Brand Manager

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 Brand Manager is responsible for driving top-line performance, full profit and loss accountability, consistent operational excellence and brand compliance across all stores. Ensures the achievement of all the tangible and intangible aspects of the Brand(s) handled. Ensures smooth interaction & healthy relations with principals. To achieve or exceed annual targets of NSV and GM and market share for the brand(s) via the various sale channels. Inputs to ensure satisfactory customer brand experience at Internal & External POS, provide promotional aids-to-sales, intensive interaction with sales personnel & to chart a brand positioning course in the UAE in line with both Principal & AFWJ strategy customer promise.

What you will do:

Budgeting & Sales accountability

- Plans the total seasonal purchase and guides the merchandisers by setting forward estimates for the different buying groups, considering several variables, such as selling space, trends, feedback from stores, etc
- Attends buying fairs along with Merchandisers and ensures that the right products are selected in terms of ways, depth, etc. to generate maximum profit for the business.
- Accountable for ensuring annual sales turnover and GM targets.

Product and stock Management

- Regularly works on new market trends, design and collection development, and merchandise planning for merchandise brands.
- Inventory management and timely stock liquidation minimizing impact to profit .

Buying Management

- Regularly monitors the merchandise stock levels. He/she analyses various reports (plan vs actual, viability of a particular item, stock cover, store cover, etc), gauges the merchandise performance (identify best/low sellers, etc) and then suggests/implements corrective measures.
- Needs to do channel-wise incentive schemes and promotions. Based on the above, may request an increase or decrease of budgets.
- Ensure optimum stock levels and minimum waste.

Pricing and Margins Management

- Evaluate the pricing of the merchandise before a season by doing a price simulation exercise, ensuring that the pricing delivers the margin target set.
- Do competition analysis and recommend price changes, if and when required so that they are in line with the market; Done to achieve set targets.

Principal Relationship

- Regularly communicates with Principals, maintaining a good working relationship with them. He/she negotiates prices, delivery plans, lead times, etc.
- Provides feedback in terms of product suitability to the local markets, suggesting changes, alternatives, and/or new specific products to be developed.

Requirements

What equips you for the role:

Minimum Qualifications and Knowledge:

- Degree holder
- A business course in Merchandise Planning, Brand Management, Sales, Marketing and Promotions will be preferred

Minimum Experience:

- Total experience of at least 8-10 years in the watches business, in luxury retailing company (preferably) in the category management/ brand management function.

Job-Specific Skills:

- Computer Knowledge with expertise in Excel is a must
- Advance exposure to retailing practices, promotions, and visual merchandising activities
- Exposure in merchandise planning and brand management
- Must have prior experience in managing relationships with large international Principals

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.