Retail Expansion Manager 103 views

Company Profile: Balkan Finance Investment Group, BALFIN Group, is one of the most significant and successful investment groups in the Western Balkans region. Geographically, BALFIN Group is present in Austria, Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro and the Netherlands, employing approximately 6,000 people. The activities of the BALFIN Group comprise the development and management of real estate, retail, mining industry, banking, tourism, energy, logistics, etc. BALFIN Group is growing steadily, having a positive impact on the communities through economic development, employment opportunities, innovation and social investment.

Job Position: Retail Expansion Manager
Department: Retail
Location: Tirana

Summary:
The position consists of determining and formulating strategies and providing the overall development of the Group Retail business in terms of new retail business models/ brands set up in existing and new markets, and international expansion of existing brands in new markets. It leads the set up in a new market/ country, within the guidelines approved by the Group. It also consists of planning, directing, or coordinating operational activities at management level with the help of subordinate staff.

Main Responsibilities

• Plan the profitable expansion of existing/ new retail brands and models in existing/ new markets with proper consideration to brand performance and market trends, or of product categories and changes in demographics and competitor activity.
• Work directly with senior management and key stakeholders, including CEOs and CFOs, to create Retail Business Development strategy for Group penetration into existing/ new markets, with emphasis on aggressive expansion into other new international markets.
• Assess potential business partners and acquisition opportunities internationally, including performing comprehensive analysis for potential market for expansion.
• Oversee development of three to five multi-year growth scenarios, meeting with senior management to establish objectives, build models based on variables, and execute plans based on consensus among key management and division heads.
• The expansion plan should meet the Group’s retail investment targets with regards return on investment and pay back and add incremental net profit to the Group while building the long-term market share of each brand.
• Store investments (opening) should meet brand identity expectation but be rigorously checked for capital efficiency. Explore opportunities to value engineer and negotiate costs should result in decrease in capex costs in rollout compared to first instance of each store design.
• Sourcing, negotiating, and executing of potential new deals with landlords in new markets; negotiating rental terms on behalf of Group for highest return including such items as space, base and percentage rent, term of lease, extra charges, etc.
• Co-work with partners, landlords and consultant firms to setup systematic understanding of retail landscape evolvement and assess 2 – 3 years of retail business development plan.
• Perform city capacity and store proximity analysis with required store segmentation to ensure sustained quality of store development.
• Conduct Group’s annual retail expansion planning by brands and locations and manage quarterly rolling forecast of store openings as input to sales planning.
• Report to senior leadership for Group’s retail business development progress updates and communications.
• Co-define store segmentation and financial guardrails.
• Setup store development process KPIs and review mechanism to steer partner store development progress.
• Discuss and align retail business development plan with key local & global partners to ensure alignment with overall Group’s strategy.
• Support partner territory management, store development authorization and KPI evaluation.
• Develop location pipeline and capacity mapping tools to support quality location sourcing and approval.
• Develop store lifecycle management and expansion mapping tools to support systematic store expansion execution.
• Setting and driving long and short-term goals for the retail business development strategy to reach the retail, regional and market objectives.

Requirements

• 10+ year Retail business, preferably in non-food retail business.
• Excellent communication skills in English (verbal and written)
• Proven track record managing a P&L
• Strong change management and cross functional skills
• Dynamic, flexible, and fast-paced mindset
• Experience managing a large portfolio of brands
• Experience working in a matrix organization with several stakeholders and seniority levels.
• A degree in Business Administration, master’s degree preferable.
• Leasing skills and a good understanding of lease contracts and legal requirements.
• Flexibility to travel within the market and abroad on a frequent basis.

Work conditions: Balfin Group offers an attractive benefit package, including a fair remuneration based on merit and performance evaluation.

Application Procedure:
To apply for this position, please submit a CV and a Motivation Letter HERE.

* All applications will be treated with strict confidentiality according to the law No. 9887 set by the Albanian Parliament for the “Protection of Personal Data”. Only the selected candidates will be notified.