Director - Travel Retail, L'Occitane

Chalhoub Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

The L’OCCITANE Group is seeking a Senior Director to lead Travel Retail in the Middle East (UAE focus). The role reports to the General Manager and MD Middle East, defining operating plans, increasing market share and net revenues, and ensuring alignment between HQ and JV while guiding a regional team.

Responsibilities include planning, execution, and control across Sales, Marketing, and operations, with a strong emphasis on brand growth and regional expansion opportunities in the Middle East.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in travel retail leadership roles.
• Strong strategic planning and brand development experience.
• Able to manage diverse stakeholders across HQ and JV.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute yearly plans and budgets for the Middle East region.
• Lead and develop a team; oversee Sales and Marketing and 20 Beauty Advisors.
• Drive brand portfolio visibility and consumer experience in Travel Retail.
• Communicate data and results to HQ and cross-regional stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Travel retail

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Job description

L’OCCITANE Group

The L’OCCITANE Group is an international group that manufactures and retails beauty and well-being products that are rich in natural and organic ingredients. A global leader in the premium beauty market, the Group has more than 3,000 retail outlets, including more than 1,500 owned stores, and is present in 90 countries. Through its seven brands – L’OCCITANE en Provence, Melvita, Erborian, L’OCCITANE au Brésil, LimeLife, ELEMIS and Sol de Janeiro – the Group offers new and extraordinary beauty experiences, using high-quality products that respect nature, the environment and the people in it.

L’OCCITANE Group

The L’OCCITANE Group is an international group that manufactures and retails beauty and well-being products that are rich in natural and organic ingredients. A global leader in the premium beauty market, the Group has more than 3,000 retail outlets, including more than 1,500 owned stores, and is present in 90 countries. Through its seven brands – L’OCCITANE en Provence, Melvita, Erborian, L’OCCITANE au Brésil, LimeLife, ELEMIS and Sol de Janeiro – the Group offers new and extraordinary beauty experiences, using high-quality products that respect nature, the environment and the people in it.

L’OCCITANE Group

The L’OCCITANE Group is an international group that manufactures and retails beauty and well-being products that are rich in natural and organic ingredients. A global leader in the premium beauty market, the Group has more than 3,000 retail outlets, including more than 1,500 owned stores, and is present in 90 countries. Through its seven brands – L’OCCITANE en Provence, Melvita, Erborian, L’OCCITANE au Brésil, LimeLife, ELEMIS and Sol de Janeiro – the Group offers new and extraordinary beauty experiences, using high-quality products that respect nature, the environment and the people in it.

L’Occitane Group is an equal opportunities employer. One way we act on this is by continuously fostering a more diverse and inclusive workplace and organizational culture. We are committed to building an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment, where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to grow. We seek positive-minded individuals who embody our core behaviors — Trust, Curiosity, Excellence, Impact — and who share our commitment to sustainability.

We welcome applications from people of all genders, ages, sexual orientations, ethnicities, background, religions, beliefs, ability statuses, and all other dimensions of diversity.

L’OCCITANE Middle East

The L'OCCITANE Middle East has 60+ retail stores & an online presence in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan & Lebanon. We provide our employees with a range of benefits that reflect our importance on staff well-being and enjoyment at work.

JOB SUMMARY & Purpose

The Travel Retail Middle East team oversees the development of Groupe L’Occitane in the Travel Retail markets in the Middle East by building the Group’s brand portfolio through consistent brand visibility and consumer experience. The Director, reporting to the Travel Retail EMEAA General Manager and to the Managing Director for Middle East, will define and execute the operating plans to develop Groupe L’Occitane brands, increase the market share and achieve the net revenues, and operating profit objectives budgeted to achieve a long-term sustainable business. This role will ensure the correct communication between HQ and the JV, and manage, motivate and develop their team in the Middle East

What You’ll Be Doing

PLANNING

• Together with the TR EMEAA GM and MD – Middle East, will define the best path to achieve the business objectives established for the unit and brand portfolio, in accordance with company’s strategic planning.
• Define yearly budgets / targets for the region and review with TR EMEAA Teams + MD for Middle East.
• Manage the Business Objectives on a Brand and Account level.
• Organize regular Review Meetings for the region.
• Identify regional and global industry trends and opportunities (category, clients, brands, etc…).
• Identify areas of expansion in the region.

EXECUTION

• Run local operating plans (Sales, Marketing, Forecast…) and execute local growth initiatives.
• Participate in strategic business reviews with Key Accounts and lead the execution of plans in the region.
• Ensure implementation of collaborative planning and follow up on suggested orders.
• Become a vehicle for the identification of Best Practices within the organization and the industry.

CONTROL

• Report to HQ all relevant managerial data (KPI and Sales and Operations reports) of his subsidiary, on a monthly basis.
• Be the communication bridge between the Subsidiary and HQ, and between the Subsidiary and the other Subsidiaries.

MANAGEMENT

• Lead, manage and develop a team of 2 direct reports (Sales and Marketing) and around 20 Beauty Advisors in the region.
• Cooperatively engage with the matrix of stakeholders including the JV partners to lead and influence key decisions to deliver business growth objectives.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of plans and program and recommend/implement improvements.

What You’ll Need To Succeed

Key Competencies & professional skills.

• Strong business acumen and experience in travel retail industry (at least 10 years), retail trends, brand development, innovation and digital passion about the beauty and luxury industry. Knowledge of the Middle East market and its macro economical aspects is a plus.
• Consumer centric
• Entrepreneurial spirit
• Managing diversity and multiple stakeholders (HQ and JV)
• Flexible and able to challenge status quo and to adapt to new scenarios and business situations by bringing new insights.

Soft Skills

• Natural leader who through his/her personality and impact is a motivational & efficient/effective leader and team-builder. Solid relationship building skills to manage the relationship between Groupe L’Occitane and the clients effectively.
• Ability to interact in a multicultural environment.
• Team player & cooperation
• Efficient communicator
• Integrity and trust