Expansion Interior Designer – IKEA

Job description / Role

Expansion Interior Designer - IKEA - Dubai

One of the companies bearing Al-Futtaim name is IKEA.

IKEA is the world's largest home furniture store, founded in Sweden over 60 years ago. Our operations around the world are constantly increasing with new stores and markets added to the success story.

At IKEA not only our furniture is down to earth, straightforward and inspiring, but so is our work ethics. Despite being the leading home furnishing retail franchisee across the world, we at IKEA still give you the room to grow! At IKEA creating a better everyday life for the many isn't only our vision, it's our way of life!

To contribute to positioning the IKEA store as the Leader in life at home in our market in order to maximise sales and long-term profitability. I do this by securing the effective implementation of global solutions using my knowledge of people's life at home and consumer buying behaviour in my market and my home furnishing competence to adapt these to meet our national needs.

REGIONAL SUPPORT

* Actively support the Com & In manager expansion in implementing the country business plan and the country Com & In plan to support the optimization of sales and our long-term growth in our new stores
* Support the stores to ensure the uniqueness of the IKEA Brand identity in range presentation and store communication in order to distance us from the competition. Taking ownership for how we are working with interior design in my country.
* Using range presentation solutions are relevant to the many peoples life at home in my national market and that it accurately reflects demographics, living conditions and out visitors needs and wants.
* Securing that our solutions reflect a wide variety style expressions and functions to meet individual tastes and stimulate our visitors to change their home furnishings more often, using IKEA style groups and IKEA living situations.
* Develop the store layout and support the stores to ensure it is used to create optimal visual impact, a good overview and supports our commercial priorities based on the commercial brief
* Working with SO Com & In colleagues, SO expansion team, Sales leaders, In-store Logistics and other SO functions to agree on our national priorities. Together developing solutions that present and communicate the IKEA product range in a way that reflects its width and depth and strengthens our low-price profile on all levels.
* To working closely with the Com & In interior design leader, country marketing department colleagues and other SO colleagues to ensure the country commercial calendar messages are communicated in a clear, consistent and inspiring way, supporting commercial priorities and reflecting seasonality.
* To work with the SO commercial team and store Com & In managers to ensure they have a deeper knowledge and understanding of how the effective application of the store layout as a commercial tool, range presentation and store communication give us a competitive advantage.
* Working with SO Com & In colleagues and the commercial team to plan and implement new stores and rebuilds to secure that the IKEA Concept reflects our local market needs.

STORE SUPPORT (NEW STORES)

* Work with the interior design planners to develop and implement the store layout to meet and exceed visitor's expectations on the IKEA shopping and buying experience, strengthen the uniqueness of the IKEA product range, graphic identity and tone of voice.
* Demonstrate a deep knowledge and understanding of people's needs and wants, their living situations and living conditions and consumer buying behaviour in my national market and I am inquisitive to find out more.
* Optimising the use of the IKEA store layout and store media by developing and implementing range presentation solutions that strengthen the connection between the IKEA offer and the every lives of people.
* Analyse the IKEA Customer Satisfaction survey, IKEA Brand Capital and other visitor feedback and use these insights to work with the store Com & In teams to improve the experience of our visitors and convert them into satisfied customers.
* Work with the SO Com & In colleagues and other SO functions to provide the  specific, relevant support which enables the stores and other IKEA units to maximize sales
* Securing a deep knowledge of all store media and clarifying the main purpose of each media ensuring we visualize the uniqueness of the IKEA product range within room settings, homes, vignettes, compacts, sales support areas and co-worker areas, for the new store layout.
* Working with the graphic communication leader expansion, visual merchandiser leader expansion to ensure consistency in how we communicate throughout our new stores.
* Supporting the new stores to ensure the implementation of store communication using the layout to create optimal visual impact, a good overview and support our commercial priorities.
* Working with my SO Com & In colleagues to ensure that all we communicate to the stores is consistent, understandable and cost-effective for them to implement.

COACHING

* Sharing good ideas and coaching interior design managers in new stores  and your interior design planners to improve their competence
* Support and coach interior design managers of new stores and interior design planners team to secure that layouts , range presentations solutions is prioritized, placed correctly, consistent and understandable, clear and uncluttered with the customer in focus.
* Ability to coach and educate SO Com & In colleagues, other functions and our store graphic communications leaders on how to work with manuals, global directions and tools within my area of responsibility.
* Lead, inspire and challenge the interior design planners in your team to constantly increase their knowledge of people's life at home, consumer behavior and develop their interior design skills.

PROJECTS

* Coordinate with the regional expansion plans whenever necessary including commercial planning, build up and opening phases.
* Supporting with current ways of working and business practices.

Requirements

First and foremost we are looking for an individual who is passionate about interior design and home furnishings. It is absolutely essential that you have from three to five years experience working as an Interior Design Manager (preferably gained within a retail / home furnishing environment).

In addition we are looking for a person who has creative, commercial and visual expert along with range presentation: store media and display techniques.

We are looking for a person with excellent written and verbal English and good knowledge of AutoCAD , home furnishing and fashion.

Minimum Qualifications and Knowledge:

* has thorough knowledge of the role and responsibilities of the Communication & Interior Design department
* has a passion for interior design, home furnishings and design

Minimum Experience:

* 5 years in a similar role.
* Ideally knowledge of the IKEA Concept 

Job-Specific Skills:

* understands customer buying behaviour and buying decisions
* knows the competition on the local market
* has experience in incorporating the commercial calendar into the Communication & Interior Design action plan
* has thorough knowledge of the role and responsibilities of an Interior design manager.
* good time management skills and flexibility.

Behavioural Competencies:

* Interpersonal Skills
* Business Acumen

About the Company

Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.

The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.

The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.