Al Futtaim Jobs - Buying & Merchandising Manager | Sports & Lifestyle | Dubai (Dubai, AE)

Job Requisition ID: 34835 

No two days are the same at Al-Futtaim, no matter what role you have. Our work is driven by the desire to make a difference and to have a meaningful impact with the goal of enriching everyday lives. Take our engaging and supportive work environment and couple it with a company culture that recognises and rewards quality performance, and what do you get? The chance to push the limits every single day.

 

As a humble family business that started on the banks of the Dubai Creek in the 1930s, Al-Futtaim has expanded to a presence in 31 countries, a portfolio of over 200 companies, and 42,000 employees. You’ll find us in industries ranging from automotive and retail, to finance and real estate, and connecting people with international names like Lexus, Ikea, Robinsons, and Adidas. Our team is proudly multicultural and multinational because that kind of diverse representation gives us the global mindset to grow and impact the people, markets, and trends around us.

 

Come join us to live well, work better, and be the best.

About the Role

 

The Job Holder is responsible for the General Merchandising Strategy to drive Sales and Cash Margin and is accountable for achieving the Key Business KPI’s of Sales, Cash Margin, Markdown Cost and Closing Stock. He/she controls Sports & Lifestyle and OTB Planning and Product Selection for all General Merchandising Business Units. He/she is responsible for Team Management and Team Development leading all Brand Managers and their teams ensuring high energy and engagement whilst building and maintaining effective Cross-Functional relationships, including those with the Host Brand.

Range Management

• Develops a global commercial strategy (short, medium and long term) and implements for each category. Defines store layouts through all product categories (Sports & Lifestyle and product mix).
• Excellent negotiation and relationship skills in order to create and develop long term business partnerships and portfolio (exclusivity) with brands.
• Communication of strategies and enhancements to all stores for implementation.
• Ensure merchandise standards and principles are maintained and kept in uniform across all product categories through effective database control.

Gross Margin Management

• Sets the pricing strategy for each brand, in each territory and guarantees re-enforcement of the brand perception building items, when setting prices of the business range.
• Sets overall guidelines for margin exploitation by product area and ensures processes are established to analyse margin deviation. Is primarily responsible for the periodic Gross Profit Simulation exercise for each territory to make sure that pricing delivers the margin and profit goals agreed.
• Manage full OTB process; sell through, markdown policy and return of supplier process. Analytical and proactively manages sales, inventory and margin through effective range planning and buying.
• Monitors business performance and formulates initiatives to ensure delivery of business targets and revenue.
• Additionally, has the responsibility to make certain that overall margin goals are met irrespective of clearance sale and promotional activities. Manages the ‘blended’ margin.

Supply Chain Management

• Works closely with the Logistics and Inventory Manager in defining, establishing and developing the supply chain operation.
• Ensures that all objectives/ metrics are delivered including quality, quantity, cycle time and cost through development and execution of strategic and tactical initiatives.
• Works with the Logistics and Inventory Manager in planning the flow of merchandise for business in line with the overall volume goals set and with the purpose of maintaining stock as per requirements of the business.
• Maps the ordering process, the frequency of placing re-orders, and the use of warehousing facilities in a manner that the handling costs are kept to the lowest and lead times of the products are optimized.
• Optimises all the benefits of SAP ECC6.0 and ensures that the ‘system’ is allowed to operate unhindered.
• All merchandise ordering is ‘managed’ by SAP whether local, domestic or import, based on ‘rules’ agreed and set by the job holder.
• Has responsibility for stock availability at country level.

Market Research  

• Initiate, brief and implement research for each brand with the support of external partners, as to assess a realistic market position and to help Sports & Lifestyle the business as a market leader in terms of merchandising standards and principles.
• Maintain collaborative partnership and effective negotiation with external vendor’s internal customers such as Marketing and Store Operations to drive traffic and build brand and customer loyalty.
• Identify location (store) growth opportunities and minimise slow selling product categories. Work with marketing calendar to ensure synergies.
• System development & Co-ordination with different functions
• Plays a vital role in developing and maintaining system processes relating to the buying & supply chain elements of SAP.
• Plays a key role in the SAP and BI ‘reporting’ development in collaboration with Retail IT/STS.
• Works closely with the Operations Manager to secure the optimal range presentation in all stores.
• Facilitates the close interaction of the Buying team with the store teams to ensure that commercial priorities and feedback is ongoing.

 

Minimum Qualifications and Knowledge:

• MBA or B. Com (Business Management or Buying) - SAP Knowledge is essential.
• Minimum Experience:
• 8-10 years in Retail Planning Management position (Store based experience essential)                                      
• Job-Specific Skills:
• Strategic planning and analytical skills. Influencing and negotiating skills. Merchandise planning and inventory knowledge. Sports & Lifestyle planning.
• Behavioural Competencies:
• Strong communication skills, confident decision maker, leadership skills and strategic thinker. Ability to lead, develop and motivate.

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