways of working through best practices.

Financial Efficiency

• Ensure communication development processes are cost-effective without compromising quality.
• Secure unified country-wide approaches for artwork creation and production efficiency.

Required Skills To Be Successful:

• Comprehensive understanding of the role and responsibilities within Communication & Interior Design.
• Ability to develop communication plans using digital assets.
• Strong leadership and strategic thinking skills.
• Expertise in consumer buying behavior and competitive market analysis.

What Qualifies You For The Role:

• 5+ years of experience in a communications leadership role with a full 360-degree communication approach.
• Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design, Architecture, Communication, or Spatial Design.
• Knowledge of the IKEA Concept and experience incorporating commercial calendars into communications.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite CS6 for both Mac and PC.

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Before you click “apply”: Please read the job description carefully to ensure you can confidently demonstrate why this opportunity is right for you and take the time to put together a well-crafted and personalised CV to further boost your visibility. Our global Talent Acquisition team members are all assigned to specific businesses to ensure that we make the best matches between talent and opportunities. We not only consider the requisite compatibility of skills and behaviours, but also how candidates align with our Values of Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, and Excellence.

As part of our candidate experience promise, we also want to make ourselves available to you throughout the application process. We make every effort to review and respond to every application.