Area Manager - Sports Retail

Who we are:

GMG is a global well-being company retailing, distributing and manufacturing a portfolio of leading international and home-grown brands across sport, food and health sectors. Its vision is to inspire people to win in ways that make the world better. Today, GMG's investments span across four key verticals: GMG Sports, GMG Food, GMG Health, and GMG Consumer Goods. Under the ownership and management of the Baker family, it has become a leading global company, affiliated with the world's most successful and respected brands in the well-being sector. Working across the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, GMG has introduced more than 120 brands into its markets.

Role Summary

As Area Manager, you will lead the operational performance of multiple stores within an assigned territory. You will make sure every store executes brand standards consistently and delivers on operations, commercial results and people development. You will play a key role in driving revenue and raising the customer experience. You will also keep store operations, merchandising and allocations working together smoothly at store level. You will report to the Director - Operations / Operations Manager.

Key Responsibilities

Store Operations

• Oversee day-to-day operations across assigned stores to ensure consistency, compliance and operational excellence.

• Monitor store-level KPIs including revenue, conversion, ATV, UPT, shrinkage and customer experience metrics.

• Ensure all stores comply with retail standards, operational SOPs, health and safety guidelines and brand requirements.

• Conduct regular store visits with clear action plans and follow-ups.

Commercial Execution

• Drive commercial performance across the store portfolio, with accountability for sales (AED 800K-1.2M per store), profitability and productivity.

• Support the execution of seasonal campaigns, promotions and product launches in alignment with Operations, VM and Marketing.

• Review weekly trade, analyze store performance and implement corrective actions where required.

Merchandising & Allocation Alignment

• Work closely with Merchandising and Allocation teams to ensure optimal stock flow and product availability.

• Provide continuous feedback on assortment, sell-through, customer trends and stock gaps.

• Ensure merchandising guidelines are executed correctly and products are presented effectively.

People & Performance Management

• Lead, coach and develop Store Managers and their teams, building a high-performance culture.

• Support talent development, performance reviews, succession planning and training needs in partnership with HR.

• Ensure labor planning, scheduling and staffing align with operational requirements and productivity targets.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Operations, Merchandising, Marketing, VM, Finance and HR to ensure aligned execution.

• Act as the key communication bridge between store teams and head office.

• Support the rollout of business strategies, retail initiatives, loss prevention processes and compliance requirements.

Requirements

• 5-7 years experience in retail operations, including at least 3 years in a multi-store supervisory or Area/Cluster Manager role.

• Proven experience managing international retail brands, preferably in sportswear, fashion or lifestyle.

• Strong understanding of store operations, merchandising, stock flow and customer experience.

• Solid financial acumen, with the ability to read P&L drivers, KPIs and operational metrics and turn them into action plans.

• Strong leadership and people management skills, with a track record of developing Store Managers and building talent pipelines.

• Confident working across functions, and able to manage stakeholders at store and head office level.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Retail Management or a related field (required) a Master's degree is preferred.

• Professional certifications in Retail Operations, Leadership or Supply Chain are an advantage.