Interior Design Manager

Work Area: Graphics and Interior Design
Business Type: Retail/Store
Full Time/Part Time: Full Time
Duration: RegularJob Description:
IKEA has a unique company culture. We have strong values and standards that are special to us - values that create a sense of belonging. We can offer an environment where everyone is part of the team - there are no barriers between management and co-workers and we believe in leadership by example. We employ people who really care about customers and colleagues - people who are prepared to work hard and want to do their very best.IKEA is a financially stable global company with a global attitude. We're also a company not afraid to ask "why" and we like to hire people who have that same sense of curiosity. It's how we became successful, and the reason we're enjoying new growth and expansion.Today we are the world’s leading home furnishings retailer with about 160 outlets in 30 countries and many more planned. The retail organization employs over 36,000 thousand co-workers.To achieve our ambition of expansion, we need a variety of competence and lots of enthusiasm within our organization and the IKEA store located in Tempe, Arizona is preparing for the future through a Interior Design Specialist(trainee)position.This exciting opportunity will enable the right candidate to to ensure that IKEA maintains its presence as the best home furnishing store and the best retailer to work for. The Interior Design Specialist(trainee) role also provides a unique training and development process to prepare the candidate for a future Interior Design Specialist position with relocation to a majority of US stores a requirementYour Mission:
Lead the Interior Design team in creating, establishing, and ensuring an optimal visual level in the store that contributes to realizing commercial objectives, and secures IKEA’s position as the leading home furnishing company in your local market.
Your Goals:
Business Development
??Ensures the integrity of the IKEA concepts and brand while consistently developing the store as a media with responsibility for Homes, Room settings, Vignettes and Support areas.
Contribute to an inspirational and convenient shopping experience for our customers with a focus on home furnishing knowledge, interior design and a high visual level of IKEA product presentation.
??Understand and apply the IKEA concept manuals to strengthen the store experience for the customer and meet business goals.
??Remain current and up to date on the development of the store as a media and the individual store media - introduce and implement changes accordingly.
??Understand and analyze the customer experience of the whole store; how the placement and structure of the media in the layout influence the delivery of commercial messages.
??Remain current and up to date on local and national trends, values, lifestyles, living situations, competition and influences in home furnishing.
??Remain current and up to date on trends in the interior design field, i.e. color, material and style.
??Remain current and up to date on the IKEA product range.
??Provide creative leadership to strengthen and improve the IKEA concept, brand and visual identity by being the catalyst for vitality, inspiration, and commercial ideas.
Convert business directions, priority commercial messages and the commercial calendar into local strategies and actions:
??Support the Communication & Interior Design manager to develop, document and execute all local strategies.
??Align range presentation solutions to match sales objectives by developing relevant, functional and inspirational home furnishing solutions using the IKEA concept, thereby converting visitors into customers.
??Establish synergy in range presentation, the IKEA tone/attitude and visual identity across all relevant store media.
??Continuously improve the planning and execution of the store as a media and relevant individual media to inspire our customers to make more return visits more often.
??Secure success for store projects though effective time and resource management and using the Range Presentation work process.
??Analyze and evaluate the results, and feedback from completed projects.Co-worker Development
??Develop the Interior Design team by coaching and challenging the co-workers to continually raise the level of home furnishing competence to a higher quality aesthetic, ensuring IKEA’s position as the leading home furnishing company.
Responsible for developing each Interior Design co-worker’s skill and knowledge sets as required for Interior Design competence within IKEA USA:
??Provide feedback and development opportunities for Interior Design co workers.
??Set clear standards to secure high quality and consistency in range presentation consistent with the IKEA concept manuals and evaluation documents.
??Monitor and evaluate competence within the department on an ongoing basis
??Recruit, hire, and develop all co-workers as potential successors to the Interior Design manager.Leadership and Communication
??Develop successful and supportive partnerships with the Com&In team.
Work closely with the Activity specialist to co-ordinate Interior Design resources for Commercial Calendar events.
??Partner with Sales and Logistics to insure successful relationships built on the Communicating & Selling IKEA store core process and the Range Presentation work process.
Provide support to partners to ensure the IKEA brand, interior design standards, and practices are understood and consistently upheld in the store.
??Work in partnership with your peers by networking, and working with other IKEA stores and the US Communication & Interior Design group.
??May act as manager in the absence of the Communications and Interior Design Manager.
??Support and ensure execution of all company programs and initiatives:
Contribute to an environment where IKEA culture is a strong and living reality that embraces the diversity of co-workers and customers.
Assume responsibility for other tasks and projects as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS
You Have:
Professional and IKEA knowledge:
??A passion for, and extensive knowledge in home furnishings, residential interior design, the way people live at home (lifestyles and values), and trends in design.
??A passion for and extensive knowledge in retailing, merchandising and customer behavior in a retail environment.
??General knowledge and interest in graphic communication and visual merchandising.
??The ability to evaluate the store as a media both commercially and aesthetically, according to the IKEA concept, Commercial Review standards, and professional Interior design competence.
??A clear understanding of our customers’ shopping behavior and how to support the IKEA mechanical sales system
??Attention to detail with a keen eye for aesthetics
??A proven ability of how to visualize and communicate the IKEA product range and business priorities in a way that is functional, inspiring, and commercial using range presentation media and display techniques
??A strong knowledge of the IKEA concept description including our Vision and Business Idea, and a passion for IKEA culture and valuesLeadership skills:
??Ability to create, plan, and work on tactical, and operational levels
??Strong time management skills, with the ability to plan, prioritize, and organize
??Strong influencing, problem analysis, and decision making skills
??Proven ability to influence people and act in a position of leadership
??Ability to review, analyze, and share actionable learning with business partners
??The ability to use creative problem solving skills in conjunction with IKEA’s core values
??Ability to clearly communicate ideas to a team; take and give feedback and direction
??Experience in coaching, motivating and developing people
??Self awareness and the ability and interest to develop yourself accordingly
??Ability to recruit, hire, and develop high-performing, passionate individuals into an effective team
??Ability to formally present material and information to a variety of audiences
??Ability to form strong business relationships at all levels of the organization
??Proven yourself to be a dynamic and action-oriented team player that is self motivated and confident in making independent decisions
??Ability to lift 50 lbs and use laddersExperience:
??Internal: 3-4 years IKEA experience as an Interior Design co-worker, and an Undergraduate degree in Interior Design or Fine/Applied Arts OR more than five years directly related IKEA Com&In experience
??External: 5-7 years experience in Interior Design or an equivalent field/function and Undergraduate degree in Interior Design or Fine/Applied Arts OR more than ten years directly related Com&In experience.
o Excellent written and verbal communication skills
o Ability to utilize visual/illustrative methods of communication
o Drafting, space planning and interior or architectural designing
o Experience designing effective commercial and residential lighting solutions
o Application of color theory in design and merchandising solutions
o Proficiency with design related software programs (AutoCAD)
o Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications
o Prior experience leading a team
o Prefer fast-paced, retail work environmentYour Workplace:
??Fast-paced deadline driven environment performing PC related duties and maneuvering around the sales floor and store
??Domestic and international travel as required (up to 15% of time)Your Business Partners:
??Reports to: Communication &Interior Design Manager
??Matrix: US Communication &Interior Design Senior Specialists, Interior Design peers
??Supervises: Interior Design co-workers. May supervise the Interior Design Manager Trainee when assigned to the store.Ability to relocate to a majority of US Stores.