Country Manager

Job description / Role

- Contribute to the identification and development of brand opportunities; manage the brand/offer/inventory portfolio to suit the market needs and potential
- Contribute; manage the whole sales/retail pricing strategy based on the market needs and situational changes.
- Develop and manage the B2B distribution channels to maximize and capture revenue and market share opportunities. (Retail, Corporate market, Duty free, Airlines...etc)
- Establish and manage a B2B sales force to develop and manage B2B accounts that deliver revenue, gross profit, healthy payments, qualitative brand experience, share of voice and visibility and market share.
- Develop the distribution to include B2C direct selective retail and e-commerce opportunities.
- Leads and develops overall strategy, plans and manage budgets. Monitors and analyses business performance by sell-out, gross margin and turnover and translates insights into key selling points and opportunities.
- Identifies and monitors related KPI’s, sets targets, monitors performance against plan and initiates remedial actions in case of discrepancy between actual and expected performance and fully responsible for P&L.
- Develops updates and monitors compliance of relevant policies and procedures.
- Update management of any potential business risk – legal, operational etc and take prompt action post management approval.
- Works with support functions for successful operations for sales activities, revenue, marketing & customer service supporting activities
- Manages the relationship and liaises with the concerned management team members in Dubai (brand management, PR, After Sales service, logistics and VM) for orders, deliveries, launches and marketing campaigns to ensure availability of stock and marketing tools while respecting brand guidelines.
- Conduct market visits regularly, to build and manage relations with key partners in the KSA market.
- Analyses sales figures, forecasts future sales and interpret trends to facilitate strategic planning. Maintains and monitors sales vs. budget for all targeted territories. Achieves budgeted profitability and growth of market share within the assigned network.
- Works with Key accounts executives and to ensure that displays, training and inventory levels are adequate to meet the forecast sales budget and ensures proper assortment planning and budgeting.
- Monitors stock to achieve bottom line sales budget against targets. Works with and guides the brand management team to ensure inventory is in the right place at the right time in the right quantity. Properly manages inventory, stock turnover, terminal stock and stock movement. Identifies slow moving and fast moving stocks and recommends appropriate actions relating to discontinuation or sales, as appropriate e.g. recommendations for product discontinuation, markdowns, etc.
- Works closely with the logistics and suppliers to ensure delivery of stock within the agreed timeframes.
- Monitors and works with Key account executives to efficiently and successfully grow business
- Regulates and ensures consistent pricing, invoicing and collection procedures are followed and approves payment of invoices and expenses.
- Responsible for contractual agreements and legal matters with all retailers and vendor contracts
- Leads the procurement activity for day-to-day operations & contract negotiation for products and services and liaises with procurement division to contribute to vendor evaluation, contracting & Management.
- Ensure government and regulatory approvals are obtained through coordination with government entities and outsourced government relations suppliers
- Maintains awareness of market trends; understands changing customer attitudes and buying preferences and monitors the competition to ensure that sales opportunities are maximized. Monitors market trends and competitors’ activities to identify opportunities to enhance brand presence.

People Management
- Trains and empowers the key account Executive to meet customer expectations and resolve complaints.
- Provides the necessary training to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction.
- Responsible to define the Sales team Commission/incentive scheme and monitor such scheme to ensure effectiveness, fairness and contribution as expected to generate the expected revenues and other key retail KPIs.
- Takes a lead role in building a strong retail management culture by coaching Managers, identifying skills and opportunities for development and providing advice and guidance on issues when needed.
- Recruits, trains and maintains internal teams and external resources and track performance to ensure they are competent, motivated and engaged.
- Provides guidance, support and leadership to employees in order to ensure effective and efficient flow of work.
- Resolves all performance issues in a timely and equitable manner. Provides on-going performance feedback. Ensures all communication is done in a pro-active manner.
- Ensures effective departmental performance through the selection, development, deployment and motivation of competent staff.
- Monitors staff performance, provides feedback and undertakes performance appraisals for all direct reports. Oversees performance appraisals for all other departmental staff.
- Any other duties as required to ensure the success of KSA operations in the future.

Requirements

- Bachelors’ Degree in Business Administration or equivalent
- 7-15 years of related KSA fashion, watches or jewellery experience wholesale experience

Job-Specific Skills
- Must have served in management positions in KSA
- Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication and organizational skills
- P&L management knowledge
- Established record of improving operational efficiency and profit results in the KSA market

About the Company

Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons is a family owned entity with a large portfolio of Swiss Watch brands. Thanks to its brand strategy and the vision of the late Mr. Ahmed Seddiqi, Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons has enjoyed a steady expansion since its inception in the late 1940s.

At the group, we believe that each employee contributes to the growth and success of the company, and this is evident with the strong and loyal workforce of 480 plus employees, some of whom have been with the organization since 1968.

Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons is the largest distributor of Swiss Brand watches in the Middle East. We offer world-class and exquisitely designed watches and jewellery. From a humble beginning of a single store in 1950s, today Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons portfolio consists of over 50 prestigious brands across 52 locations in the UAE.