Director Retail Concept Development & Hybrid Portfolio

With a career at Hudson, you really benefit! We Offer:

Health, dental and vision insurance

Generous paid time off (vacation, flex or sick)

401(k) retirement plan with company match

Company paid life insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Employee assistance program

Training and exciting career growth opportunities

Referral program – refer a friend and earn a bonus

Compensation: $134,200.00 to $167,800.00 

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:

• Supports the ideation, design, and development  in collaboration with VP, Concept Development of innovative retail concepts tailored for aviation and travel environments; collaborates with cross-functional teams (Design & Construction, Marketing, 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
• 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
• Leads seamless execution of retail and hybrid concepts from planning through launch; oversees resource allocation to ensure project success
• Partners with Category Management to ensure product inclusion in F&B concepts where merchandise is a necessary component; I.e. Sports or Adult Beverage concepts
• Supports the development and delivery of temporary units for both retail and food and beverage in connection with company fabricators and Development to deliver on airport expectations.
• 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.
• Supports brand changes in multi- brand stores and re-concepts. Partners with Category management to ensure signage changes are made and that layouts are updated appropriately. Coordinates with operations to ensure that CM changes happen in the stores.
• Partners with the Director of F&B Concept Development to ensure hybrid concepts are innovative, financially viable, and operationally sound

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

Avolta, including Dufry, HMSHost Corporation, Hudson, and affiliates (“the Company”), is an equal opportunity employer. It is the Company’s policy to ensure equal employment opportunity in all aspects of employment and to comply with anti-discrimination laws and regulations. The Company prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and provides equal opportunities to applicants and team members without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, age, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions and lactation), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, national origin, disability, military service and veteran status, ancestry, citizenship status, marital status, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances (referred to as “protected characteristics”).