Chief Operating Officer

Sanne; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A luxury fashion-tech startup is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to drive global expansion and operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in senior leadership roles within luxury fashion, a strong commercial acumen, and the ability to build international operations. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape a disruptive brand within the luxury market with a competitive compensation package.

Benefits

Competitive compensation package

Creative freedom

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in senior leadership roles within luxury fashion.
• Experience building international operations from scratch.
• Strong grounding in DTC models and luxury customer journeys.

Responsibilities

• Lead Sanne's international expansion strategy and market entry.
• Drive commercial KPIs including revenue and profitability.
• Build scalable operational systems for the organization.

Skills

Leadership skills

Strategic thinking

Commercial acumen

Experience in luxury fashion

Operational management

Job description

Location: Dubai, UAE

Type: Full-time, On-site

Reports to: CEO

Experience Required: Minimum 10+ years in senior operational leadership roles within international high-end or luxury fashion brands.

About Sanne

Sanne is a cutting-edge, self-funded fashion startup reimagining the way people engage with fashion retail. At the heart of Sanne is the Sanne Lab, an immersive, tech-enabled retail experience that blends digital innovation with tactile luxury. As we prepare for our first launch in early 2026, we are building a world-class leadership team to shape, scale, and deliver a brand that can resonate globally.

The Role

We are seeking an exceptional Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead and scale Sanne’s operations across markets. This role is pivotal in executing the company’s strategic vision, driving growth across regions and revenue streams, and building an operational backbone that supports global brand expansion. The COO will work closely with the CTO and the wider leadership team to ensure the seamless rollout and commercial success of the Labs, both in existing and new markets, in addition to exploring new retail avenues.

Key Responsibilities

• Global Expansion & Market Entry
• Lead the development and execution of Sanne’s international expansion strategy, including entry into new cities, territories, and key fashion hubs.
• Evaluate and secure strategic retail locations for Labs’ deployments, aligned with brand positioning and market opportunity.
• Oversee localisation strategies and partnerships to ensure successful market penetration.
• Commercial Strategy & Sales Performance
• Own and drive all commercial KPIs including revenue, profitability, customer acquisition, and retention.
• Design and oversee the omnichannel sales strategy (Labs, e-commerce, strategic retail partners).
• Lead partnerships with key retail groups, distribution channels, and influencers to build traction.
• Brand & Product Growth
• Guide vertical and horizontal brand growth including product categories, collaborations, and new formats.
• Work closely with the CEO, design and product teams to ensure alignment between brand identity and commercial goals.
• Translate consumer insights and market trends into actionable growth strategies.
• Operations & Supply Chain
• Build and oversee scalable operational systems including supply chain, logistics, inventory, retail operations, and merchandising.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and performance reporting processes.
• Ensure excellence in execution across all customer touchpoints and retail experiences.
• Leadership & Team Development
• Build and lead a high-performing commercial, operations, and sales team.
• Foster a culture of excellence, ownership, and agility aligned with Sanne’s startup ethos.
• Partner closely with the CTO on integrated tech-retail execution and delivery roadmaps.

Ideal Candidate

• A commercially minded operator with deep experience in building and scaling global fashion or luxury brands.

• Proven track record in delivering growth across geographies, building sales strategies, and managing operational P&L.

• 10+ years’ experience in senior leadership roles across luxury or premium fashion, preferably with international exposure.

• Previous experience scaling startups or leading large-scale transformation within a traditional fashion house.

• Demonstrated ability in building international operations from scratch, ideally in complex or multi-market environments.

• Strong grounding in DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) models, with a clear understanding of luxury customer journeys, expectations, and lifetime value strategies.

• Familiarity with agile project management and rapid retail deployment approaches.

• Solid grasp of tech-integrated retail, including CRM, in-store analytics, and demand-led production strategies.

• Sharp analytical and strategic thinking ability — comfortable with data, dashboards, and board-level performance metrics.

• Exceptionally strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to inspire and influence across departments.

• Startup-ready: comfortable rolling up sleeves while building strategic infrastructure.

• Passion for the intersection of fashion, technology, and innovation.

Why Join Sanne?

• Be part of building something disruptive in the luxury fashion-tech space from the ground up.
• Play a lead role in shaping a global brand with ambitious rollout plans and creative freedom.
• Join a close-knit founding team with deep entrepreneurial experience and aligned vision.
• Competitive compensation package with future performance incentives and growth upside.