Director, Visual Merchandising - Franchise + Wholesale

About the Role

The Director of Visual Merchandising & Store Experience plays a pivotal strategic role in driving overall Gap Inc franchise and wholesale business across the globe; Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, India and Asia.

As brand guardian for all the Gap Inc brands (Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta) internationally, the role is accountable for ensuring Gap Inc Brands visual strategies are protected while forging localized and engaging in-store experiences through creative and visual treatment that resonate with the international customer and support the achievement of the B2B and International long range plan.

The successful candidate will have proven experience in leading global VM teams and delivering industry-leading VM concepts that drive brand and customer equity. As an advocate and voice of the International Visual Merchandising team, the candidate will integrate with multiple senior Brand teams in North America, influencing decision-making and driving change to better support the delivery of store experiences across the globe.

The role is also responsible for 6x direct reports, located across the globe.

What You'll Do

• Define annual/seasonal Visual Merchandising strategy to fuel international business growth objectives and support cross-functional strategic alignment e.g. Marketing, Ecommerce, Commercial, Product 

• Partner cross-functionally with key ‘internal’ stakeholders across all regions e.g. Marketing, Store Design, Creative, Brand Marketing, Product, Commercial, Planning, Logistics; complimenting Visual Merchandising strategies with business-wide objectives and LRP 

• The voice of the International team, partner closely and effectively with key ‘Brand’ stakeholders across all four brands; influencing decision-making and negotiating change at senior levels 

• Build relationships with key Franchise partners to influence store layouts, budgets and store experience strategies  

• Experience in windows development and execution  

• Oversee monthly VM directives per brand and visual communications team 

• Integrate with the key US Brand teams, sourcing and tailoring US-centric store design and visual strategies for the International market, in partnership with the Creative Director and Store Design Director 

• Responsible for driving key in-season business and Marketing metrics such as traffic and conversion for all store channels internationally. Own Visual Merchandising strategies for launching and relaunching new franchise partnerships, country, brand, seasonal and big collaboration launches 

• Leverage in-depth knowledge of international emerging competitor and industry trends to develop new visual techniques and innovations internationally  

• Lead and develop an experienced Visual Merchandising team, located across the globe, inspiring through change and ‘why not’ mindset 

Who You Are

• Degree educated with 12+ years extensive experience leading global visual merchandising teams 

• Extensive Visual Merchandising and Store Design experience across multiple brands, business models and consumer-brand industries is essential  

• Solid industry reputation with a track record for building enduring relationships with internal and external business partners, vendors and agencies 

• Extensive track record for developing and executing revolutionary in-store experiences and visual solutions that drove key business metrics and performance and strong understanding of counterpart functions e.g. Marketing, Ecommerce 

• Solid multi-regional / international knowledge and experi