Fast Retailing Careers

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GU VMD Manager Candidate

Entry
Brand GUGU
Location Ariake Headquarters: 1-6-7 Ariake, Koto Ward, Tokyo, UNIQLO CITY

*Please note that your work location may require you to travel between offices depending on business needs.
*Your location may be changed to a location designated by the company, including overseas locations.
Update Jun, 25 2026

Job Description

■Recruitment Background
Under the slogan “YOUR FREEDOM: The freedom to reinvent yourself,” GU offers fashion that everyone can enjoy, leveraging its strengths in trends, price, and speed.
In 2026, Francesco Risso—who has earned high acclaim worldwide—assumed the role of Creative Director. Building on the manufacturing foundation we have cultivated over the years, we are advancing the sophistication of our product development under a clearer creative vision.In line with this, we are now in a phase where we are further refining product concept design and the precision of our creative expression to strengthen the global consistency of our brand value. To accurately convey product concepts in-store and embody the brand’s worldview, we are working to enhance our visual merchandising (VMD) capabilities and are seeking new talent.

■Department Overview
The IMD (In-store Merchandising) Department, to which you will be assigned, is responsible for all in-store merchandising and provides comprehensive production support for store design and operations. We aim to transform our stores—which serve as direct points of contact with customers—into spaces that embody GU’s brand message in every aspect, ensuring that every customer who visits enjoys fashion and shopping.
The IMD Department consists of the Layout function, which designs the optimal in-store product layout; the Production function, which expresses the brand and product concepts through elements such as window displays and interior design; and the VMD function, which works in tandem with the other two to convey the appeal of products through mannequin styling. This position is specifically for the VMD team within the department.

■Job Description
To help customers visually understand the image and appeal of our products, you will lead styling proposals that allow customers to enjoy fashion and shopping by attractively expressing the concepts and stories behind each individual product, in coordination with layout, window displays, and interior design.
Specifically, your responsibilities will include the following:
・Monthly and weekly mannequin styling and sales floor displays. This applies to all stores domestically and internationally (including new stores and flagship stores) and is carried out in accordance with sales floor layout strategies and concepts.
・Creating guidelines for mannequin styling to be implemented across all GU stores in Japan and overseas.
・Styling for in-store promotional materials
・Training sales staff and your own team members to achieve ideal VMD across all GU stores in Japan and overseas
・The Job Description may change within the scope of duties related to various headquarters departments due to department transfers or organizational changes.

■ Career Path
While deepening your expertise, you may pursue a career as a Global VMD Manager responsible for training sales associates and headquarters staff on styling—both in Japan and overseas. Alternatively, you may take on the challenge of becoming the head of the IMD Department, where you will not only develop styling but also enhance your expertise in layout, window displays, and interior design to oversee comprehensive store production.

[Example of a Mid-Career Hire]
In their previous role, they were engaged in Head Office VMD duties—including styling development, training, and new store launches—from a Head Office perspective. After joining our company, they have been involved in planning and developing merchandising strategies for all GU stores domestically and internationally, as well as training store-based VMD staff. Following their promotion to Manager, they have been active both domestically and internationally, taking on responsibilities such as formulating global styling guidelines aligned with business strategies, training local personnel for multiple overseas operations, and localizing global plans.

Qualifications

■ Required Experience, Skills, and Abilities
・At least 5 years of experience in planning and designing brand store displays, not limited to the apparel industry
・An understanding of trends and market shifts, a thorough customer-centric perspective, and the ability to grasp the essence of things
・A collaborative attitude and leadership skills
・Management skills in talent development
・Interest in fashion, as well as a strong interest in and alignment with Fast Retailing’s business model and philosophy

■ Ideal Candidate Profile
・Someone who can create a business-oriented store environment—one that goes beyond mere in-store decoration to ensure customers enjoy their shopping experience, which ultimately drives sales
・Someone who can express current fashion trends while thoroughly considering how to showcase the concept, product characteristics, and story behind each individual item on the sales floor, and who can present the entire store as a single wardrobe through styling
・Someone who, in addition to having the sense and sensibility to showcase products, can design the store while taking sales plans and sales trends into account

Work Conditions

■Company Name
GU Co., Ltd.

■Employment Type
Full-time Employee

■Annual Salary
・Annual Salary Range: 6.24–13.50 million yen (Monthly Salary: 390,000–750,000 yen)
・Allowances: Commuting allowance, overtime pay, etc. (*All subject to company regulations)
・Bonuses: Semi-annual bonuses twice a year, year-end bonus (eligibility and amount determined based on company performance and performance evaluations)
・Promotions twice a year (determined based on performance evaluations)
*Salary will be determined based on company regulations, taking into account your previous annual income and experience, and is not limited to the figures listed above.

■ Working Hours
Flexible work hours or managerial/supervisory position
・Flexible work hours
Standard daily working hours: 8 hours; Break: 1 hour
Core hours: 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Flexible hours…6:00–9:00 and 14:00–20:00; overtime work may occur

・Supervisors
Based on the working hours of the employee’s department; left to the employee’s discretion

■ Days Off and Leave
Two days off per week (Saturdays and Sundays; national holidays are workdays) Annual paid leave, special leave and bereavement leave, childcare and family care leave systems, etc.
*In addition to paid leave, special leave is granted in the first and second halves of the fiscal year (the number of days granted varies depending on employment status and the company to which the employee belongs)

■Insurance Coverage
Social Insurance (Health Insurance, Employees’ Pension Insurance, Employment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation Insurance, Long-Term Care Insurance)

■Employee Benefits
Employee stock ownership plan, mutual aid association, partner welfare programs, employee discount program, cafeteria, dedicated shuttle bus (for commuting to the Ariake Office), defined contribution pension plan (full-time employees only)

■Other
・We actively recruit mid-career professionals across various Group companies (Fast Retailing, UNIQLO, GU, etc.). We would appreciate it if you could review the information below and consider applying.
- You may apply to multiple companies within the Fast Retailing Group simultaneously. However, please note that even if the selection process proceeds at multiple companies, you can only advance to the final selection stage for one position at a time.
- Based on your submitted resume and interview performance, we may suggest other companies or positions within the Fast Retailing Group.
・Secondhand Smoke Policy: As a general rule, smoking is prohibited on the premises and indoors; we do not have designated smoking rooms. (Smoking is prohibited during working hours, including break times.)

Location

Ariake Headquarters: 1-6-7 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, UNIQLO CITY

*Depending on business needs, you may be required to travel between offices.
*Your location may be changed to a location designated by the company, including overseas locations.

OPEN MID-CAREER POSITIONS