Operations Manager

Confidential; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 1,200,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential, based in the United Arab Emirates, seeks an Operations Manager to oversee the performance of a large retail cluster across territories. You will drive best-in-class store execution, customer experience, and strong team development while coordinating with Area Managers, Store Managers and the Operations Director.

Role requires 7–10 years in large-format or specialty retail, with multi-store leadership and solid P&L capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, retail management, operations or related field.
• 7–10 years in large-format or specialty retail operations with multi-store leadership.
• Experience managing international retail brands is preferred.
• Strong P&L understanding and commercial acumen; multi-country experience is an advantage.
• Lean Six Sigma, Retail Operations or Project Management certifications are plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support Area Managers and Store Managers for consistent daily store execution.
• Ensure adherence to retail standards, SOPs, safety, and compliance.
• Own territory KPIs including revenue, conversion, ATV, UPT and productivity.
• Drive weekly/monthly business reviews and action plans with store leadership.
• Collaborate with Merchandising, VM, Marketing, HR and Finance to deliver integrated plans.
• Develop frontline capabilities, training pathways, and leadership pipelines.

Skills

Team leadership

P&L management

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, Retail Management, Operations

Job description

ROLE SUMMARY

The Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing the operational performance of a large cluster or multiple territories within the retail network. The role ensures best-in-class store execution, operational consistency, and commercial performance while driving elevated customer experience and strong team development. This position acts as the key operational bridge between Area Managers, Store Managers, and the Operations Director—ensuring flawless delivery of retail standards, business strategies, and cross-functional initiatives.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Store Operations Leadership

• Lead and support Area Managers and Store Managers to ensure consistent daily store execution across all assigned territories.
• Ensure all stores follow retail standards, operational SOPs, safety protocols, and compliance expectations.
• Own territory operational KPIs including revenue, conversion, ATV, UPT, productivity, shrinkage, and customer service results.
• Perform structured store visits with follow-up actions and continuous performance tracking.

Commercial & Business Performance

• Drive territory commercial performance, overseeing a portfolio generating AED 1.2M–3M per area depending on store mix.
• Lead weekly and monthly business reviews with Area Managers and Store Managers to analyze sales trends, identify gaps, and build action plans.
• Ensure effective execution of promotions, campaigns, and seasonal launches in line with Marketing, VM, and Merchandising teams.
• Build annual store performance forecasts and support budgeting with Operations Director.

Merchandising, Allocation & Inventory

• Work closely with Merchandising and Allocation teams to ensure product availability, replenishment, and assortment alignment across all stores.
• Provide structured feedback on stock gaps, assortment performance, customer buying trends, and SKU productivity.
• Support Area Managers in ensuring stores execute brand visual standards and floor-set requirements.

People & Performance Management

• Lead and coach a team of Area Managers, supporting their development, performance management, and succession planning.
• Partner with HR to build strong frontline capabilities, training pathways, and leadership pipelines.
• Ensure stores are properly staffed, schedules optimized, and labor aligned with productivity targets.
• Drive a high-performance and customer-first culture across the territory.

Process Excellence & Compliance

• Monitor store compliance across operational checklists, LP guidelines, audit standards, and health & safety requirements.
• Lead operational improvement initiatives, driving consistency and efficiency across all districts.
• Support roll-out of new retail systems, tools, and processes, ensuring adoption by store teams.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Operations, Merchandising, VM, Marketing, HR, and Finance to deliver integrated commercial and operational plans.
• Represent Operations in brand, business, and strategic discussions when delegated by the Operations Director.
• Act as escalation point for Area Managers, resolving operational issues and coordinating with relevant departments.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, Retail Management, Operations, or a related field is required. A master's degree is preferred but not mandatory.
• 7–10 years of experience in large-format or specialty retail operations, including at least 3–5 years in multi-store leadership at Area Manager or Cluster Manager level.
• Proven experience managing international retail brands, preferably in the sports, fashion, or lifestyle industries.
• Strong P&L understanding and demonstrated commercial acumen, with experience managing high-volume retail operations. Multi-country experience is an advantage.
• Certifications in Lean Six Sigma, Retail Operations, or Project Management are an advantage.
• Multi-store retail leadership, operational strategy, and execution.
• Commercial acumen, P&L management, financial performance, and KPI analysis.
• Customer experience, service excellence, and retail standards.
• Inventory management, stock flow optimization, and visual merchandising execution.
• Retail compliance, audit standards, and process improvement.
• People leadership, coaching, and talent development.
• Cross-functional stakeholder management and project execution.