Windows Production Manager - FTC

Job Introduction

Selfridges has always been much more than a shop. We’re a social space where everyone is welcome and feels a sense of belonging, a creative playground where culture and commerce collide, and an experimental hub where you can discover the most innovative and sustainable ideas in retail. We’re here to help make the world brighter. And you can be an important part of this. We’ll talk more about the role below, but before we get to that, let’s share with you the good stuff…  

Rewards and benefits 

Life at Selfridges is dynamic, exciting, and always evolving. As well as working with some of the most cutting-edge, iconic and boundary-pushing brands, designers and creatives, we also offer our team members opportunities to help make a positive difference through our network of communities, both within and outside Selfridges. Here are just a few of our rewards and benefits that help make our team experience that bit more extraordinary. 

• Flexible working options to benefit you, your family and your wellbeing that can include part-time, flexi-time, job sharing or hybrid working

• Generous annual leave that increases with length of service 

• Up to five paid volunteering days – from beach cleans to co-ordinating food and clothing donations 

• Family leave that suits your set up including Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Surrogacy and Shared Parental leave policies 

• Defined pension contribution scheme  

• Generous bonus and/or commission scheme  

• Enviable team member discount including sale previews and double discount days 

• Exclusive local discounts on a range of restaurants, bars, beauticians and entertainment 

• Subsidised gym memberships  

• Annual travel pass and cycle-to-work schemes  

• A sustainable car salary sacrifice scheme 

• Several internal communities to get involved in from our Diversity Board and Green Warriors who are leading the charge on D,E&I and sustainability, to the Wellbeings who are always thinking of new ways to champion healthy minds, bodies and routines for our team members 

• Workplace Options, our confidential team member assistance programme for when life gets tricky or you need a little guidance 

• Access to a wide range of training programmes to help your career development 

Read on to find out how you can play your part in Reinventing Retail… 

Role Responsibility

Key Purpose:

To work closely with the Head of Windows, Design Manager and Styling Manager to facilitate the creative delivery of the windows with exceptional results. 

Role Scope:

To manage the installations to ensure all scheme launches are successfully delivered on time and within budget and produced to the best possible standards. Continual research into the most sustainable, cutting-edge production methods, artisanal crafts, and technology to ensure Selfridges windows production remains one step ahead of competitors. This role will also work to unify the production of VM and Windows with the aim of creating consistency of production value, materials, and execution. This role is a vital part of the Creative Presentation team and integral in the success of the windows and our instore VM.

Key Responsibilities

Interpretation and planning of window & key VM site projects

• Working closely with the Design Manager, Styling Manager and Creative Presentation project Manager on the practical realisation of the windows and VM schemes.
• Working with the Design, Styling and Creative Presentation project Manager to create, maintain and communicate project timelines.
• Working proactively with the Production team and suppliers to resolve more difficult/detailed elements of the build.
• Working closely with suppliers and ensuring progression of builds is close to the brief and of the highest possible standards.
• Working closely with the Head of Windows and finance teams to maintain a financial planner and allocate costs within a scheme.
• Ensures the Production team coordinates with Security, Facilities and Lighting teams to ensure installations run smoothly.
• Communicates with contractors to arrange access and appropriate H&S paperwork and leads the Production team to do the same.

• Strong understanding of the Oracle system.

Research and sourcing:

• Support production team with research and development of production methods and materials.
• Continually research and meet new suppliers to ensure we always know the best supplier for the job.
• Constant research of new production techniques and new technology to inform the window and VM production.
• Research artisanal makers and creative collaborators for specialist builds in the windows.  
• Attend shows and visit suppliers to support and progress supplier relationships and be at the forefront of innovation with new companies.
• Awareness of cultural trends through active research and attendance of major exhibitions.

• Awareness of major competitors through regular comparative shopping and detailed research.

Install and execution:

• Work closely with the Styling Manager and Senior Producer to plan the installations and ensure all teams are working together for a smooth delivery of schemes with a collaborative approach.
• Take ownership of lighting and coordinate the maintenance of existing facilities and bring cutting edge new systems into the windows/projects and VM.

• Coordinate suppliers onsite and sign-off works on completion.
• Ensure suppliers and contractors are aware of their commitments and deadlines.
• Ensure that progress is matching the daily objectives set out in the installation schedule, making the team aware of deviations.
• Support the Production team with decision making and ordering of elements of the scheme.
• Ensure the Production Team clearly understand the brief and are working to an agenda.
• Work out of hours when needed to ensure the smooth delivery of installation and provide technical support where necessary.
• Manage the Production team to work to a strict installation timeline and ensure both the in house team and contractors adhere to this.

