District Manager - UAE

Role Overview

District Manager – UAE at Abercrombie & Fitch Co., covering Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Company Overview

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is a global, digitally led omnichannel specialty retailer of apparel and accessories catering to kids through millennials. The company operates a family of brands, including Abercrombie and Hollister, each committed to offering products of enduring quality and exceptional comfort. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates stores across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as e-commerce sites abercrombie.com, abercrombiekids.com and hollisterco.com.

Role Purpose

The District Manager serves as the Business and Operational leader across multiple store locations. They collaborate with Home office partners, peers and supervisors to provide market insights that optimize regional strategy and drive optimal business performance. They lead and develop a diverse, multi-layered stores team, fostering an exceptional in-store consumer experience that drives measurable results while executing all store management, talent management, operational processes and business deliverables.

Key Responsibilities

Store Performance & Operations

• Drive and own store-level performance including sales and productivity targets through retail operational excellence in partnership with Store Operations, Location Planning, Supply Chain, Health and Safety, and Accounts Payable functions.
• Deliver a best-in-class customer experience that is fast, friendly and easy.
• Manage and analyse retail KPIs, maintaining a relentless focus on operational excellence within store operations.
• Oversee workforce allocation to meet targets effectively, managing payroll within store budgets.

Visual Merchandising & Brand Standards

• Elevate visual merchandising through forms, in-store standards and visual coherence, ensuring high standards of visual updates and floor sets with execution aligned to brand strategy.

Talent Management & Leadership

• Lead, inspire and develop a diverse and empowered multi-layered stores leadership team.
• Maintain store staffing levels while actively engaging, developing and promoting top talent individuals.
• Cultivate a high-performance team culture, actively developing diverse and empowered talent to ensure a robust pipeline for future growth.
• Identify talent, develop others, succession plan and promote candidates based on results.
• Activate Abercrombie & Fitch culture and values in store teams to drive engagement and motivation.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Collaborate with key business partners to solve district needs with urgency, including HR, Accounts Payable, Health and Safety, Maintenance and Recruiting.
• Motivate, influence and inspire the team, stakeholders and functional partners.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree or related experience.
• Retail experience leading 3 or more direct reports and a team of 30 people.
• Preferred experience in multi-unit management in specialty retail.
• Language: ability to speak to business partners in English; specific languages required based on country need.

Skills & Competencies

• Business-minded with the ability to drive results.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Time-management skills with the ability to prioritize and multi-task.
• Proven expertise in delivering stand-out store experiences and customer service leveraging retail best practices.
• Pro-actively identifies opportunities for growth and improvement; always curious and pushing boundaries.
• Strong communication, presentation and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work independently with autonomy.

Additional Information

Work Schedule & Travel

• Required to work five days per week.
• May work additional hours or days during peak holiday periods and some weekends throughout the year.
• Travel is required for the role.

Scope of Responsibility

• Manages 6–10 owned and operated stores with annual volume ranging between $15M–$35M.

Performance Metrics

• Business KPIs: Sales, Comps, AUR, ATV, Conversion, Omni-channel.
• People: Staffing, Retention, Performance management, Talent management.
• Qualitative: Secret shop, Store experience, Internal audit.
• Expense: Asset protection, Payroll, Relocation, Compliance.
• Presentation: Floor set completion, Replenishment, Visual standards.