Area Manager Retail

Reports to: Global Retail Director

Location: Paris-based, with regular travel across Europe and to Wavre HQ

Mission – Purpose & Impact

You are the bridge between the store network and the Global HQ, responsible for delivering business growth, operational excellence, and a consistent luxury client experience across Baobab’s European retail footprint — including freestanding stores, concessions, seasonal pop-ups, and selected B2B doors when required.

You translate global retail strategies into field execution — leading, inspiring, and developing teams while ensuring that every store embodies the Maison’s values, standards, and performance ambitions.

You work in close collaboration with:

• the Senior Manager – Global Retail Excellence & Operations, to deploy tools, SOPs, and experiential activations;
• the Senior Manager – Global Retail Performance & Planning, to deliver commercial objectives, optimize productivity, and ensure profitability.

A hands‑on and inspiring leader, you foster ownership, cohesion, and pride across the network, creating an environment where people, performance, and experience thrive together.

Key Responsibilities – Scope of Contribution

1. Business Performance & Retail Excellence

• Drive sales growth and profitability across all European doors, ensuring each store contributes effectively to the region’s overall targets.
• Execute the commercial priorities and KPIs defined by the Global Retail Performance & Planning team.
• Monitor sales, category mix, and productivity by door, implementing corrective or acceleration plans as needed.
• Maintain close awareness of store-level P&L performance, ensuring cost efficiency, payroll discipline, and ROI on local activations.
• Partner with the Global Retail Performance & Planning team to share field insights, inform budget assumptions, and support accurate forecasting.
• Guarantee consistent implementation of Baobab’s retail standards in service, environment, and brand rituals.

2. People Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and develop Store Managers and their teams, fostering autonomy, accountability, and brand ownership.
• Build a strong sense of community across all doors, encouraging collaboration, best‑practice sharing, and engagement.
• Coordinate onboarding and training with the Education team and Global Retail Excellence & Operations.
• Ensure staffing coverage and well‑being, especially during peak periods, launches, or events. Monitor productivity KPIs (sales/hour, sales/FTE) and coach teams to achieve excellence.

3. Client Experience & Brand Consistency

• Ensure every store delivers a client experience aligned with Baobab’s luxury standards and storytelling.
• Partner with the Global Retail Excellence & Operations team to execute retail event, window, and animation strategies, ensuring flawless delivery and local adaptation.
• Guarantee the right ambiance, service posture, and storytelling at all times.
• Provide qualitative feedback and suggestions to HQ to enhance the retail journey and service rituals.

4. Operational Performance & Store Readiness

• Ensure operational excellence in every store — from visual merchandising and stock management to maintenance and daily routines.
• Implement SOPs, checklists, and processes developed by the Global Retail Excellence & Operations team.
• Identify and report operational gaps or system challenges to HQ for continuous improvement.
• Support new store openings, temporary activations, and network expansions with HQ and SDVM.

5. HQ Collaboration & Market Insights

• Collaborate with the Global Retail Excellence & Operations team on process rollout, VM, and in‑store experience projects.
• Collaborate with the Global Retail Performance & Planning team on performance tracking, KPI reviews, and action plan follow‑up.
• Share market feedback, client insights, and competitive intelligence to inform HQ strategies.
• Contribute to HQ workshops, retail seminars, and strategy sessions, acting as the voice of the field.

Profile – Experience & Competencies

• 7–10 years’ experience in multi‑store retail leadership within the luxury/premium sector.
• Proven ability to drive both commercial performance and experiential excellence.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and team‑building skills.
• In‑depth understanding of retail operations, VM, and client experience standards.
• Experience managing freestanding stores and concessions; pop‑up experience a plus.
• Hands‑on, energetic, and solutions‑driven with a collaborative mindset.
• Fluent in French and English; other European languages a plus.
• Based