Director of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Job description

The Country Manager will lead the employer’s operations in KSA, overseeing 2 boutiques and a support-office team, for a total of approximately 20 FTEs. This role ensures the employer’s luxury standards are upheld across all operations, drives client and talent acquisition, and aligns local execution with the vision and goals set by Dubai Headquarters. The Country Manager will represent the brand with key clients and VVIPs, motivate and assess team performance, and spearhead expansion initiatives in the Kingdom. The role calls for a leader with a proven track record in international luxury Maisons, who will bring global benchmarks to the Kingdom. A core mandate is to elevate the processes, governance, and ways of working across the KSA operation, building a structured, scalable, and compliant platform that delivers a consistent the employer client experience and supports the next phase of growth in the market. Duties and Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership & Expansion • Develop and execute business plans aligned with corporate objectives and Dubai HQ vision. • Oversee expansion projects, including identifying new boutique and office locations. • Translate the evolving KSA luxury landscape, including growth driven by Vision 2030 in retail, tourism, and destination developments, into a clear market strategy and multi-year expansion roadmap. • Benchmark the employer’s positioning, client experience, and performance against international luxury Maisons operating in the Kingdom, and recommend actions to strengthen competitiveness. • Ensure operational excellence and compliance with the employer’s luxury standards. Brand Representation & Client Engagement • Act as the brand ambassador in KSA, building strong relationships with key clients and VVIPs. • Drive client acquisition strategies to grow the customer base and enhance brand presence. • Deliver a client experience that meets international luxury Maison benchmarks, including private appointments, bespoke and High Jewelry (HJ) presentations, and discreet, highly personalized VVIP service. • Build a structured clienteling program with disciplined CRM use, clear client ownership, and follow-up standards, ensuring client data is handled confidentially and in line with applicable data protection requirements. • Plan and host high-impact private events and clienteling initiatives in partnership with Marketing, measuring their commercial return. Talent Acquisition & Team Leadership • Recruit, train, and retain top talent to maintain luxury service standards. • Motivate the team, conduct performance assessments, and implement development plans. • Build a high-performing team in line with Saudization (Nitaqat) requirements, actively developing Saudi talent and establishing succession plans for key roles. • Embed the employer’s service culture through structured onboarding, ongoing product and gemology training, and regular coaching on luxury selling and service rituals. • Foster a culture of excellence, accountability, and collaboration. Operational Management & Process Excellence • Monitor boutique and office operations to ensure seamless execution. • Maintain profitability targets and prepare periodic performance reports. • Guarantee adherence to SOPs and brand guidelines across all touchpoints. • Assess current KSA processes against Group and international luxury standards, and lead a prioritized improvement roadmap with clear milestones and owners. • Define clear roles, responsibilities, approval matrices, and escalation paths, aligned with Dubai HQ governance. • Introduce a disciplined performance rhythm of KPIs, dashboards, and weekly and monthly business reviews covering sales, conversion, client acquisition and retention, stock accuracy, and service quality. • Conduct regular boutique audits (service standards, visual merchandising, security, and compliance) and ensure gaps are closed through tracked action plans. • Drive full adoption of Group systems (POS, CRM, and inventory) to ensure accurate, timely, and reliable data. Governance, Compliance & Risk • Ensure the KSA operation complies with applicable local regulations, including labor and Saudization, commercial licensing, VAT and e-invoicing, data protection, precious metals and gemstones requirements, and anti-money laundering obligations, in coordination with Legal, Finance, and HR at HQ. • Safeguard company assets through robust inventory controls, security protocols, and insurance compliance, and escalate risks promptly to HQ. Cross-Functional Collaboration • Maintain continuous communication with Dubai Headquarters on vision, strategy, and execution. • Coordinate with Retail, HR, Marketing, and Merchandising teams for alignment on campaigns and initiatives. • Share structured market and client insights with HQ to inform assortment, collection planning, pricing strategy, and events for the KSA market. Required Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or equivalent; Master’s degree is a plus. • International luxury experience: Proven experience with international luxury brands is essential, with direct exposure to global Maison standards in client experience, clienteling, visual merchandising, and operational governance. Experience in fine jewelry or watches is strongly preferred. • Minimum 8-10 years of experience in luxury retail leadership roles, including senior multi-boutique or country-level management. • Strong commercial acumen, negotiation skills, and ability to manage multi-site operations. • Demonstrated track record of designing and implementing processes, SOPs, and performance frameworks that measurably raised operating standards in a multi-site retail environment. • In-depth understanding of the KSA luxury market, client base, and cultural expectations, with working knowledge of the local regulatory environment, including labor law and Saudization. • An established network among HNWI and VVIP clientele in the Kingdom is a strong advantage. Fluent in English and Arabic

Requirements

• Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or equivalent.
• Master's degree is an added advantage.
• International Luxury Experience: Proven experience with international luxury brands is essential, with direct exposure to Maison's global standards in customer experience, customer experience, visual merchandising, and operational governance.
• Experience in fine jewelry or watches is strongly preferred.
• Minimum 8 to 10 years of experience in luxury retail leadership roles, including multi-boutique senior management or nationwide management.
• Strong business acumen, negotiation skills, and ability to manage multi-location operations.
• In-depth understanding of the Saudi Arabia luxury market, customer base, and cultural expectations, with a working knowledge of the local regulatory environment, including labor law and Saudization.

Skills