Buying And Merchandising Manager - OTB Middle East

Job description / Role

About the company

On behalf of OTB, we are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Buying & Merchandising Manager who will be responsible for 3 brands, Maison Margiela, Jil Sander, and Marni across the UAE and KSA.

Only The Brave (OTB) is an international fashion and luxury group powering a range of unconventional global brands, including Jil Sander, Maison Margiela, and Marni.

As our name suggests - OTB stands for "Only The Brave" - we challenge established rules to redefine the world of fashion and lifestyle by fostering the creativity of international talents while expressing the innovative and bold spirit of our Founder and Chairman, Renzo Rosso.

OTB's values are based on courage, respect, excellence, and continuous innovation. OTB challenges its limits by raising the bar and breaking new ground.

What you'll be doing

The Buying and Merchandising Manager is responsible for leading the buying and merchandising strategy across all OTB brands in the Middle East region, including Maison Margiela, Marni, and Jil Sander. This role ensures commercial success through assortment optimization, OTB planning, performance analysis, and close cross-functional collaboration with supply chain, marketing, and VM. The role also plays a critical leadership function in team development, vendor management, and aligning brand DNA with regional customer expectations. Your responsibilities will be to:

• Define seasonal buying and merchandising strategies across all OTB brands in the region
• Manage OTB budgets aligned with brand guidelines and regional goals
• Lead seasonal buying sessions ensuring commercial and brand alignment
• Analyze sales data, market trends, and customer insights to drive decisions
• Oversee store grading, assortment planning, and product mix tailored to consumer behavior
• Provide ongoing competitor analysis and regional product recommendations
• Monitor in-season performance and execute reactive strategies with HQ (e.g., reorders, stock transfers, markdowns)
• Oversee replenishment strategies and review product performance KPIs
• Manage allocation and distribution by store/channel to optimize product flow
• Identify commercial opportunities through vendor negotiations (e.g., delivery improvements)
• Partner with supply chain to ensure timely deliveries and replenishment
• Collaborate with Visual Merchandising and Marketing to support product storytelling and seasonal launches
• Align with Finance and HQ on budgeting, pricing strategy, and profitability
• Lead and inspire the Buying & Merchandising team with a focus on performance and creativity
• Oversee recruitment, development, and retention of top talent
• Foster cross-functional learning and exposure across teams to build future-ready capabilities

What you'll need to succeed

• Minimum 8 years' experience in buying/merchandising, with at least 3 in a managerial role within luxury or contemporary fashion
• Strong knowledge of retail KPIs, OTB management, and regional consumer trends
• Experience working with European brand principals and navigating matrix organizations
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, and communication skills
• Proven leadership experience with a track record of developing talent and building high-performing teams

What we can offer you

With us, you will turn your aspirations into reality. We will help shape your journey through enriching experiences, learning and development opportunities, and exposure to different assignments within your role or through internal mobility. Our Group offers diverse career paths for those who are extraordinary, every day.

We recognize the value that you bring, and we strive to provide a competitive benefits package which includes health care, child education contribution, remote and flexible working policies as well as exclusive employee discounts.

We invite all applicants to apply

It takes diversity of thought, culture, background, differing abilities, and perspectives to truly inspire, exhilarate, and delight our customers. At Chalhoub Group, we are committed to inclusion and diversity.

We welcome all applicants to apply and be part of our exciting future. We ensure equal opportunity for all our applicants without regard to gender, age, race, religion, national origin, or disability status.

About the Company

The Chalhoub Group is the leading partner for luxury across the Middle East since 1955. As an expert in retail, distribution and marketing services based in Dubai, the group has become a major player in the fashion, beauty and gift sectors regionally.

By blending its Middle East expertise and intimate knowledge of luxury, Chalhoub Group is building brands in the region, by offering service excellence to all its partners and a unique experience to its customers through its passionate teams.

With a growing workforce of more than 9,000 people, implemented in 14 countries, as well as the operating of over 470 retail outlets, the group's success is attributed to its most valued asset of highly skilled and dedicated teams. Professionalism and passion are what fuel the Chalhoub Group's competitive edge in today's market.

By being committed to implementing sustainable practices into their business, the Chalhoub Group has been awarded in 2013 the CSR Label from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.