Regional BD Manager (Retail)

KOS International Limited; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

KOS International Limited is seeking an international business-development professional to accelerate expansion through distribution, franchise, and strategic retail partnerships across Southeast Asia and the GCC, with focus on Hong Kong and Singapore.

The role also develops select B2B opportunities in the local market, negotiates terms, ensures partner readiness, and drives ongoing performance through annual plans, sell-through analysis, and a network of commercial collaborations.

Qualifications

• At least 6 to 10 years in international business development, wholesale, franchise, distribution, key accounts, or retail expansion.
• Relevant background within fashion, apparel, footwear, accessories, lifestyle, premium consumer goods, or branded retail.
• Demonstrated experience engaging, negotiating, and managing distributors, franchisees, wholesale accounts, or other external partners.
• Existing connections with retail groups, distribution companies, franchise operators, or commercial partners in Southeast Asia and/or the GCC would be highly advantageous.
• Strong commercial understanding of wholesale economics, partner P&L, retail margins, inventory planning, open-to-buy, sell-through, pricing, and markdown management.
• Comfortable in a hands-on, entrepreneurial environment where market-entry plans are still being developed.
• Fluent English communication skills, both written and spoken.
• Cantonese and/or Mandarin would be beneficial; additional Southeast Asian or Middle Eastern language capability would be an advantage.
• Willing and able to travel.

Responsibilities

• Develop a structured pipeline of distributors, franchisees, retail groups, and strategic partners across Southeast Asia and the GCC.
• Conduct commercial due diligence on prospective partners, including footprint, brand portfolio, finances, reputation, operations, and channel conflicts.
• Lead or support negotiations on territory rights, terms, commitments, pricing principles, formats, store-opening plans, and visual-merchandising requirements.
• Collaborate with internal and external teams to understand market-entry requirements and regulatory compliance.
• Onboard new partners with brand knowledge, training, sales tools, processes, and retail standards.
• Own partner performance post-launch with annual plans, sales targets, and monthly reviews.
• Monitor pricing, promotions, markdowns, and compliance with brand standards.
• Travel to market sites for insights on competitors and opportunities.

Skills

International business development

Wholesale

Franchise development

Key accounts

Negotiation

Market expansion

Job description

An established premium lifestyle retail brand is seeking an international business-development professional to accelerate its expansion through distribution, franchise, and strategic retail partnerships. Alongside international expansion, the role will also develop selected B2B opportunities in local market.

Responsibilities

• Develop a structured pipeline of prospective distributors, franchisees, retail groups, and strategic wholesale partners across Southeast Asia and the GCC.
• Conduct commercial due diligence on prospective partners, including their retail footprint, brand portfolio, financial position, market reputation, operational capabilities, and potential channel conflicts.
• Lead or support negotiations covering territory rights, commercial terms, minimum purchase commitments, pricing principles, retail formats, store-opening plans, visual-merchandising requirements, and operational support.
• Work with internal stakeholders and external advisers to understand market-entry requirements, including import processes, product labelling, regulatory compliance, certificates of origin, duties, and local product requirements.
• Manage the onboarding process for new partners, ensuring they are equipped with appropriate brand knowledge, product training, sales tools, operating processes, and retail standards before launch.
• Take ownership of partner performance after launch, including annual business plans, sales targets, monthly performance reviews, seasonal sell-in, stock planning, sell-through analysis, replenishment, and reorder opportunities.
• Monitor partner compliance with pricing, promotional activity, markdown policies, visual-merchandising expectations, and wider brand standards.
• Conduct market visits and provide regular insights on local competitors, consumer preferences, pricing, category opportunities, and potential future markets.
• Coordinate closely with merchandising, marketing, product, finance, supply-chain, and operations teams to support partner launches and ongoing commercial performance.
• Build and manage a pipeline of B2B clients in Hong Kong and Singapore, including corporate-uniform programmes, employee gifting, hospitality, bulk orders, and other commercial partnerships.
• Develop a strong understanding of the product range, fabric technologies, fits, and customer benefits in order to confidently present the offering to buyers, corporate clients, and partner teams.
• Prepare commercial proposals and coordinate internal teams to deliver suitable product, pricing, and service solutions for B2B customers.
• Maintain clear account records, opportunity tracking, and relationship-management processes to support sustainable growth of the B2B channel.
• Progressively hand over or systemise routine B2B account-management activities as the international partner network expands.

Requirements

• At least 6 to 10 years in international business development, wholesale, franchise, distribution, key accounts, or retail expansion.
• Relevant background within fashion, apparel, footwear, accessories, lifestyle, premium consumer goods, or a comparable branded retail environment.
• Demonstrated experience engaging, negotiating, and managing distributors, franchisees, wholesale accounts, retail groups, or other external commercial partners.
• Existing connections with retail groups, distribution companies, franchise operators, or commercial partners in Southeast Asia and/or the GCC would be highly advantageous.
• Strong commercial understanding of wholesale economics, partner P&L, retail margins, inventory planning, open-to-buy, sell-through, pricing, and markdown management.
• Comfortable working in a hands-on, entrepreneurial environment where processes and market-entry plans are still being developed.
• Fluent English communication skills, both written and spoken.
• Cantonese and/or Mandarin would be beneficial; additional Southeast Asian or Middle Eastern language capability would be an advantage.
• Willing and able to travel.