Director - Retail Discount Operations

Majid Al Futtaim; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

Majid Al Futtaim is seeking a Director - Retail Discount Operations in Dubai, UAE. This senior role involves defining operational strategy, managing multi-store performance, and supporting expansion plans in the discount retail sector.

The successful candidate will oversee store performance and implement effective strategies to drive profitability and enhance customer experience across all locations.

Ideal candidates will possess strong leadership skills and extensive experience in retail discount operations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in retail operations.
• At least 5 years in a senior leadership role within discount or value retail.
• Proven track record managing multi-store retail operations.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the global operations strategy for the retail discount format.
• Implement merchandise strategy at store level and monitor execution.
• Lead the operational delivery of new store openings.

Skills

Retail discount operations

Operations-Plant Management

Multi-store operations

Global operations strategy

P and L management

Inventory management

Project management

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

MBA preferred

Job description

Job Snapshot

Role: Director - Retail Discount Operations

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Industry: Retail

Function: Operations-Plant Management

Experience: 10 years

Job Type: Full-time

Overview

Director - Retail Discount Operations in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a senior Retail opportunity for an experienced operations leader who can define retail discount strategy, manage UAE country operations, drive multi-store performance, and support large-scale expansion plans. This role is responsible for operational excellence, sales growth, profitability, store standards, inventory efficiency, customer experience, people leadership, and the execution of business strategies across a growing discount retail format.

Role Context

The Director - Retail Discount Operations holds a critical leadership role in shaping the performance and future growth of the retail discount business. The position connects global operations strategy with UAE execution, ensuring stores operate with strong cost control, reliable inventory availability, consistent customer service, and clear commercial discipline. By working with senior leadership, merchandising, supply chain, finance, HR, business development, and regional teams, the role helps build scalable store operations, improve profitability, and create a high-performance culture across the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead the global operations strategy for the retail discount format while managing UAE country operations in line with business objectives.
• Translate strategic goals into practical retail operational plans that improve sales growth, profitability, customer satisfaction, and store productivity.
• Oversee multi-store operations and ensure all locations deliver consistent standards in service, product availability, pricing discipline, store presentation, and customer experience.
• Implement merchandise strategy at store level and monitor execution across product assortment, shelf layout, display quality, and promotional activity.
• Review market trends, competitor activity, customer behavior, and discount retail developments to recommend actions that keep the business competitive.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and monitoring of corporate policies, operating procedures, compliance standards, and store governance practices.
• Align with business development teams on store layout, design standards, shelf planning, asset maintenance, contract validation, and new store readiness.
• Manage CAPEX and OPEX planning to ensure operating investments support discount value, productivity, profitability, and long‑term business returns.
• Implement effective stock management practices that support high‑turnover, low‑margin retail discount operations.
• Collaborate with supply chain and merchandising teams to optimize inventory levels, reduce shrinkage, improve product availability, and increase inventory turnover.
• Lead the operational delivery of new store openings, ensuring coordination across functions, on‑time execution, and consistent operating standards.
• Provide input on new store site selection by reviewing customer demographics, economic factors, competitive activity, and real estate considerations.
• Develop sales, marketing, and operational initiatives that drive revenue growth, improve customer experience, and support market expansion.
• Build strong vendor relationships, support contract negotiations, monitor product quality, and work with merchandising teams on assortment and pricing strategies.
• Analyze sales data, financial reports, store KPIs, inventory performance, margins, and customer feedback to identify gaps and implement corrective actions.
• Develop and manage operations budgets while identifying cost‑saving opportunities without reducing store quality or customer service standards.
• Ensure all stores comply with company policies, health and safety regulations, operating country laws, and required reporting procedures.
• Drive process improvement, automation, and best practice adoption to improve store efficiency and reduce operational complexity.
• Create systems that help store managers execute the communicated strategy, business priorities, targets, and operational standards.
• Lead, coach, and develop operations teams while building a reliable talent pipeline for key store and country‑level roles.
• Foster a high‑performance culture based on accountability, teamwork, employee engagement, customer focus, and continuous improvement.
• Provide regular performance reports, operational updates, and strategic recommendations to the SVP Retail Discount and senior leadership.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required.
• MBA is preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in retail operations.
• At least 5 years of experience in a senior leadership role within a discount, value retail, or food retail discount environment.
• Proven track record of managing multi‑store retail operations and driving business growth.
• Significant experience leading operations in the food retail discount sector with international discount chains such as Viva, Aldi, Lidl, or similar value retail formats.
• Experience managing large, multi‑location retail chains across one or more countries.
• Strong background in building operations for a new discount retail format or setting up operational structures from the ground up.
• Practical experience establishing logistics, store layouts, supply chain processes, distribution networks, operating procedures, and store support models.
• Strong project management experience with the ability to oversee store rollouts, coordinate multiple teams, and deliver expansion projects on time.
• Excellent understanding of retail financials, P and L management, budgeting, forecasting, margins, inventory turnover, and operational KPIs.
• Deep knowledge of store operations, stock control, shrinkage reduction, process optimization, health and safety compliance, and retail best practices.
• Strong strategic mindset with the ability to develop and implement business strategies that increase sales, improve profitability, and strengthen customer satisfaction.
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to inspire teams, delegate effectively, coach talent, and manage performance across complex operations.
• Strong negotiation, stakeholder management, communication, and presentation skills.
• Data‑driven decision‑making ability with strong analytical thinking and financial acumen.
• Adaptable, results‑focused, collaborative, and able to thrive in a fast‑moving retail discount environment.

Skills Set

• Retail discount operations
• Operations‑Plant Management
• Multi‑store operations
• Country operations
• Global operations strategy
• Store performance management
• Retail expansion
• New store openings
• Store layout planning
• Shelf layout planning
• Merchandise strategy execution
• Product assortment control
• Inventory management
• Stock optimization
• Shrinkage reduction
• Product availability
• Supply chain coordination
• Logistics coordination
• Distribution network planning
• CAPEX management
• OPEX management
• P and L management
• Budgeting
• Financial analysis
• Retail KPIs
• Sales growth strategy
• Customer experience improvement
• Store standards
• Health and safety compliance
• Vendor management
• Contract negotiation
• Pricing strategy
• Promotional planning
• Process optimization
• Operational excellence
• Project management
• Team leadership
• Talent pipeline development
• Performance management
• Stakeholder management
• Business communication
• Strategic planning
• Data‑driven decision‑making
• Discount retail best practices

Why Join Us

This opportunity gives a senior retail operations leader the chance to shape a growing discount retail business in Dubai's competitive Retail sector. The role offers wide responsibility across UAE operations, global strategy contribution, store expansion, financial performance, customer experience, and operational transformation. It is a strong career move for someone who has built or scaled discount retail formats and wants to influence store productivity, profitability, and long‑term market growth within a major regional organization.