Senior Manager Retail, MENA

About the Role & Team

To work along the General Manager responsible for the region, not currently based in Dubai, to lead the strategic development of the Consumer Products business across MENA, and to be the day-to-day point of contact for the DCP team in the region.

To include the construction and deployment of strategy and objectives, leadership of the team and establishment and maintenance of a strong and progressive team culture. Across the following licensed product lines of business –toys, stationery, apparel, accessories, food, health, beauty, home, infant, in the Middle East and North African region, in partnership with the EMEA regional leadership team, to whom many members of the DCP team have solid reporting lines.

Ultimately, the purpose of this role is to deliver revenue growth for TWDC MENA through a thorough understanding of retail structure, consumers and shoppers, developing retail programs, executions and sourcing outstanding product with our existing and new licensees that reflect the core strategies of our franchises and executing account plans with our Key retail partners. Selling consumer relevant, innovative, exceptional, magical, fun and educational products that captivate and inspire passion, respect and trust with MENA based consumers.

The Senior Manager position will oversee targets, control investment budgets and has P&L responsibility for all lines of business within this MENA regional cluster.

This role will be a thought leader, pioneering new business models and concepts, leveraging consumer insight and shopper understanding to drive sales and secure retail space through strategy and actions across all categories. Alongside with the GM for the region, will identify product gaps in the overall portfolio by segment (mass, mid, high end) and will identify sources of supply and distribution to fill these gaps.

This role will lead key retail business development initiatives, the execution of consumer and seasonal occasions as well as leading new commercial models and revenue streams that deliver the Disney Difference at retail.

The Senior Manager position is also responsible for establishing key relations with the key stakeholders in the Disney Entertainment team, to ensure the right synergies are created for our DCP interests.

Areas of Responsibility / Key elements and required results of the role
 

Strategy & Category Leadership

• The role is responsible for the design, development and implementation of the MENA retail business strategy for Disney Consumer Products, creating the business vision, goals and objectives and leading the team towards a common purpose and achievement of focused activities to meet or exceed sales revenue targets, growth objectives and other brand initiatives aligned to the overall strategy of EMEA Consumer Products.
• Strategize and develop new business, sales opportunities and growth objectives that are aligned with global/regional strategy. 
• Developing and leading the specific MENA category vision: setting the strategic direction and leading the teams to meet or exceed sales revenue targets and growth objectives
• Constructively challenging status quo thinking and assumptions, while providing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to achieve category objectives and organizational goals
• Identify new ways to gain more shelf space at retail and to optimize sources of supply.
• Understanding franchise strategies and developing programs at retail to sustain and drive growth

Partner & Relationship Management

• To ensure financial goals are achieved for each key retailer and key retail channel, product category and consumer demographic. 
• Promoting the revenue strategy externally, acting as a champion and spokesperson for Disney in Middle East, building senior customer stakeholder relationships
• Aligning internal stakeholders and ensuring they are aligned to the local strategy
• Work in close partnership with the EMEA regional team, to ensure full integration of MENA
• Effectively planning and leading the team to ensure individual category and consumer demographic growth targets and product initiatives are supported and financial goals are achieved 

Team Leadership

• Will be responsible in conjunction with the GM for the region for the overall vision and leadership of the MENA DCP organization.
• Align resources to optimize revenue and efficiency, ensuring resources are leveraged to deliver maximum efficiency
• Build relationships and collaborate with all key partners. 
• Liaise with EMEA and other TWDC LOB’s, sharing best practice. 
• Successfully engaging the team in the strategy and translate this into measurable personal objectives
• Motivating and inspiring the team to success
• Continuous assessment of talent to ensure optimal alignment with roles and future bench strength for TWDC

Consumer Demographic Insights Management

• Align resources to deliver the TWDC consumer group strategies
• Leveraging demographic consumer insight, develop new products for “white space”
• Support the development of TWDC Franchise programs in conjunction with consumer insights through licensees and key accounts

Franchise Management

• Partnering with the Marketing and Franchise Teams in the development of the local Franchise Strategy that supports and drives revenues
• Align the team with the franchise strategy attributes, ensuring product availability by consumer demographic and Franchise.
• Execute franchise strategies with licensees and retailers

Finance , Operations and Legal

• Set with the EMEA category teams and the GM, deliver and execute the annual integrated AOP
• Responsible for the regions P&L, developing and presenting annual business plan and determine key objectives and priorities to ensure project focus.
• Manage key reporting submissions and forecasts

Areas of Accountability

Responsible for the MENA DCP P&L, including developing annual business plans (AOP) as Strategic Plan (5YP), and, determining key objectives and priorities to deliver strong double digit growth annually

Responsible for delivering net profit contribution equivalent of the MENA total revenue base.

Experience and Professional Qualifications Required

Experience, Qualifications and People Management experience

This is a business critical role. It requires the individual to lead the business in a matrix organization, set clear objectives and influence senior stakeholders.

As well as superior relationship management skills, the role will demonstrate both practical operational rigor as well as big picture thinking to enable a retail and product vision.

A high level of creativity coupled with practical execution skills will be necessary for role.

TWDC are specifically looking for:

• Proven P&L leadership, execution and achievement.
• Proven success as a multi category leader, with partnership or sales background
• Demonstrable experience of creating and executing a joint business plan
• Understanding of other licensing and vertical categories
• Outstanding sales skills combined with customer, consumer or retail marketing leadership borne out of demonstrable success leading these functions
• Established and respected customer and industry relationships
• Experience of operating in or an understanding of matrix management
• Team leadership, translating vision into goals, objectives and deliverables
• Solid knowledge of the Middle East retail landscape

Skills Required

Highlighting the key technical, language and job related skills required

• Ability to build confidence and trust in others, showing consistency between words and actions, maintaining a positive but realistic outlook, working constructively under stress and pressure
• Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills
• Interpersonal skills and strong customer relationship skills
• Leadership skills
• Superior negotiation and communication skills
• Strong awareness of leveraging the benefits of consumer and shopper insight
• Ability to coach and successfully lead and manage a team
• Educated to degree level or equivalent

Additional Information

Travel required and cross-cultural requirements
This role will require regular domestic and some international business travel.
Leading a multi-cultural team to market a highly global and multicultural region.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. 

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.