Who we are:
Founded in Japan in 1887, Kao is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives with our high quality products and services to create a Kirei Life for all – a beautiful life that respects the needs of our consumers and customers as well as the planet. We never compromise on quality and craft our products with care for the consumer and the environment. As a company driven by purpose and strong corporate values we pride ourselves to be listed among the World´s Most Ethical Companies since 16 consecutive years. Our corporate philosophy, the Kao Way, guides us in everything we do – acting with integrity, courageously driving innovation and treating each other with trust and respect.
The role:
In this position, you will be responsible for the DACH Wholesale retail portfolio through the management of existing – and acquiring of new – retail partners across the territory through the management of 5 dedicated account managers. You are to maintain a high performing team, which alongside you are to deliver the annual Net Sales and Business Profit Budgets.
Develop and implement strategic plans for long term partnerships with both existing and new trade partners. Using strong commercial - and influencing skills to maximise sales and the brands luxury positioning, whilst paying great attention to in-store execution and store staff’s delivery of the Molton Brown customer experience.
This is a permanent, full-time position based in Germany with regular travel across the DACH region.
What you will do:
- Achieve the Net Sales and Business Profit targets.
- To lead, manage and motivate the team to secure their optimal performance in delivering the brand strategy. Coach and develop the team in key areas including Trade Partner terms negotiations management (including difficult conversations and conflict situations), building P&L models, forecasting, and strategy meeting preparation and execution.
- Build strong relationships with trade partners, using strong influencing skills to maximise strategic and tactical sales and profit opportunities
- Constantly review ways of working and processes within the team and with head office to drive (operational and retail) excellence, reduce complexity & improve efficiency, creating more time for the team to focus ontheir customers and delivering the strategy
- Complete all forecasting, reporting, Workday and other admin to a high standard of accuracy and in a timely manner.
- Work with Molton Brown Senior Management to evolve the strategy for the DACH Region focusing on growing our brand appeal and luxury positioning in a way that delivers sustainable, profitable growth
What you will need:
- BSc/B degree or equivalent
- Fluent in German and English, French desirable
- Experience in the Luxury retail segment, ideally within Beauty, established relationships with premium beauty retailers a plus
- Experienced negotiator with record of successful negotiations
- Successful track record of business development
- Managing and delivering top and bottom line sales in line with distribution and channel strategies
- Experienced in building relationships with retailers at Head quarter and Store level
- Ability to analyse sales, competitor and market data in order to make recommendations for the business and create strategic commercial plans
- Experience in meeting budgeted sales and profit growth targets
- Experience in P&L accountability
- 2-5 years’ experience in managing a team of account managers within retail
- The candidate should be able to review and negotiate commercial terms and marketing investment
- Strong communication skills to build lasting, quality relationships with key stakeholders at head quarter, store level but also internally at Molton Brown on an international basis
- Excellent leader and manager, able to set the direction, motivate the team behind the brand strategy and develop them on the journey of delivering the brand strategy
- Organised and logical thinker who identifies inefficiency and complexity and is able to partner with other business functions to put effective processes in place
- Strong communications skills, creating a communication structure, including team meetings, 1 to 1’s, and customer visits, that keeps the team and all relevant stakeholders informed and involved as appropriate
- Ability to understand strategic objectives of the business and develop/implement appropriate plans that deliver to targets set
- Good negotiation skills, demonstrating an ability to plan and execute a complex negotiation creating value for both parties. on both sides analytical skills, numerical skills, communication skills and reasoning are key
- Highly numerate, critical thinker, able to analyse data, trends, and build forecasts and business plans.
How we work: Having been selected among the World´s Most Ethical Companies for 16 consecutive years, we are a company with a purpose and strong corporate values. We never compromise on quality and craft our products with care for the consumer and the environment. At Kao, each employee can actively shape their job and their career. We work collaboratively to achieve our common goals, always aiming to deliver the best for our customers.
What we offer: A friendly and flexible work environment with competitive salaries, benefits package, ongoing development and the opportunity to enhance your skills and deliver tangible results. At Kao your voice will be heard. Your opinion really counts. We believe that change comes from taking opportunities into your own hands, so we value and reward entrepreneurial thinking and innovation.
Hiring Process: Kao embraces the diversity and the individual personalities of its people because we believe it is diversity that makes us strong. This is why we welcome applications from all areas of the global community.
Want to learn more: If you feel you are as unique as our products and want to find out why 33,000 people across the globe opted for a career with us please visit https://www.kao.com/emea/en/
