Country Retail Manager - UAE (Fine Jewellery Maison)

We are recruiting a Country Retail Manager - UAE for an established international fine jewellery Maison.This is a key commercial leadership position with responsibility for the performance of the brand's boutique network across the UAE.We are looking for someone who already knows this world.The successful candidate must come from an international luxury brand and have strong experience within fine jewellery, high jewellery, watches or a closely related high-end luxury environment.This is not simply an operational retail position.The Country Retail Manager will be expected to know the boutiques, the teams, the clients and the business in detail. You will work closely with each Store Director or Boutique Manager, understand where performance can be improved and make sure the retail organisation is consistently operating at the level expected of an international luxury Maison.The position requires someone who is commercially strong, visible in the stores and credible with experienced luxury retail teams.You should be equally comfortable reviewing a store P&L or discussing KPIs with senior management as you are spending time on the floor with a Boutique Manager understanding why a particular team, category or client segment is performing differently.COMMERCIAL PERFORMANCEYou will have direct responsibility for driving the commercial performance of the UAE boutique network.This will include:- Owning retail sales performance across all UAE boutiques.- Working with Store Directors and Boutique Managers to deliver annual sales targets and commercial objectives.- Reviewing performance by boutique, category, team and individual.- Monitoring sales, conversion, average transaction value, units per transaction, client development and other relevant KPIs.- Identifying where performance is falling behind and agreeing clear actions with store management.- Recognising opportunities early and working with boutiques to maximise them.- Reviewing monthly, quarterly and annual performance against budget and previous year.- Contributing to sales forecasts, budgets and business planning.- Providing senior management with a clear and realistic view of the UAE retail business.- Ensuring commercial decisions are based on what is actually happening in the boutiques rather than reporting numbers without context.BOUTIQUE LEADERSHIPThe quality of the Store Directors and Boutique Managers will be central to the success of this role.You will manage, coach and challenge the boutique leadership population across the UAE.You will spend regular time in stores, observing the business first-hand and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of individual locations and teams.Responsibilities will include:- Providing clear direction to Store Directors and Boutique Managers.- Setting expectations around commercial performance, leadership and client experience.- Holding regular performance reviews with store management.- Coaching managers to become stronger commercial and people leaders.- Ensuring managers are developing their own teams rather than relying on regional management to solve store-level issues.- Identifying high-potential employees and future leaders.- Supporting succession planning across the retail network.- Working with HR on recruitment, retention, performance and employee development.- Reviewing staffing structures and ensuring each boutique has the right level and quality of talent.- Supporting senior retail appointments when required.We are looking for someone who can raise standards without creating unnecessary noise around them.CLIENT DEVELOPMENTFor a fine jewellery Maison, strong retail performance is inseparable from strong client relationships.The Country Retail Manager will work closely with boutique teams and Client Development/CRM functions to grow the quality and depth of the UAE client portfolio.You will:- Ensure client development is a genuine commercial priority across every boutique.- Review VIC and UHNW client activity with store leadership.- Support teams in identifying and developing high-potential clients.- Ensure Client Advisors are building meaningful long-term relationships rather than relying on transactional selling.- Review client retention, reactivation and acquisition opportunities.- Support private appointments, client events and important commercial moments.- Become involved in significant client opportunities where appropriate.- Ensure teams understand their client portfolio and have clear plans for developing it.- Work with regional teams around important international events and client experiences.An understanding of the discretion, patience and relationship-building required when dealing with high-value jewellery clients will be essential.FINE JEWELLERY & PRODUCTThis is why relevant sector experience matters.The successful candidate should understand the difference between managing a conventional luxury fashion store and leading a fine jewellery retail network.You will need to appreciate the longer client journey, higher transaction values, importance of trust and product knowledge, security considerations and the more personal nature of selling fine and high jewellery.You will work closely with merchandising and product teams around:- Product performance across the UAE.- Boutique assortment and stock requirements.- Key collections and launches.- High-value and exceptional pieces.- Client requests and product opportunities.- Stock movement between boutiques where commercially appropriate.- Availability for important client appointments and events.You do not need to be a gemologist, but you do need to understand the environment and be credible within it.RETAIL EXCELLENCEThe Country Retail Manager will ensure that every boutique delivers consistently high standards.This will include:- Client experience.- Boutique presentation.- Grooming and service standards.- Visual merchandising.- Operational discipline.- Product handling.- Security procedures.- Stock accuracy.- Loss prevention.- CRM and clienteling practices.