Space & Range, Deputy Manager

Watsons Malaysia; Malaysia; On-site; MYR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Watsons Malaysia is seeking a Space Planning & Range Lead to manage space planning, new store openings, refits, and seasonal changes across its stores. You will optimise floor layouts to maximise sales productivity and shopper experience.

You will work closely with Trading, Marketing, Operations, and Supply Chain to implement planograms, deploy ranges, and support commercial initiatives. Strong leadership and stakeholder management are essential.

Qualifications

• Degree in Business Studies, Retail Management, Marketing, or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in retail space planning, merchandising, category management, or related fields.
• Proven experience in managing complex retail environments and cross functional stakeholders.
• Strong commercial and analytical thinking.
• In depth understanding of retail space planning and range optimisation.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Structured, detail oriented, and execution focused.
• Strong leadership and team management capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead end to end store space planning activities, including new store openings, refits, relays, and seasonal space changes.
• Develop and implement strategic space allocation by category and store format, aligned with trading priorities.
• Drive improvements in sales per meter through systematic space optimisation.
• Oversee range implementation in stores, ensuring alignment with approved planograms and space guidelines.
• Partner closely with Trading, Marketing, and Operations, Supply Chain teams to ensure accurate and timely execution.
• Support SKU introduction, rationalisation, and exit decisions from a space productivity perspective.
• Work closely with Trading, Business Development, Marketing, and Planogram teams to align space strategies with commercial objectives.
• Support campaigns, brand visibility initiatives, and category growth plans through effective space allocation.
• Act as key advisor on space related implications for commercial initiatives.
• Review and analyse post implementation space performance at category and store level.
• Identify opportunities for space improvement and recommend corrective actions.
• Provide inputs and insights for management reviews, presentations, and business discussions.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and direction to team members within the Space & Range function.
• Act as key point of contact for space related planning, discussions, and approvals.
• Lead regular space planning and review meetings with internal stakeholders.

Skills

Commercial thinking

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Team management

Prioritization

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Business Studies, Retail Management, Marketing, or related discipline

Job description

Job Purpose

To lead and manage space planning, Regional and local project, floor layout optimisation, and range deployment across Watsons Malaysia stores, ensuring effective use of retail space to maximize sales productivity, enhance shopper experience, and support overall commercial and trading strategies.

Key Responsibilities

Space Planning & Optimisation

• Lead end to end store space planning activities, including new store openings, refits, relays, and seasonal space changes
• Develop and implement strategic space allocation by category and store format, aligned with trading priorities
• Drive improvements in sales per meter through systematic space optimisation

Range Deployment & Execution

• Oversee range implementation in stores, ensuring alignment with approved planograms and space guidelines
• Partner closely with Trading, Marketing, and Operations, Supply Chain teams to ensure accurate and timely execution
• Support SKU introduction, rationalisation, and exit decisions from a space productivity perspective

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Trading, Business Development, Marketing, and Planogram teams to align space strategies with commercial objectives
• Support campaigns, brand visibility initiatives, and category growth plans through effective space allocation
• Act as key advisor on space related implications for commercial initiatives

Performance Review & Insights

• Review and analyse post implementation space performance at category and store level
• Identify opportunities for space improvement and recommend corrective actions
• Provide inputs and insights for management reviews, presentations, and business discussions

Team & Stakeholder Management

• Provide leadership, guidance, and direction to team members within the Space & Range function
• Act as key point of contact for space related planning, discussions, and approvals
• Lead regular space planning and review meetings with internal stakeholders

Job Requirements

• Degree in Business Studies, Retail Management, Marketing, or related discipline
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in retail space planning, merchandising, category management, or related fields
• Proven experience in managing complex retail environments and cross functional stakeholders
• Strong commercial and analytical thinking
• In depth understanding of retail space planning and range optimisation
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Structured, detail oriented, and execution focused
• Strong leadership and team management capability
• Willingness to support store visits, refits, and space execution reviews as required
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast paced retail environment