General Manager Retail

Job Description : GM RETAIL GCC General Manager - GCC (UAE or KSA based) About us: D42 Group is an investment fund with presence across the food value chain (i.e., production, supply chain, trading & distribution, retail & CPG). Crafted by seasoned industry experts, our dedicated team converges on a singular mission – to establish a comprehensive food value chain powerhouse. From our strong presence within the Middle East, Africa & Asia, we continue to extend our influence across emerging markets. Scope of role: This role will focus on developing our relatively new retail formats for the GCC market – discounters and convenience stores. What you will be expected to do: Strategy Development: Turn investment thesis into JV strategy (i.e., ambition, aspiration & objectives) & identify key enablers (i.e., investments, people, processes & other assets) Update shareholders regularly on progress, blockers & proposed way forward. Developing new retail format pilots: Refine CVP hypothesis generated through customer research (i.e., desk research, focus groups & conjoint surveys) for first pilots. Define go-to-market (assortment, pricing, promotions, look & feel, service level, customer experience, private label, other categories – ready to eat, cosmetics, etc.) approach for first pilots. Define objectives, budget & timeline (i.e., feasibility model) for first pilots. Hire key personnel to execute the first pilots. Operationalize first pilots (i.e., location, real estate development, supply chain, etc.), in-store operations (i.e., format layout, staff, SLAs, etc.), commercial (i.e., suppliers, pricing architecture, assortment structure, promotion campaigns, etc.) & customer perception (i.e., look & feel, service level, customer experience, etc.) Run multiple test, learn & refine cycles to optimize commercial & operational elements of first pilots in accordance with defined feasibility model Scale-up successful formats: Establish processes for successful format scale up Expand team as necessary across commercial, operations, supply chain, etc. to scale up Integrate as necessary with TargetCo processes & systems (i.e., IT, HR, Finance, Supply Chain, etc.) to scale up Define objectives, budget & timeline for scale up in accordance with JV strategy (i.e., ambition, aspiration & objectives) Execute scale up within budget & timeline What qualifications and experience are required: Advanced degree in business administration or equivalent (preferably Master’s / MBA) Past experience in senior management / board roles (preferably CEO / COO) Past experience in retail (preferably within GCC) across several formats with 10+ years of experience Fluent in English (preferably also Arabic) Core Competencies Knowledgeable in launching retail operations at international markets Building & leading high-performing teams to achieve business objectives Experience with discounter / proximity formats, focusing on customer experience & satisfaction in all retail initiatives within target formats Implementing efficient processes & systems for optimal store performance Utilizing data & analytics to inform strategic decisions & drive growth Self-driven & ambitious mindset Excellent leadership skills, incl. agile practices Creative problem-solving skillset & strategic mindset Ability to manage large diverse teams Excellent relationship skills & ability to liaise with stakeholders Excellent written & verbal communication skills

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