Job Description

Director of Retail & Merchandising (for Hotels & Resorts)
Location: Singapore
Reporting to: Managing Director / COO / Commercial Director

Role Purpose
The Director of Retail & Merchandising is responsible for end-to-end commercial performance of all retail and lifestyle outlets across the group, including boutiques, dive shops, minibars, cafés, and arcades.

The role owns product strategy, buying, pricing, merchandising, supplier management, and sales performance, ensuring that each outlet delivers strong margins, high sell-through, and a premium guest experience aligned with the brand positioning of the resorts.

Portfolio Responsibility

Outlet Type Count

Resort Boutiques 4

Dive Shops 3

Cafés 2

Arcade / Leisure Retail 2

Total Outlets 11

Key Responsibilities

1. Commercial & Revenue Ownership

Own total retail revenue, gross margin, and contribution across all outlets
Develop and execute annual retail sales budgets by outlet and category
Drive incremental spend per guest through pricing, bundling, and upsell strategies
Monitor daily/weekly sales performance and implement corrective actions

2. Buying, Product Strategy & Curation

Define product mix by outlet type:
- Boutiques: fashion, accessories, souvenirs, private-label items- Dive shops: equipment, apparel, accessories, consumables
- Cafés: retail food items, branded merchandise
- Arcades: leisure merchandise and impulse items

Source and develop exclusive and private-label products where margins justify
Lead product development from concept design sampling production
Ensure product relevance to luxury resort guest profiles

3. Pricing & Margin Management

Set pricing strategies ensuring

- Target gross margins by category
- Competitive yet premium positioning

Manage markdowns, slow movers, and inventory ageing

Optimise cost structures through supplier negotiations and freight efficiencies

4. Merchandising & Visual Presentation

Define merchandising standards for all outlets
Ensure consistent visual storytelling, planograms, and display quality
Work with resort teams to align retail layouts with guest flow and experience
Oversee seasonal refreshes and promotional displays

5. Supplier & Partner Management

Build and manage a network of local and international suppliers
Negotiate: - Pricing, MOQs, exclusivity, lead times - Shipping terms (FOB/CIF/DDP)
Ensure quality control, compliance, and on-time deliveries
Evaluate supplier performance annually

6. Inventory & Operational Control

Maintain optimal inventory levels across all outlets
Implement stock planning, replenishment cycles, and transfer strategies
Reduce stock obsolescence, shrinkage, and write-offs
Collaborate with finance on stock valuation and audits

7. Team Leadership & Capability Building

Provide direction and performance oversight to retail teams
Set sales targets and motivate frontline staff
Develop SOPs, training materials, and selling tools
Foster a culture of commercial accountability and guest-centric selling

Ideal Candidate Profile

10-15 years in luxury retail buying / merchandising
Fashion, Hospitality, resort, cruise, or destination retail experience preferred
Strong commercial acumen with creative sensibility
Proven supplier negotiation and product development track record
Comfortable managing multi-outlet portfolios remotely