Director of Retail Concept Development & Hybrid Portfolio

Purpose: The Director of Retail Concept Development & Hybrid Portfolio leads the innovation and execution of proprietary retail concepts and hybrid portfolios combining retail, food & beverage, and experiential solutions.  

Essential Functions: 

• Leads the ideation, design, and development of innovative retail concepts tailored for aviation and travel environments; collaborates with cross-functional teams (Design & Construction, Marketing, Category Management, Operations) to bring concepts to market 

• Drives financial performance (top-line growth, bottom-line profitability, capital expenditures, and IRR) of the retail portfolio; introduces cutting-edge solutions for travel retail and aviation sectors; supports the Commercial team in formulating long-term retail and hybrid growth strategies 

• Partners with the Director of F&B Concept Development to ensure hybrid concepts are innovative, financially viable, and operationally sound and works with Commercial team for participation in concept creation where feasible 

• Monitors industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitor strategies to drive continuous innovation in retail formats, product offerings, and customer engagement; conducts comprehensive market research to identify emerging trends and evolving consumer behaviors in travel retail and hospitality 

• Manages a dynamic hybrid portfolio encompassing physical stores and pop-ups in collaboration with the Concept Development and Portfolio Development teams 

• Develops and executes strategies to maximize portfolio performance and value; analyzes sales data, customer insights, and market trends to inform strategic decisions; identifies new business partnerships in collaboration with the Concept Development and Category Management teams 

• Assesses airport contracts to ensure hybrid concepts align with terminal guidelines and operational requirements; develops and maintains brand guidelines/brand books for consistent concept execution and brand integrity 

• Creates brand guidelines to ensure seamless, consistent and continuous activation 

• Leads seamless execution of proprietary retail and hybrid concepts from planning through launch; oversees resource allocation to ensure project success 

• Partners with Operations teams to uphold store performance standards and deliver exceptional customer experiences; defines and maintains staffing models and implement comprehensive training programs for each concept 

• Cultivates and manages relationships with internal and external key stakeholders, including Operations, Category Management, airport authorities, brand partners, and suppliers 

• Collaborates with the Commercial Team and Director of Retail Portfolio Development in negotiating favorable contract terms 

Reporting Relationship:  The Director, Retail Concept Development & Hybrid Portfolio reports to the Vice President, Concept Development & Portfolio Performance 

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Work Environment:  

• Education and Experience: The combination of education and professional experience must exceed 8 years: 

• In a leadership role: Requires 3 years of experience leading a team of professionals engaged in developing and executing retail concept development programs 

• In a technical role: Requires 8 years of experience engaged in delivering retail concept development programs 

• A bachelor’s degree in a program related to the functional area can count for 3 of the eight-year requirement 

• An MBA or a master’s level degree in a program related to the functional area can count for an additional 2 years of the eight-year requirement  

• In the industry: 3-5 years of Hospitality, F&B and/or Retail experience  

• Specialized Skillset/Competencies/Traits 

• Proven success in developing and launching retail concepts that drive measurable financial results 

• Proficiency in retail management systems, analytics tools, and emerging retail technologies 

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities. 

• Excellent project management and organizational skills 

• Outstanding communication, negotiation, and presentation abilities 

• Business acumen and also has the mindset required to understand the long-term implications of concept development planning and to advance the organizations goals 

• Demonstrated history of understanding the needs of the business, stakeholders, the employee population and individual circumstances 

• Demonstrated history of creating and maintaining positive work environments through coaching, developing, and leading teams to achieve common goals 

• Location/Travel: 

• This position is based at the Retail Center of Excellence in East Rutherford, NJ 

• This position requires up to 50% travel to airports, partner meetings, and industry events 

Disclaimer: 

All job requirements are subject to change to reflect the evolving position requirements or to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a threat or risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to which will be required in this position. Employees will be required to follow other job-related duties as requested by their supervisor/manager (within guidelines and compliance with Federal and State Laws). Continued employment remains on an "at-will" basis. 

Dufry, Hudson, and HMSHost are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.