Brand Director - Retail Portfolio Strategy

Apparel Group; Dubai; Vor Ort; AED 391.000 - 614.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Apparel Group in Dubai is seeking a Brand Director - Retail Portfolio Strategy to lead brand direction, market expansion, and financial performance across a multi-brand portfolio. You will oversee P&L, budgeting, buying, merchandising, marketing, and retail operations, driving revenue growth and customer engagement.

The role requires senior-level experience in brand management and a proven track record in international retail environments, with strong leadership and cross-functional

Qualifikationen

• Senior-level leadership in retail brand management and portfolio leadership.
• Proven experience owning P&L, budgets, forecasts, and commercial investments.
• Strong capability to translate market intelligence into growth actions.

Aufgaben

• Develop long-term strategic plans for assigned brands and translate portfolio objectives into priorities.
• Own the P&L for assigned brands and manage revenue, gross margin, and budgets.
• Lead pricing, promotions, and markdown strategies across multiple channels.
• Oversee seasonal buying, assortment planning, and inventory productivity.
• Collaborate with Buying, Merchandising, Marketing, Retail Ops, Supply Chain, Finance, and HR.

Kenntnisse

Brand strategy

Brand portfolio management

Retail commercial strategy

P&L management

Revenue growth

Gross margin management

EBITDA management

Business planning

Budgeting

Financial forecasting

Commercial analysis

Market expansion

Business development

Pricing strategy

Promotional planning

Markdown management

Seasonal buying

Merchandise planning

Inventory productivity

Inventory turnover

Sell-through analysis

Stock cover

Stock ageing

Product performance analysis

Customer behavior analysis

Market share analysis

Brand partnerships

Principal management

Licensor management

Commercial negotiations

Annual business reviews

Brand compliance

Marketing strategy

Campaign planning

Customer acquisition

Customer retention

Retail operations

Store performance

Conversion rate

Average Transaction Value

ATV

Units per Transaction

UPT

Retail expansion

Team leadership

Performance management

Executive reporting

Business governance

Risk management

Cross-functional leadership

Jobbeschreibung

Brand Director - Retail Portfolio Strategy Job Snapshot

Role: Brand Director - Retail Portfolio Strategy
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Retail
Function: Brand-Product Marketing
Experience: Senior-level experience in brand management, retail commercial strategy, buying, merchandising, or multi-brand portfolio leadership
Job Type: Full-time

Position Overview

Brand Director - Retail Portfolio Strategy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a senior Retail opportunity for an experienced commercial leader responsible for brand strategy, P&L ownership, merchandise direction, market expansion, partner management, and long-term portfolio growth. Apparel Group is hiring a Brand Director to lead assigned brands across commercial planning, buying, merchandising, marketing, retail operations, financial performance, and team development while strengthening revenue, profitability, market share, and customer engagement.

Job Details

Country: United Arab Emirates
City: Dubai
Industry: Retail
Function: Brand-Product Marketing
Salary: 35000-55000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer.
Gender: Any
Candidate Nationality: Any
Job Type: Full-time

