Director, Visual Merchandising & Retail Space Planning

At Sephora, beauty is about feeling seen, valued, and empowered, individually and collectively. It is connecting deeply with others, celebrating diversity and inclusivity, unlocking your potential and making a difference every day. Together, we belong to something beautiful.  Sephora SEA’s omni channel business spans over 8 countries (Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand) with 100+ stores and boasts some global flagships such as ION and Raffles City in Singapore, F88 in Kuala Lumpur and Pitt Street in Sydney. Sephora SEA is experiencing rapid growth in the region with new store openings and business channels (i.e., Click and collect and marketplace). Director, Category Operations As a Director, Category Operations, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and lead category operations strategies, for omni-channel brand activations, and operational policies for in-store programs, new store openings, and renovations. You will partner with the Category Management team on space and animation negotiations to ensure consistency and productivity. This role includes overseeing floor plan and planogram outputs, visual merchandising (VM) and animation outputs, and regulatory submissions for imported brands. You will shine here if you enjoy…Collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop and lead space, VM and animation planning strategies and negotiations, and regulatory managementBuilding strong omni-channel brand activations and operational policies for in-store programs, new store openings and renovationsFull management responsibility including the management of a team of managers and professionals, planning for the team’s future needs and operationsEnsuring the team’s performance, development, succession and career advancement plans are in place through regular talent reviews and collaboration Developing and implementing space planning strategies to ensure optimized use of in-store space and productivity in line with business goals via a robust retrofit process bi-annuallyLeading planogram management for all categories to drive optimal customer assortmentDelivering innovative solutions by leveraging customer behavior and market trends to enhance space efficiency and utilizationOverseeing all market and field communications related to bi-annual brand mapping strategiesManaging the creation of any reporting or analytics needed to support decision-making, door list building or post-mortem analysisBeing responsible for the appearance of store by setting VM and animation plans in line with overall category strategyLeading the partnership and communication with internal and external parties regarding VM and animation strategiesImplementing best practices and processes to guide Markets on in-store activations to ensure successful activation launches across SEA to drive in-store salesClose collaboration with the Category Management team and Market VM and Animation team to ensure appropriate interpretation and implementation of VM and animation strategies in adherence to agreed timelinesEnsuring products are in compliance with external regulations and internal standardsLeading the end-to-end regulatory process with applicable government and regulatory agenciesImplementing audit processes to ensure compliance with government requirements in relation to import regulationsEvaluating regulatory impact on the organization and developing strategy to mitigate risk to acceptable levels We would love to hear from you if you are/have…A bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics or a related field, an MBA would be an advantageAt least 12 years of experience in VM / Animation / Trade Marketing in a multi-brand retail environmentProven track record in developing and implementing category operations strategies and omni-channel activationsExperience in managing store operations, including new store openings and renovationsStrong background in negotiating space and animation support with Category Management teamsStrong experience in overseeing floor plans, planograms, VM and animation outputsFamiliarity with regulatory submissions for imported brandsDemonstrated ability to mentor and coach teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environmentProficiency in leading the delivery of space management, VM and animations strategies in omni-channel activations A high level of initiative, with an ability to work independently on multiple projects in a fast-paced environmentA highly effective communicator and strong stakeholder management skills with senior leadership and cross-functional teams in a multicultural environmentStrong organizational, prioritizing, analytical and budgeting skillsDetail oriented with a high degree of accuracyAdaptable to changing customer behavior and market trends, with a focus on innovation and creativity to drive category initiativesAgility to effectively drive change and innovation with a customer-centric approachStrong leadership skills to ensure effective collaboration and high performance Here, you will find:Community, in which authenticity is embraced, and the strength of our differences fuels our collective spirit Culture of empowerment, learning & growth, that offers you the tools, space and opportunity to learn, innovate and lead Work that brings fulfilment, from delighting clients every day, to inspiring our industry at large, every action makes a difference  It is in the Sephora DNA to champion a world of inspiration and inclusion where everyone can celebrate their beauty. You can be yourself, because you are what sets us apart. Join us and belong to something beautiful.  Sephora is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace for all. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, advancement, or other employment practices. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating and fostering an inclusive environment for all employees.