Head of Retail
Location: Dubai, UAE
Salary: AED 45,000–55,000 per month
Lead, scale, and transform a multicountry retail portfolio. As Head of Retail, you'll own endtoend store performance: driving revenue and profit, elevating customer experience, and building a highperforming retail organisation across all markets and formats. You'll report directly to the CEO and be a key driver of growth and operational excellence.
Key Responsibilities
1. Retail Strategy & Growth
- Set and execute the retail strategy across all brands, formats, and markets.
- Assess and open new locations, formats, and markets (including omnichannel) in the GCC and India.
- Turn strategy into clear annual plans, sales targets, and storelevel objectives.
- Use data, POS insights, and retail tech to sharpen decisions and performance.
- Drive innovation in formats, digital integration, and instore experience.
- Lead major initiatives such as new brand launches, refurbishments, and market entry.
2. Sales & Commercial Performance
- Own the retail sales budget and P&L, delivering revenue, margin, and profit targets.
- Shape sales and promotional strategies to maximise topline and GM.
- Analyse sales, footfall, and conversion to fix underperformance by store/category.
- Partner with buying, merchandising, and marketing on assortment, pricing, and promos.
3. Store Operations & Excellence
- Set and enforce SOPs, VM, and service standards across all stores.
- Improve efficiency via smart rostering, stock management, and admin.
- Run regular store audits to improve operations and reduce losses.
- Manage key relationships with landlords, contractors, and service providers.
4. Budget, P&L & Resources
- Manage retail budgets, costs, and resources to hit profitability goals.
- Control payroll, occupancy, and operating expenses within agreed limits.
- Reduce shrinkage and wastage with strong lossprevention measures.
- Provide clear, regular performance updates to the CEO and leadership team.
5. Customer Experience & Brand
- Embed a customerfirst culture and consistent, highquality store experience.
- Track NPS, mystery shopper, and feedback; act fast where standards slip.
- Implement service training to improve satisfaction, conversion, and loyalty.
- Lead omnichannel initiatives that link stores and digital touchpoints.
6. Merchandising, Inventory & Supply Chain
- Oversee merchandising and inventory to optimise availability, turns, and margin.
- Work closely with buying, inventory, and warehouse teams on flow and replenishment.
- Minimise aged stock and markdowns through datadriven decisions.
7. Leadership & Team Development
- Build and develop a highperforming, multicultural field and store leadership team.
- Set clear KPIs, succession plans, and training paths to grow retail talent.
- Drive a culture of accountability, performance, and continuous improvement.
- Champion adoption of new tools and technology in store operations.
8. Compliance, Governance & Risk
- Ensure full compliance with health, safety, licensing, and regulatory standards in all markets.
- Maintain robust controls for cash, inventory, and store administration.
- Work with Internal Audit and other functions to close gaps and strengthen controls.
Key Metrics / KPIs
- Retail revenue growth and samestore sales (LFL)
- New store rampup and project delivery (on time / on budget)
- Sales per square foot and gross margin achievement
- Operational audit pass rate and shrinkage
- Retail P&L delivery, opex as % of sales, and cost savings
- NPS, mystery shopper scores, conversion, and brand standards compliance
- Inventory turns, stock fill rate, and sellthrough
- Team retention, internal promotions, training coverage, and engagement scores
