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. Ensure all team members are trained and developed to deliver the business plan and sales targets. Ensure a continuous review and update to all policies and procedures whilst ensuring compliance with Group Internal Audit guidelines and minimise business risk. Actively develops and implements strategic business plans to ensure a profitable business operation. The job holder is responsible for the customer experience within all stores to reflect the brand values and customer promise.

What you will do:

- Sets overall guidelines for margin exploitation by product area and ensures processes are established to analyse margin deviation..
- Develops a global commercial strategy (short, medium and long term). Defines the store layout through all product categories (adjacencies and product mix) according to brand guidelines.
- Setting and delivery of operational standards for all stores in visual merchandising, stock availability, customer service and security whilst ensuring brand integrity.
- Ensure all team members are trained and developed to deliver the business plan and sales targets.
- Own and develop the brand operations strategy (Strategic Plan).
- Construct, implement, monitor and control the approved budget and operational costs for all stores.
- Enforce company operating procedures to maintain accurate inventory, system integrity and profit protection across all stores.
- Drive cost saving initiatives and efficiencies throughout retail operations by challenging existing processes.
- Working alongside GM-HR to ensure manpower costs are closely monitored and productivity levels maximised.

Requirements

What equips you for the role:

- Minimum Qualifications and Knowledge: College or University level graduate.
- Minimum Experience: Retail fashion experience is preferred although a passion for fashion is a must
- Job-Specific Skills: Strategic planning and analytical skills, All Microsoft Office Programs.
- Behavioural Competencies: Strong communication skills, confident decision maker, leadership skills and strategic thinker
- Keeps up to date with the latest trends and brands, Strong sales focus and eager to learn

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.