Role Context

The Brand Director will take end-to-end commercial ownership of an assigned brand portfolio, translating global brand direction and market intelligence into sustainable business growth across Dubai and the wider operating network. The position combines strategic planning with detailed commercial management. Responsibilities extend across P&L performance, annual budgets, seasonal buying, assortment productivity, pricing, markdowns, retail KPIs, brand partnerships, marketing execution, customer growth, expansion, and organizational leadership. Success in this role requires the ability to connect financial performance with product decisions and customer demand. The Brand Director will work across Buying, Merchandising, Marketing, Retail Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and HR to ensure each brand performs consistently while remaining aligned with contractual obligations and international brand standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop long-term strategic plans for assigned brands and translate portfolio objectives into actionable commercial priorities.
• Prepare annual business plans covering revenue, profitability, market growth, product strategy, investment priorities, and operational requirements.
• Own the P&L for assigned brands and maintain close control over revenue, gross margin, operating profit, and commercial expenditure.
• Monitor performance against budgets and forecasts and initiate corrective measures when financial or operational results fall below target.
• Identify opportunities for new stores, partnerships, channels, territories, and commercial collaborations.
• Evaluate market expansion opportunities using customer demand, competitive positioning, investment requirements, and financial returns.
• Analyze sales trends, customer behavior, inventory productivity, category performance, and broader market developments.
• Lead pricing strategies designed to balance competitiveness, brand positioning, margin protection, and customer value.
• Establish promotional and markdown strategies using stock age, sell-through, margin, and seasonal objectives.
• Manage budgeting, forecasting, reforecasting, and financial planning processes for the assigned portfolio.
• Provide strategic direction for seasonal buying and merchandise planning.
• Review assortment architecture to ensure the correct balance of categories, price points, sizes, styles, and seasonal products.
• Monitor inventory turnover, stock cover, sell-through, stock ageing, and merchandise productivity.
• Recommend assortment adjustments and replenishment actions based on actual customer demand and store performance.
• Work closely with buying and planning teams to translate market requirements into commercially appropriate product selections.
• Build productive long-term relationships with international principals, licensors, and brand partners.
• Lead commercial negotiations covering terms, investments, growth plans, product support, and partnership expectations.
• Conduct annual business reviews with brand partners and communicate performance, priorities, and market opportunities.
• Ensure all operating activities remain compliant with contractual obligations and agreed brand standards.
• Represent the organization professionally during regional and international partner meetings.
• Collaborate with Marketing teams on campaign calendars, product launches, promotional activity, and customer engagement initiatives.
• Ensure brand positioning remains consistent across stores, digital channels, campaigns, and customer touchpoints.
• Support acquisition and retention programs designed to strengthen customer lifetime value.
• Monitor competitors, changing customer preferences, category movements, and market trends to identify commercial opportunities.
• Partner with Retail Operations teams to improve store productivity and execution.
• Ensure merchandise availability supports sales plans across all retail locations.
• Support new store openings, renovations, relocations, and market expansion projects.
• Monitor conversion, Average Transaction Value, Units per Transaction, sell-through, stock turn, and other commercial KPIs.
• Identify underperforming locations and work with operational teams on focused recovery plans.
• Lead, mentor, and develop brand management teams with clear commercial and organizational objectives.
• Establish measurable performance expectations and hold teams accountable for delivery.
• Encourage effective collaboration across Buying, Merchandising, Marketing, Retail, Supply Chain, Finance, and HR.
• Build a working culture focused on innovation, ownership, disciplined execution, and continuous improvement.
• Prepare executive-level business reports, financial analysis, and performance presentations.
• Present regular business reviews to senior leadership and international brand partners.
• Monitor commercial, operational, inventory, financial, and partnership risks and develop mitigation plans.
• Ensure adherence to internal governance, policies, controls, and operating procedures.

Ideal Profile

The preferred candidate will bring substantial leadership experience within retail brand management, commercial management, buying, merchandising, or portfolio operations. A proven background managing international fashion, lifestyle, footwear, beauty, luxury, or consumer brands will be highly relevant. Candidates should have strong experience owning a P&L and managing revenue, gross margin, EBITDA, budgets, forecasts, inventory, pricing, markdowns, and commercial investment. The role requires advanced knowledge of merchandise planning, seasonal buying, assortment management, sell-through analysis, inventory productivity, and retail performance measurement. Experience negotiating with international principals, licensors, or franchise partners is important, along with the ability to manage annual business reviews and complex commercial relationships. The successful candidate should be comfortable working with large data sets, financial reports, customer analytics, and market intelligence while converting analysis into clear commercial actions. Strong leadership capability is required to manage cross-functional teams, develop senior talent, influence stakeholders, and maintain accountability across multiple business functions.

Skills Set

• Brand strategy
• Brand portfolio management
• Retail commercial strategy
• P&L management
• Revenue growth
• Gross margin management
• EBITDA management
• Business planning
• Budgeting
• Financial forecasting
• Commercial analysis
• Market expansion
• Business development
• Pricing strategy
• Promotional planning
• Markdown management
• Seasonal buying
• Merchandise planning
• Assortment planning
• Inventory productivity
• Inventory turnover
• Sell-through analysis
• Stock cover
• Stock ageing
• Product performance analysis
• Customer behavior analysis
• Market share analysis
• Brand partnerships
• Principal management
• Licensor management
• Commercial negotiations
• Annual business reviews
• Brand compliance
• Marketing strategy
• Campaign planning
• Customer acquisition
• Customer retention
• Retail operations
• Store performance
• Conversion rate
• Average Transaction Value
• ATV
• Units per Transaction
• UPT
• Retail expansion
• Team leadership
• Performance management
• Executive reporting
• Business governance
• Risk management
• Cross-functional leadership

Why Join Us

This role provides the opportunity to lead the commercial direction of established international brands within the Retail sector in Dubai while influencing strategy, merchandise, market expansion, customer growth, and profitability at portfolio level. The position offers broad exposure to international brand partners, senior leadership, financial management, buying, merchandising, marketing, retail operations, and business development. For an accomplished retail leader, it provides a platform to shape long-term brand growth while developing high-performing teams and expanding commercial reach across a dynamic regional market.

About the Company

Apparel Group is a major retail organization operating a broad portfolio of international fashion, lifestyle, beauty, footwear, and consumer brands across the United Arab Emirates and other global markets. Its business combines brand partnerships, merchandise expertise, multi-channel retail operations, customer-focused growth, and disciplined commercial management across an extensive store network.