Operations Manager - Retail

Job description / Role

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group's entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day

Overview of the role

The Operations Manager is responsible for the performance and success of the Operations department and delivering business results and KPI's, controlling expenses and manpower budgets, handling personnel issues, accounting, merchandising, stock level control and loss prevention.

Responsible for developing the commercial short, medium and long term strategies and leading the division by monitoring brands growth (sales, profitability and other) ensuring proper implementation of the strategy, and recommending new tools and means to grow the business while providing the highest level of customer service.

Partners with the leadership team to generate ideas about future retail activities ensuring a cutting-edge customer centric strategy.

What you will do

Description of the Accountability:
- Oversee the sales performance by comparing the actual sales versus the weekly targets, previous years & projections, and take corrective action in coordination with other departments
- Set Sale schedule in coordination with Leadership team and direct the coordination of sales promotion activities and pricing of merchandise.
- Direct the opening of new stores by ensuring the availability of needed resources (staff, merchandise, logistics and other) and manage the closing of existing ones
- Review and monitor stock level reports and coordinate with the concerned division to take appropriate action in a timely manner
- Participate in the development of the seasonal projection report and monitor competitors' new openings and street locations, identify opportunities and inform the Management accordingly
- Audit shops operations and facilities on continuous basis in order to ensure compliance with company standards, policies and procedures in terms of productivity, efficiency, safety, security and other
- Monitor on continuous basis figures related to manpower cost and shop performance, coordinate with the HR to enable operations efficiency at optimum cost
- Handle the manpower planning and staffing of the operations and carry out other functional HR managerial responsibilities such as training, coaching, setting career plans, identifying potential employees and other
- Monitor the scheduling of all types of leaves for managerial and non-managerial staff and approve the leaves of Store Managers.
- Prepare an annual budget and business plan for the stores
- Secure Timely and accurate issuance of yearly financial statements and provide continuous management of the back-office functions including Logistics, Inventory, Store Services, Loss prevention, IT, Administration and Accounting.
- Coordinate retail operational strategies, challenges, and solutions with the operations/commercial team
- Communicate on continuous basis with other departments in order to ensure a smooth strategy execution
- Understanding market and competitor analysis to lead and/or respond to trends and market competition.
- Ensuring that the retail operation complies to all policies and procedures relating to Security, Health and Safety ensuring minimum risk to staff members and the business.
- Drive a profitable business growth across all brands to meet short and mid-term corporate objectives in line with commitments to foreign suppliers / brands

Requirements

Performance INDICATORS:
- SalES Reports
- Through Store visits
- Sell-Through report
- Stock level reports
- Gross Margin
- Action plan set for the stores
- Compliance assurance report and audit reports.
- Review the P&L Manpower cost vs sales.
- Training plan and people development.
- Vacation planner
- Development of the new reports
- Review Business plan
- Consolidation of Results ,P&L.

Required Skills to be successful
- Dynamic, flexible and always adaptable to changes.
- Maintains up to date knowledge of the marketplace, competitors, and trends.
- Has a track record of increasing and sustaining sales growth and profitability even in challenging market conditions.
- Can manage and motivate a diverse team of people in terms of skill base and experience.
- Views things strategically and able to dig into micro details of execution.

What equips you for the role
- Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or equivalent.

Minimum Experience:

6 years of retail in KSA Market
- Expertise in Beauty & Skin care is a must
- At least 4 years of experience in Brand/Shop Management.

Job-Specific Skills:
- An ambitious and passionate individual with strong influencing skills.
- A collaborative team player.
- Visibly strong leadership skills, solution orientated and decisive by nature.
- Proven ability to motivate, coach and develop people.
- A strong communicator fluent in local language and English.

About Al-Futtaim Retail

Al-Futtaim Retail has established itself as one of the leaders in Retail across the Middle East, Africa & Asia over the past 30 years. We have developed partnerships with some of the biggest and most respected Brands in the world including IKEA, ACE and Toys R Us in the Middle East and the Inditex Group of Brands (Zara, Mango, Bershka and P&B) across Asia. We are also one of the largest Global partners of Marks and Spencer's in both regions with over 75 stores offering both fashion & food options.

Most recently we have been responsible for bringing brands to the Middle East for the first time with the exciting launches of Watsons and B&Q and we aim to continue to be agile and adaptive to our markets with new launches and further development. For this to be possible we aim to recruit the best talent from all backgrounds who will continue to challenge and develop our diverse workforce which includes over 100 nationalities across 12 countries. Join us today and make a difference.

About the Company

Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.

The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.

The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.