- Compliance with company policies and procedures.The objective is consistency without making every boutique feel identical. Different locations have different clients, commercial dynamics and opportunities, and the Retail Manager should understand those differences.OPERATIONSYou will maintain oversight of day-to-day retail operations across the UAE network.Responsibilities will include:- Ensuring boutiques operate in line with company procedures and international standards.- Reviewing operational performance with store management.- Monitoring inventory controls and stock accuracy.- Ensuring appropriate loss prevention and security procedures are followed.- Working with relevant teams on stock counts and inventory requirements.- Supporting audits and ensuring actions are followed through.- Working closely with Retail Operations, Finance, HR, Logistics and Security.- Supporting new boutique openings, relocations, renovations and other retail projects.- Identifying processes that create unnecessary complexity for boutique teams and working with the relevant functions to improve them.PEOPLE & TALENTThe strength of the retail organisation will be one of your most important responsibilities.Working closely with HR, you will:- Review the structure and capability of each boutique team.- Identify recruitment requirements.- Participate in key retail hires.- Monitor employee turnover and retention.- Identify strong performers and future management talent.- Support succession planning for critical positions.- Address performance issues with Store Directors and Boutique Managers.- Ensure new managers and senior retail employees are integrated effectively.- Encourage internal development and progression where appropriate.- Maintain high expectations around leadership behaviour and team culture.UAE MARKETThe successful candidate should have a strong understanding of luxury retail within the UAE.You should understand the differences between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the importance of local and international clientele and the commercial dynamics of operating within some of the world's most important luxury retail destinations.Existing knowledge of the UAE luxury client landscape would be highly valuable.You will also monitor competitor activity, new store openings, market developments and changes within the luxury jewellery sector.REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPSThe position will work closely with regional management as well as international headquarters.You will provide clear feedback from the UAE market and represent the needs and opportunities of the local business.This will involve regular interaction with:Regional ManagementRetailMerchandisingMarketingClient Development and CRMFinanceHuman ResourcesRetail OperationsSupply Chain and LogisticsVisual MerchandisingSecurity and Loss PreventionInternational HeadquartersThe successful candidate needs to be comfortable operating within an international organisation where regional and global stakeholders will expect a strong understanding of the business and clear communication.WHO WE ARE LOOKING FORWe are looking for an established luxury retail leader with a strong track record within an international brand.The successful candidate must have relevant experience within fine jewellery, high jewellery, watches or a closely related high-end luxury environment.This is important.We need someone who already understands the expectations, client journey, service standards and commercial realities of selling high-value luxury products.You should currently be operating at multi-store level or be an exceptional senior Store Director/Boutique Director from a major international Maison who is ready to move into broader country responsibility.You will need to be commercially sharp, confident with numbers and comfortable holding experienced Store Directors and Boutique Managers accountable for performance.At the same time, this is a people business.The strongest candidate will be someone who can build credibility with teams, understands clients and knows when being present in the boutique will tell them more than another report.EXPERIENCE & REQUIREMENTS- Strong luxury retail management experience.- Current or recent experience with an established international luxury brand is essential.- Fine jewellery, high jewellery, watches or closely related luxury experience is strongly required.- Previous UAE or GCC luxury retail experience.- Multi-store management experience would be highly advantageous.- Strong commercial track record with clear evidence of delivering sales growth.- Experience managing Store Directors, Boutique Managers or senior retail leaders.- Strong understanding of retail KPIs and store profitability.- Experience with VIC and UHNW client development.- Strong knowledge of luxury clienteling and CRM.- Experience developing and retaining high-performing retail teams.- Comfortable managing performance and challenging experienced managers.- Strong understanding of retail operations, stock management, security and loss prevention.- Experience supporting boutique openings, renovations or other retail projects would be advantageous.- Strong analytical and reporting capability.- Confident presenting business performance to regional and international senior management.- Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.- Fluent English is essential. Arabic would be advantageous.- Based in the UAE or possessing substantial previous experience within the UAE luxury market.THE OPPORTUNITYThis is an opportunity to take responsibility for an important market within an established international fine jewellery Maison.The position offers considerably more than store supervision.The successful candidate will have real ownership of the UAE retail business, its commercial performance, its people, its clients and the continued development of the boutique network.We are looking for someone who understands the standards of a leading international Maison and has the experience and credibility to drive them consistently across the UAE.