Retail Associate Manager - Middle East (Bvlgari Parfums)

Position

We are looking for a dynamic and detail-oriented Retail Associate Manager to join our Middle East team at Bulgari Parfums. This role will oversee both Domestic Market and Travel Retail operations, ensuring all retail spaces are aligned with global brand guidelines and delivering an exceptional customer experience. The Retail Associate Manager will play a key role in managing store operations, optimizing visual merchandising, supporting sales teams, leading CAPEX projects, and driving sales performance.

Job responsibilities

Retail Excellence & Brand Consistency

• Ensure all points of sale adhere to Bulgari’s brand guidelines, from merchandising to customer experience.
• Conduct regular store visits and audits to maintain high operational and visual standards.
• Provide feedback and action plans to enhance the customer journey and brand visibility.
• Act as the key liaison between Dubai headquarters and local teams, ensuring seamless execution of corporate strategies.
• Closely monitor stock levels to prevent shortages or overstocking, ensuring a seamless customer experience and optimal inventory management.

Sales Team Support & People Management

• Support sales teams and commercial managers in recruiting, onboarding, and training retail staff (Beauty Advisors, Promoters, and Supervisors).
• Oversee staff planning, including vacation schedules, ensuring optimal store coverage.
• Manage uniform distribution and compliance to maintain brand image and consistency.
• Work closely with the training team to ensure sales associates are knowledgeable and equipped to deliver top-tier service and excellency.
• Provide ongoing coaching to sales associates on the unique selling points of Bulgari fragrances, empowering them to effectively differentiate our products and drive sales.

Merchandising & New Launch Implementation

• Oversee the execution of visual merchandising updates across all stores, ensuring compliance with Bulgari’s global standards.
• Lead & anticipate the implementation of new product launches, ensuring timely and impactful displays.
• Collaborate with marketing teams to optimize in-store animations and activations.
• Ensure proper stock presentation and that testers, samples, and POS materials are well-maintained.
• Manage tester and sample inventory effectively, ensuring availability for customer interaction while minimizing waste and adhering to budgetary guidelines.
• Proactively negotiate for additional display space during key promotional periods to maximize brand visibility and drive sales.

CAPEX & Store Development

• Manage store renovations, openings, and refurbishments, ensuring alignment with brand guidelines.
• Act as the main point of contact between local teams and headquarters’ design team for store concept approvals.
• Source and evaluate suppliers for store fittings, negotiating the best pricing and timelines.
• Oversee budgeting and cost management for CAPEX projects, ensuring efficient investment and execution

Cross-functional Collaboration & Reporting

• Work closely with Sales, Marketing, Training, and Operations teams to enhance store performance.
• Provide regular reports on retail execution, competitor benchmarking, and areas of improvement.
• Monitor KPI performance, identifying opportunities to boost conversion rates and sales per store.
• Monitor and strive to achieve retail sales plans by door, proactively identifying and addressing any potential shortfalls.
• Develop strategies to improve the ranking of Bulgari Parfums' core brands within each point of sale.
• Analyze the performance of promotional activities, providing insights and recommendations for optimizing future campaigns to maximize ROI.
• Collaborate with the Regional Manager to develop and implement strategic seasonal promotional plans, aligned with the corporate calendar, to drive sales and brand awareness.
• Share insights on market trends, competitor activities, and customer preferences with the sales, marketing, and product development teams to inform strategic decision-making.

Profile

• 5+ years of experience in retail operations, preferably in luxury beauty, fragrance, or fashion.
• Strong knowledge of Travel Retail and Domestic Market dynamics in the Middle East.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills with a keen eye for detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills with experience in team management and training support.
• Ability to manage multiple projects (store openings, CAPEX, merchandising) while meeting strict deadlines.
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint) and knowledge of retail analytics tools.
• Fluent in English; Arabic is a plus.
• Willingness to travel frequently across the region.