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
