Visual Merchandising Manager | Retail | Al Futtaim Watches & Jewelry | UAE

Job Requisition ID: 178510 

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 Arab 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 organization 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

• The Visual Merchandising Manager is responsible for leading and elevating the visual merchandising and retail experience strategy across Al Futtaim Watches & Jewellery. This role is central in creating premium, commercially impactful and brand-right customer environments across all touchpoints. Working in partnership with brand principals, Brand Managers, Retail Operations, E-commerce, and Marketing teams, the manager ensures aligned storytelling and a seamless omnichannel brand experience. The role includes supporting the development and governance of the visual asset library, enhancing customer journey and visual standards, while reinforcing brand equity and maximizing customer engagement and sales performance.

Visual Merchandising Strategy

• Drive and maintain premium, commercially impactful visual merchandising standards across all AFWJ retail environments, ensuring consistent and elevated customer experience.
• Execute brand-right visual merchandising strategies and campaigns in partnership with Brand Managers and brand principals, ensuring alignment with global brand guidelines and storytelling.
• Identify and implement emerging retail, lifestyle and design trends to continuously evolve the AFWJ visual experience and strengthen market relevance.
• Develop and execute compelling seasonal visual merchandising strategies and monthly floor sets aligned to brand objectives, product launches and commercial priorities.

Visual Execution

• Support and develop the visual execution of brand events, activations and new partner launches in-store, ensuring impactful customer engagement and premium brand presentation.
• Enhance the customer journey and visual execution within strategic Top 20 wholesale and distribution doors and priority retail locations to maximize engagement, conversion and brand perception.
• Oversee the production and brief staff on arranging displays, ensuring high-quality execution of merchandise displays.
• Conduct regular VM audits, monitor execution standards and identify opportunities to improve visual consistency, operational excellence and commercial performance.

Collaboration and Coaching

• Deliver ongoing VM coaching and collaborate cross-functionally with Retail Operations, Store Managers, Brand Managers, Merchandising teams and external suppliers to ensure consistent execution, elevated presentation standards and strong commercial performance.
• Partner with Marketing and E-commerce teams to deliver aligned omnichannel storytelling and visually consistent campaigns across retail and digital platforms.
• Liaise with suppliers and source elements, necessary props, materials and accessories required to bring the designs to life.
• Work closely with Wholesale & Distribution, Digital Marketing & E-commerce, and Merchandising teams to ensure alignment in visual merchandising efforts.

Administration and Asset Management

• Develop, manage and maintain the AWFJ POS and visual asset library to ensure consistency, efficiency and high-quality execution across all channels.
• Monitor VM costs and work within budget, ensuring financial efficiency in visual merchandising strategies.
• Create sketches of visual displays based on provided guidelines, finalize designs, and create detailed floor plans for execution.
• Ensure the uniformity of displays across multiple store locations and support key accounts & wholesale VM requirements.

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft PowerPoint.
• Strong understanding of luxury customer experience and omnichannel retail presentation principles.
• Proven experience in managing brand launches, retail activations, and multi-store projects.
• Strong coaching, presentation, and communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders.

• University degree in Interior Design, Merchandising, Fashion or related field.
• At least 5 years of visual merchandising experience in the retail fashion business, particularly in Luxury, Watches & Jewellery environments.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft PowerPoint, and visual planning software such as SketchUp or AutoCAD.
• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of customer behavior, retail trends, and conversion-led visual merchandising principles.

About Al-Futtaim Retail

Al-Futtaim Retail has established itself as one of the leaders in Retail across the Middle East, Africa & Asia over the past 30 years. We have developed partnerships with some of the biggest and most respected Brands in the world including IKEA, ACE and Toys R Us in the Middle East and the Inditex Group of Brands (Zara, Mango, Bershka and P&B) across Asia. We are also one of the largest Global partners of Marks and Spencer’s in both regions with over 75 stores offering both fashion & food options.
 
Most recently we have been responsible for bringing brands to the Middle East for the first time with the exciting launches of Watsons and B&Q and we aim to continue to be agile and adaptive to our markets with new launches and further development. For this to be possible we aim to recruit the best talent from all backgrounds who will continue to challenge and develop our diverse workforce which includes over 100 nationalities across 12 countries. Join us today and make a difference…