Head of Buying - Clothing and Home

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 Head of Clothing Buying and Merchandising will be the visionary leader shaping the customer experience across seven dynamic markets with 50 stores. This role involves extensive travel to our MENA markets and the UK for seasonal buying fairs, contributing to the strategic commercial planning, pre-buying, and responsive market adaptation.

Role Challenges and Opportunities : Navigate the intricacies of commercial trading planning, maintain agility in response to market changes, and influence strategic thinking to bring the right products to our diverse markets.

Team and Reporting Structure: Lead a dynamic team of 29 with direct reports comprising four individuals. Collaboration with cross-functional departments is pivotal, and a newly created role for Space Planning, Cataloguing, and Grading Manager adds a unique dimension to our team.

Marks & Spencer MENA currently operates in 7 Markets: UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon and Oman. Candidate must be able to travel to the above Markets plus to the UK to attend Seasonal Buying Fairs.

Company Culture and Values: At Marks and Spencer, we prioritize cultural alignment with values centered around Inspiration, Innovation, In Touch, and Integrity.

What you will do

• Your success will be measured by delivering the buying and sales plan, implementing effective succession planning, formulating business unit strategy, utilizing prompt data and AI for optimal product placement, and launching brand propositions effectively by:

Shaping Customer Vision:
• Formulating an annual business plan that aligns with customer preferences.
• Constantly seeking business opportunities to increase Sales and Cash Margin.

Sales and OTB Planning:
• Leading and managing Senior Merchandizers in planning appropriate Sales, Cash Margin, and Space.
• Ensuring effective OTB planning and e-Commerce Buy .

Range Detail Planning:
• Defining and communicating the strategy for the Core Template to drive Core Availability.
• Overseeing Core Stock, Fashion Newness, and controlled Markdown Spend.

Product Selection:
• Planning, managing, and leading the team for the UK Buying Fairs.
• Implementing a strategic buying approach and optimizing market opportunities.

Trade:
• Guiding and leading the Senior Merchandising team in utilizing trade planning tools.
• Ensuring effective communication and execution of promotional strategies.

Market Awareness:
• Establishing market awareness by monitoring competitor performance and trends.
• Engaging in quarterly comp shops and market visits to drive a competitive price position.

Stakeholder Engagement:
• Building strong relationships with Finance, M&S Operations Team, VM Team, and Marketing Team.
• Engaging with key stakeholders to drive BU objectives and conducting engaging seasonal briefs.

Leading People:
• Engaging the team with relevant objectives and providing continuous feedback and development opportunities.
• Role modeling Al-Futtaim Way Behaviors and M&S Values, ensuring a high engagement score and succession plan.

Requirements

Candidate Profile:

Qualifications and Experience:

• Minimum 10 years' experience in Fashion Buying and Merchandising.
• Generalist retail experience in both clothing and home retail.
• Strong brand principles and collaboration skills.
• Experience in people succession planning.
• Understanding of customer market demographics.

Key Competencies and Soft Skills:

• Proven leadership and team management in a retail merchandising environment.
• Strategic thinker with a track record of achieving KPIs.
• Cultural alignment with Marks and Spencer's values.
• Ability to navigate commercial trading complexities.

Additional Requirements: Language proficiency, international experience, and cultural awareness are critical for the role. Previous experience with Marks and Spencer is a plus.

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, 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 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.