Expansion Manager - Retail Development

Majid Al Futtaim; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Majid Al Futtaim seeks an Expansion Manager - Retail Development to drive Saudi growth with end-to-end expansion of discount retail stores. You will identify locations, assess feasibility, negotiate leases, and coordinate multi-stakeholder projects across Finance, Legal, and Operations.

The role demands 8+ years in business development or retail expansion, strong commercial judgment, and proven ability to lead complex, high-impact initiatives in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field.
• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience, including at least 4 years in Retail or related sector.
• Experience managing store expansion, site acquisition, lease negotiations, and network growth.

Responsibilities

• Translate growth strategy into a pipeline of new locations.
• Identify potential sites using demographic, commercial and catchment analysis.
• Conduct feasibility assessments and build business justifications.
• Lead lease negotiations with landlords and developers.
• Coordinate due diligence and project governance from opportunity to handover.
• Manage expansion budgets, schedules, and milestones.
• Collaborate with Finance, Legal, Operations, and Procurement.
• Monitor KPIs and report on pipeline, progress, and openings.
• Ensure compliance with regulations and governance standards.

Skills

Retail expansion strategy

New store development

Site identification

Site acquisition

Lease negotiation

Expansion project management

Budget management

KPI monitoring

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional leadership

Market evaluation

Regulatory compliance

Financial justification

Risk assessment

Team development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration

Master’s degree (advantageous)

Job description

Expansion Manager - Retail Development

Job Snapshot Role: Expansion Manager - Retail Development Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Industry: Retail Function: Business Development Experience: Minimum 8 years Job Type: Full-time

Position Overview Expansion Manager - Retail Development in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is a Retail hiring opportunity focused on accelerating new-store growth through site identification, feasibility analysis, lease negotiation, market assessment, and end-to-end expansion project delivery. Majid Al Futtaim is seeking an experienced business development professional to support the growth of its discount retail network across Saudi Arabia by identifying commercially attractive locations and converting expansion opportunities into operational stores.

Job Details Country: Saudi Arabia City: Riyadh Industry: Retail Function: Business Development Salary: 25000-35000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer. Gender: Any Candidate Nationality: Any Job Type: Full-time

Role Context The Expansion Manager plays a central role in translating Majid Al Futtaim Retail 's Saudi growth strategy into a sustainable pipeline of new locations. The position combines market intelligence, property evaluation, commercial negotiation, project governance, and stakeholder coordination to ensure each expansion initiative meets financial, operational, and strategic requirements. Success in this role depends on identifying locations with strong commercial potential, building credible business cases, negotiating favorable lease arrangements, and coordinating complex projects through to completion. The manager will also help strengthen expansion processes, improve project productivity, and support informed investment decisions across the retail development portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage implementation of the Saudi Arabia retail expansion plan in line with approved growth objectives and investment priorities.
• Identify potential sites for new discount retail stores using demographic, commercial, accessibility, competition, and catchment-area analysis.
• Conduct feasibility assessments and prepare business justification for prospective retail locations.
• Evaluate market conditions, competitor networks, customer demand, and emerging development areas to identify future expansion opportunities.
• Lead commercial discussions and negotiate lease terms with landlords, developers, property owners, and other external stakeholders.
• Coordinate due diligence activities before site approval, including commercial, technical, legal, financial, and operational considerations.
• Manage expansion projects from initial opportunity assessment through approval, contracting, development, and operational handover.
• Maintain project schedules, budgets, milestones, and resource plans while escalating risks that could affect delivery.
• Work across internal functions including Finance, Legal, Operations, Property, Construction, Supply Chain, and senior management.
• Select and coordinate contractors and consultants in accordance with approved procurement and governance requirements.
• Monitor external partner performance and ensure deliverables comply with contractual obligations, timelines, budgets, and quality expectations.
• Track expansion KPIs and prepare clear management reports covering pipeline development, approvals, project progress, cost, risks, and forecast openings.
• Ensure expansion activities comply with Saudi regulations, corporate governance requirements, lease obligations, and contractual standards.
• Conduct risk assessments and support audits relating to property development and expansion projects.
• Review existing processes and recommend improvements that strengthen project efficiency, profitability, and execution quality.
• Advise local teams on retail development trends, expansion methods, new concepts, and industry practices that may support future growth.
• Coach team members, support performance development, and build capabilities required for a sustainable retail expansion pipeline.

Skills Set

• Retail expansion strategy
• New store development
• Site identification
• Site acquisition
• Retail location analysis
• Feasibility studies
• Business case development
• Market evaluation
• Competitor analysis
• Catchment area assessment
• Lease negotiation
• Commercial property assessment
• Landlord negotiations
• Vendor relationship management
• Contractor management
• Consultant coordination
• Expansion project management
• Budget management
• Project scheduling
• KPI monitoring
• Risk assessment
• Contract administration
• Regulatory compliance
• Business development
• Financial justification
• Stakeholder management
• Cross-functional leadership
• Retail network planning
• Management reporting
• Team development

Ideal Profile The preferred candidate holds a bachelor 's degree in Business Administration or a related discipline, while a master 's degree would be advantageous. A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience is required, including at least 4 years within Retail or a closely related sector. Experience involving store expansion, commercial property development, business development, site acquisition, lease negotiations, or retail network growth would be particularly valuable. Candidates should demonstrate experience managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and external partners. Strong commercial judgment is needed to evaluate new locations, assess investment potential, prepare business cases, and negotiate agreements that support long‑term profitability. The position also requires a capable people manager with strong communication, presentation, influencing, analytical, and negotiation skills. The successful candidate should be comfortable presenting recommendations to senior stakeholders and driving projects through competing operational and commercial priorities.

Why Join Us

Saudi Arabia 's rapidly developing Retail landscape is creating sustained demand for professionals who can identify viable locations and convert growth strategies into commercially successful store networks. This position offers direct involvement in Majid Al Futtaim 's expansion agenda and provides exposure to property strategy, investment evaluation, leasing, project delivery, and senior‑level commercial decision‑making. The role also offers a strong platform for experienced expansion professionals to broaden their leadership capabilities while contributing to new‑market development and the long‑term growth of a major regional retail organization.

About the Company

Majid Al Futtaim is a leading regional group with businesses spanning retail, shopping malls, communities, and leisure. Its retail operations continue to expand across key Middle Eastern markets, creating opportunities for experienced professionals to contribute to network growth, commercial development, and large‑scale retail investment initiatives in Saudi Arabia.