In-Store Visibility & Design Lead

About the Role

The In-store Visibility & Design Manager leads end-to-end visual merchandising design and production for Unilever Thailand's retail presence. This role combines creative design expertise with a deep understanding of retail business dynamics to craft display solutions that drive shopper engagement and sales conversion. You will own the design agenda across channels — from concept and structural engineering to production and in-store deployment.

Key Responsibilities

Design Strategy & Concept Development

• Translate brand objectives and commercial goals into compelling in-store display concepts and planogram strategies across all touchpoints.
• Develop and own the visual identity for extra displays (off-shelf) and permanent fixtures across Big C, Local Modern Trade, and assigned channels.
• Integrate shopper marketing insights and trade channel dynamics into design briefs to ensure commercial relevance.

End-to-End Design & Production

• Lead full design lifecycle: ideation → technical drawing → supplier briefing → production oversight → in-store installation review.
• Create detailed structural specifications and technical drawings for display units, gondola ends, permanent fixtures, and visibility materials.
• Manage vendor and production partner relationships, ensuring quality compliance, cost efficiency, and on-time delivery.
• Maintain and continuously improve the design standards library, brand asset toolkit, and display guidelines.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with the CSP, Brand, and Shopper Marketing teams to align visibility solutions with brand architecture and key business priorities.
• Work closely with the Execution Lead and Sales to ensure seamless handover from design intent to in-store reality.
• Provide design support for key customer presentations and joint business plan discussions.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of 3 direct reports: Designer, Operations Manager (Network & Budget), and Operations Staff.
• Mentor on design craft, execution of production artwork, and asset management.
• Oversee display rollout network, vendor contracts, and budget tracking.
• Build team capability in both creative design and operational execution.

Budget & Performance Management

• Plan and manage the visibility investment budget; track spend vs. plan and identify cost optimization opportunities.
• Define and monitor KPIs for design output quality, project turnaround time, and in-store compliance.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Visual Communication, or a related field.
• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in retail display design, shopper marketing, or visual merchandising — preferably within an FMCG, retail, or agency environment.
• Proven track record of managing end-to-end design and production projects, including structural and 3D display design.
• Hands-on experience working with Modern Trade accounts (Big C, Lotus's, Makro, etc.).
• Demonstrated ability to manage vendors, production budgets, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• At least 2 years of team leadership experience.

Technical Proficiency

• Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator (Ai), Photoshop (Ps), InDesign (Id) — Advanced level.
• 3D & Structural Design: SketchUp and/or AutoCAD for display unit engineering.
• Digital Design & Prototyping: Figma or Canva for concept communication and stakeholder presentations.
• Strong understanding of print production, material specifications, and structural fabrication processes.

Competencies

• Business Acumen: Ability to connect design decisions to commercial outcomes (sell-out, visibility share, conversion).
• Creative Problem Solving: Transforms constraints (budget, space, channel requirements) into elegant design solutions.
• Project Management: Organized, deadline-driven, and capable of managing multiple projects in parallel.
• Communication & Influence: Confident in presenting design concepts to commercial and senior stakeholders.
• Attention to Detail: Uncompromising standards in design quality and production accuracy.

Additional Information

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their 'Whole Self' to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.