Senior Director Retail Expansion - Europe (M/F/D)

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organisation

Enhance the brand presence, consumer experience and profitability of European Retail Stores by maintaining a consumer centric operating framework for the Real Estate and Store Development community to work within. The role is responsible for securing and implementing the European retail expansion and store development plans according to targets. The post holder is furthermore responsible for implementing, driving, and ensuring compliance with the agreed Global Retail processes for executing strategy based on global guidelines and for leading a consumer focused, best in class expansion and construction team. The role will ensure and drive the management of key cross-border landlords, brokers and developers as well as architects, agencies and general constructors. Moreover, the role will drive collaboration and feedback culture with global retail and store concept functions. Ultimately the role is responsible to positively impact the European Retail and Franchise profitability by reducing lease and construction costs and by setting up highly efficient processes.
    
Key Responsibilities

•    Execute the European Expansion strategy 
•    Drive the store lifecycle management process
•    Orchestrate the Planning process within Retail Europe including CAPEX allocation and lease spend
•    Lead the portfolio management process with European key landlords, drive the expansion pipeline as well as store standards in terms of construction and sustainability
•    Lead key negotiations with defined prioritised landlords
•    Contribute to the development of all BPMs for new and / or remodelled stores in collaboration with Market Finance via a formalised process to ensure a disciplined approach to retail real estate.
•    Lead the Market Europe Store Development & Real Estate team, ensuring the acquisition of locations according to targets. Lead the Store Development team to ensure project deadlines and execution within budget. Ensure that maintenance standards are kept during store lifecycle and guarantee that all stores build and remodelling work is compliant with local Health & Safety policies, procedures and legal regulations.
•    Lead the dialogue with global Real Estate, Retail, Consumer Experience and Store Development functions to leverage consumer experience to the highest level
•    Manage and control the function’s operational expenses (OPEX) in line with the Market retail budget.
•    Contribute to commercial decisions by analysing retail KPI’s, market developments and opportunities
•    Ensure continuous improvements in customer satisfaction are sought and ’best practices’ are encouraged as being a way of doing business within Europe
•    Lead the Retail Expansion, Retail Planning and Store Development team; create and drive a high performance culture by:
-    Evaluating the competencies of team members on a regular basis and providing prompt feedback and guidance to drive high performance.
-    Taking ownership for Talent Management processes to grow, develop and retain talents.
-    Setting clear expectations and individual goals.
-    Translating the company goals into team-specific actions and business plans. Control and monitor performance and results.

 

Key Relationships

•    Market Retail Directors 
•    Europe Retail SLT
•    Global Real Estate team
•    Global Concepts team
•    Europe and Market Franchise team
•    Consumer Direct Finance FP&A team
•    Human Resources 
•    IT, VM, Retail Marketing
•    External: key landlords, brokers, agencies, general contractors

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

•    Strong Team builder - comfortable working in a matrix organization, across boarders/time zones working with a diverse and international group of highly skilled leaders and experts
•    Demonstrated experience in team leadership; lead, motivate, and develop high performing teams
•    High level of business acumen and financial understanding
•    Excellent communication skills including impactful presentation skills, influencing and negotiating, business partnering and change management
•    Advanced numeracy and literacy, with good IT skills (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint)
•    Geographical mobility and global leadership mind-set
•    Fluency in English (written and verbal)
•    Another European language desirable

 

Requisite Education and Experience/Minimum Qualifications 

•    University degree in business or equivalent relevant experience
•    Minimum of 8 years in a Senior Management/Head of Department role or equivalent level
•    Several years of relevant work experience in Retail Real Estate and Retail Store Development
•    Leadership experienc