Manager Visual Merchandising Excellence - EM South at adidas Group

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization

• Lead and develop a high-performing Visual Merchandising (VM) team to deliver industry-leading campaign and promotional activations across South Africa Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) and Wholesale (WHS) channels. Own the planning and execution of visual merchandising strategies, ensuring a consistent, premium and consumer-centric brand experience across all touchpoints.
• Drive the planning and definition of store layouts, floor plans and consumer journeys for all DTC store openings, refurbishments and WHS branded spaces. Adapt and cascade Global and Emerging Markets (EM) visual merchandising concepts ensuring relevance while maintaining brand standards.
• Strengthen brand leadership by elevating the consumer experience across all physical touchpoints, maximizing full-price sell-through, enhancing Net Promoter Score (NPS) and supporting sustainable business growth.

Key Responsibilities

Visual Merchandising Strategy & Execution

• Lead the planning and execution of visual merchandising strategies to deliver industry leading campaign and promotional activations across South Africa DTC and WHS channels.
• Develop, maintain and continuously evolve visual merchandising standards, guidelines and best practices to ensure consistent brand presentation.
• Define and drive the overall VM execution framework, ensuring alignment with Global and Emerging Markets (EM) directives while adapting concepts to local consumer needs.
• Execute and leverage key category strategies to support seasonal campaigns, new product launches and commercial priorities across different store formats and key wholesale accounts.

Consumer Journey & Store Planning

• Plan and define floor plans, product adjacencies and consumer journeys for all DTC store openings, refurbishments, relocations and WHS branded spaces.
• Ensure consumer centric merchandising solutions that enhance the shopping experience, improve product discoverability and drive conversion.
• Apply a strong understanding of the retail journey and customer service experience to optimize store environments and elevate brand perception.

Operational Excellence & Compliance

• Drive consistent execution of store layouts, displays, campaign installations and promotional activations across DTC & WHS channels.
• Monitor compliance with visual merchandising standards through regular store visits, audits, and reviews, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Coordinate and manage the end-to-end distribution of VM assets, installation guidelines, store communications and related administration.
• Support the implementation of window executions, in-store merchandising and the assembly and deployment of In-Store Communication (ISC) materials.

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead, coach and develop the field & Brand Coach VM team to ensure high levels of capability, engagement and performance.
• Design and deliver VM training programs, tools and resources to build merchandising excellence across stores and field teams.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous learning within the VM function.

Stakeholder Management & Communication

• Build strong partnerships with key cross-functional stakeholders, including Marketing, Retail Operations, Commercial (DTC & WHS), EM Hub and Store Development teams.
• Effectively communicate VM priorities, standards and execution requirements to field & Brand Coach VM teams, store managers and retail staff.
• Ensure seamless alignment between business objectives and executional delivery across all consumer facing touchpoints.

Analysis, Reporting & Innovation

• Create, manage and present reports that evaluate VM execution quality, campaign performance, compliance results and business impact.
• Analyse execution outcomes and consumer insights to identify opportunities for optimization and enhanced commercial performance.
• Proactively identify and implement innovative visual merchandising solutions that improve customer engagement, elevate the consumer experience, increase conversion and maximize full price sell through.

KPI’s

Execution Excellence

• Achieve consistent industry leading and timely execution of visual merchandising campaigns, promotions, seasonal launches and brand initiatives across all DTC and WHS doors.

Brand Health & Consumer Experience

• Improve and sustain Net Promoter Score (NPS) across DTC & WHS retail environments.
• Contribute to positive Brand Momentum through the consistent execution of premium brand experiences.
• Increase Spontaneous Purchase Intent by creating compelling and engaging product presentations and consumer touchpoints.

Commercial Impact

• Maximize full-price sell-through through effective campaign activation, category merchandising and product storytelling.

Operational Excellence

• Delivery of accurate and timely VM communications, reporting and execution analysis.

 Key Relationships

• EMS Omni-Channel Marketing Team (DTC & WHS Activations)
• DTC Field VM Team
• DTC Operations 
• Brand Coach VM Team 
• EMS Brand Activation & Category Management Team
• EMS Commercial Teams (DTC & WHS) 
• EMS Store Development Team 
• EM Hub Omni-Channel Marketing Team 
• Suppliers 
• Customers 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Experience

• Minimum of 7 - 10 years’ experience in Visual Merchandising, Trade Marketing, Marketing, Sportswear, Fashion, or a related retail environment.
• Minimum of 4 years people management experience. 
• Proven experience in retail operations and consumer-facing environments with a strong understanding of premium brand execution.
• Experience in retail store architecture, store design or store development would be advantageous.
• Demonstrated success in leading visual merchandising projects and teams, campaign activations, store openings and consumer journey optimization.
• Functional experience within Sales and Retail environments, ideally in a Visual Merchandising Manager or equivalent leadership role.
• Experience working within a cross-functional organization, partnering with multiple business functions to achieve shared objectives.

Technical Knowledge

• Strong understanding of visual merchandising principles, retail space planning, consumer journey mapping and category merchandising.
• Knowledge of campaign and promotional activation planning across Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) and Wholesale (WHS) channels.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Advanced Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook.
• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign and Photoshop would be advantageous.
• Understanding of retail performance metrics, brand health measures, and consumer experience indicators.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously while meeting deadlines.
• Excellent planning, organization and attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal, stakeholder management, negotiation and influencing abilities.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation and communication skills.
• Strong analytical and reporting capabilities with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Ability to lead, coach and develop high-performing teams.
• Commercially minded with a strong understanding of how visual merchandising drives consumer engagement, conversion and sales performance.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across Marketing, Retail, Operations, Commercial and Store Development functions.

Personal Attributes

• Passionate about retail, consumer experience and brand storytelling.
• Dynamic, proactive and solutions oriented.
• Highly organized with a strong focus on execution excellence.
• Creative thinker with the ability to identify innovative opportunities that enhance the consumer journey.
• Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced and constantly evolving retail environment.
• Strong commitment to delivering premium brand experiences at every consumer touchpoint.

Requisite Education and Experience/Minimum Qualifications

• University degree in Business with Marketing focus as an advantage or any other related field. 
• Experience in consumer and/or sporting goods industries is preferred.
• Fluent in English.