Role Summary

The Business Unit Manager is the end-to-end owner of the retail gondola business unit. This role holds full accountability for commercial performance, operations, forecasting, airport authority relationships, and brand integrity across 5–10 gondola locations.

The role leads merchandising, supply chain, and field teams, while driving growth, operational excellence, and disciplined execution in high-visibility airport environments.

This is a strategic, hands-on leadership role requiring strong commercial judgment, operational precision, and the ability to scale the business across the Kingdom.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Leadership & P&L Ownership

Own the full P&L across all gondola locations
Set revenue, margin, sell-through, and inventory turn targets
Manage pricing strategy, promotions, and SKU lifecycle
Conduct monthly business reviews and drive corrective actions
Develop commercial plans to scale from 5 to 20+ gondolas

Airport Relationships & Compliance

Manage relationships with airport authorities, concession managers, and retail partners
Ensure compliance with airport standards, safety regulations, and SOPs
Negotiate and manage contracts, service agreements, and rental terms
Oversee gondola placement and expansion approvals

Operational Excellence

Lead the Operations & Merchandise function to ensure high execution standards
Define operating procedures, replenishment schedules, and visual merchandising standards
Optimize workforce deployment across locations
Resolve operational risks (e.g., supply disruptions, stock variances)

Inventory Strategy & Supply Chain

Approve inventory purchasing plans with Procurement
Forecast demand and define safety stock levels
Oversee warehouse operations and logistics
Ensure gondola assets and fixtures are maintained to high standards

Growth & Expansion

Lead rollout of new gondola locations (CAPEX, setup, merchandising)
Build expansion roadmap across airports and high-traffic areas
Ensure strong execution during openings and early-stage performance

Brand & Customer Experience

Ensure alignment with brand identity and storytelling
Collaborate on digital assets, promotions, and product launches
Maintain high standards of product presentation and customer experience

Data, Reporting & Insights

Produce weekly and monthly performance reports
Analyze SKU performance, category trends, and customer behavior
Identify growth opportunities and performance gaps
Maintain dashboards tracking revenue, sell-through, stock, and margins

Team Leadership

Build and lead a high-performing retail operations team
Set KPIs and drive accountability
Identify hiring needs as the business scales
Foster a culture of ownership and execution excellence

Required Experience & Skills

10+ years in retail or FMCG leadership (airport/travel retail preferred)
Strong experience in multi-site operations and P&L management
Commercial expertise in pricing, forecasting, and inventory management
Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills
Ability to lead cross-functional teams
Strong analytical and reporting skills
Proficiency in Excel and retail analytics tools

Personal Attributes

Highly organized and commercially driven
Hands-on and comfortable with field operations
Strong leadership presence
Fast decision-maker and solutions-oriented
Appreciation for Saudi culture and retail storytelling

Qsas | A PIF Company

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