Expansion & Business Development Director

THE COMPANY

Our client is a global leader in their specific niche within the retail industry, offering a diverse range of products from well-known and emerging brands. With a customer-centric approach and an innovative shopping experience, they have established a significant presence across numerous countries. Their stores provide an engaging environment, allowing customers to explore a wide variety of products. The company continues to expand its footprint and remains at the forefront of retail trends, catering to a broad spectrum of consumers worldwide. Their Mexico footprint has been successfully growing and has become a global reference for the company. 

THE POSITION

Responsible for developing and executing the long-term vision and strategy for Expansion and Business Development in Mexico. This role focuses on growing brand presence and driving profitability by identifying opportunities, negotiating terms, and successfully launching new store locations across the country.

Key responsibilities:

• Identifying New Business Opportunities: Business development directors are responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities. They explore ways to increase company revenue by expanding brand presence and creating profitable ventures.
• Relationship Building: Build strong relationships with customers, vendors, distributors, and internal teams (such as Retail and marketing).
• Operations Planning: Recommend ways to improve operations planning within the organization.
• Risk Assessment: Assess business risks by analyzing financial, statistical, and economic data.
• Store Openings: Lead all aspects of store openings in collaborations with all areas. Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget.
• Property Acquisition: Identifying potential locations for new store development.  Engaging in contract negotiations to acquire real estate. Managing the organization’s real estate development portfolio.
• Lease Management: Reviewing offers to lease and lease agreements. Negotiating terms and conditions of leases. Working directly with landlords and brokers to meet space needs/requirements.
• Financial Analysis: Analyzing retail real estate proposals related to new stores, relocations, expansions, and renewals.
• Coordinating with store construction/architecture on store buildouts and renovations.
• Develop and submit CER for approval.

Key Challenges:

1. Build a winning team to “accelerate” the business in the next 3-5 years.
2. Identify, negotiate, and open 10 new stores per year.
3. Ensure all new stores deliver results based on targets.

THE CANDIDATE

Key Attributes: Competencies and Behaviors

• Demonstrated skills, knowledge and experience in the design and execution of business plans and strategies.
• Sound strategic skills with an operational reflex. Committed to understanding the business and be close to store operations.
• Experience in dealing with Real Estate broker, Landlords and Shopping Mall developers as well general business issues on a Mexican wide basis: understanding of the Mexican business landscape.
• Has a solid experience in Expansion management and strategy, preferably in the retail industry.
• Experienced in developing, planning, and managing budgets.
• Commitment to working with shared leadership and in cross-functional teams.
• Ability to supervise and manage multiple projects at a time.
• Strong creative, strategic, analytical, organizational and personal negotiation skills.
• Fully bilingual Spanish English (written and spoken) is a must.
• Capacity to conceptualize as well as operationalize Business Development strategies.
• Possess the required skills and standing to serve on the Leadership Committee.
• Experience of interacting with international divisions and corporate head office would be an asset.

Key Attributes: Education and Experience

• Minimum of a pertinent university undergraduate degree.
• Experienced in Real Estate, Expansion, Commercial roles and operations at the Senior Leadership Committee, as well as being an active contributor.
• At least 15 years’ experience in Retail having held senior manager/director roles in recognized innovative organizations.
• Experience in a fast growth environment and a decentralized environment.
• Experience at working in a “performance based” environment to foster it within the organization.