Back of house and maintenance:

• Ensure the Production team checks and maintains each window on a daily basis.
• Manage the Production team’s daily cleaning tasks.
• Drives the Production team to adhere to H & S standards, policies, and procedures, ensuring the windows are maintained in a safe, hazard-free manner.
• Manages the Production team to effectively maintain the back of house area, ensuring it is consistently tidy, organised and well-stocked.
• Leads the Production team by example to respect tools, equipment and environment.
• Acts as an environmental ambassador and leads the Production team to identify opportunities to implement new green initiatives in windows and VM production.

Budget Management:

• Manage and monitor the ‘base line’ of standard costs for each scheme.
• Plot spends onto planner and report spends to the Head of Windows to ensure all trackers are accurate and up to date.
• Monitor the Production Team’s POs to ensure all elements of the scheme are on budget.
   

People and communication:

• Build a close knit functional team that respect one another as well as their colleagues.
• Develop the ability to work as an individual & part of a team in yourself & your team
• Seek to continuously raise the benchmark and improve standards through ongoing development, coaching and performance management of the team.
• Ensure all team members are fully briefed on key business messages and communications in a timely and inspirational manner.
• Conduct performance reviews with team and develop a strong team dynamic.
• Motivate your team to achieve targets by monitoring performance, giving feedback and addressing any concerns on a regular basis.
• Share best practices with colleagues.
• Ensure effective communication within the business eg Facilities, Security and Property.
• Produce detailed action plans to deliver results. Follow up and review all actions and update line manager on progress and results.
• Identify areas to be developed, proposing ideas and costs to do so.
• Maintaining effective relationships with suppliers.
• Manage the workload of the Production Team to ensure all elements of their role are being met.
• Support the Production Coordinator with the management of the additional freelance support during installations.
• Ensure the Production team are communicating and maintaining good working relationships with key colleagues the requirements of each scheme.
• Ensure the Production team is maintaining effective relationships with key suppliers.
• Adhere to and ensure the Production team also adhere to all company policies and procedures, e.g. absences, time and attendance and holidays, etc.
• Compiling information to facilitate an effective communication with other areas of the business, for example windows guidelines or briefs for suppliers.

• Shares information with line manager and colleagues, providing regular updates on workload, deadlines and schedules and ensures the Production team do the same.
• Communicates with stakeholders of windows activity.

• Maintain effective relationships with key suppliers.
• Acts as an ambassador for the Production team, leading and inspiring the Production team to do the same.

The Ideal Candidate

Qualifications/ Training

• No specific qualifications necessary

Experience

• Exerienced tool handling and use
• Practical installation skills
• Prop handling
• Project managing
• Presentation skills

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Technical Skills

• Ideas development with ability to communicate this visually.
• Presents and translates visual ideas/concepts into an easily understood way with a clear and simple message that could be communicated to Director level.
• IT skills, computer literate and has a basic proficiency in Word, Excel and Photoshop
• Produces written work and data that is accurate, clear and well-presented that could be communicated at Director level.
• Confident in communicating ideas to people by a variety of methods, visually, verbally and written.

Personal Attributes/ Behavioural Skills

• Strong organisational skills.
• Good attention to detail, to ensure standards in the windows and VM are always immaculate and that these standards are adhered to by the Production team.
• Practical, must be able to install schemes and maintain back of house storage, with a hands on attitude in the studio environment to lead and inspire the Production team to do the same.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to connect with different levels of the business.
• Offers up quick thinking to solve problems, showing initiative at all times.
• Good listener who can clearly demonstrate they have understood what is being asked of them and asks questions to gather information and stimulate ideas.
• Seeks to understand the differing views of others, actively connects with the person talking to them.
• Ability to work in a team and individually.
• Learns from their mistakes and applies those learns to the next task.
• Establishes positive working relationships with both team and other key people and inspires this way of working in the Production team.
• Proactive with a positive attitude.

Can identify and solve problems on their own.

About the Company

Everyone is welcome 

Selfridges is a place where we want everyone to feel a sense of belonging. We embrace every self and are committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive working culture. We are leading with purpose to not only increase the visibility and recognition of under-represented talent within our organisation, but the wider industry too. Here at Selfridges, everyone is welcome – irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age or disability, we stand by equal opportunities for all.   

Our awards cabinet  

We’re not ones to brag, but since you asked...Selfridges has won the award for The World’s Best Department Store an unprecedented four times at the IGDS awards, with an additional award for the Best Sustainability Campaign. We were also recognised as a ‘Best 25 Big Company to Work For 2020’ as awarded by The Sunday Times. 

Selfridges