Area Manager Europe

In a context of strong growth and international expansion, Polène is recruiting an Area Manager EMEA to lead and develop a network of 6 boutiques in London, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Milan, Vienna and Dubai.

Reporting to the International Retail Director, you will play a key role in consolidating boutique performance, developing management teams and harmonising the House's Retail standards across markets with varied commercial and cultural realities.

You will work on performance, management, operational excellence and network development, with a strong on-the-ground presence alongside Store Managers and local teams.

You will thrive in this role if you wish to:

• Drive the commercial and operational performance of 6 boutiques across several EMEA markets, by analysing key performance indicators and building, with Store Managers, action plans tailored to each store.

• Manage and develop the Store Managers in your scope, by structuring performance routines, supporting their skill development and setting a management standard consistent with the House's standards.

• Ensure a consistent customer experience and operational excellence across the entire network, by overseeing compliance with service standards, Retail processes, brand image, flow management and boutique organisation.

• Support the development and structuring of the EMEA network, particularly during openings, relocations or boutique transformations, from operational preparation through to the stabilisation of teams and performance.

• Act as the link between the markets and the Paris head office, escalating on-the-ground issues, coordinating action plans with HR, Retail Operations, Logistics, Image, Finance, Digital and Customer Care teams, and sharing concrete recommendations with the International Retail Director.

You will excel in this role if:

• You have at least 10 years of experience in Retail, including significant multi-site management experience in a role such as Area Manager, Retail Manager, District Manager or equivalent, ideally in luxury, fashion or a premium environment.

• You have solid experience managing Store Managers and steering several boutiques remotely, and know how to adapt your support to the maturity levels, performance and local specificities of each team.

• You master Retail performance management, notably revenue, conversion rate, average basket, productivity, CRM indicators, staff costs and P&L, and know how to turn this data into operational action plans.

• You have already worked in an international environment and supported growth or network transformation projects, such as openings, relocations, organisational changes or boutique ramp-ups.

• You combine a broad vision with a strong on-the-ground presence: you can set a direction, support managers in executing it and step into the boutique directly when the situation requires it.

• You know how to unite and develop teams in multicultural environments, with clear communication, the ability to challenge and a real demand for quality of execution.

• You speak English fluently to work every day with local teams and international contacts. Fluency in French or another European language is an asset.

• You are available for frequent travel to London, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Milan, Vienna and Dubai.

As Area Manager EMEA, you will join the international Retail team, in charge of the development and performance of the Polène boutique network worldwide.

Reporting directly to the International Retail Director, you will support the Store Managers of the boutiques in London, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Milan, Vienna and Dubai and will be their preferred contact for performance, management and organisational matters.

You will work daily with head office teams, notably Retail Operations, Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, Logistics, Image, Finance, Digital and Customer Care.

The team operates on strong proximity to the field, regular performance reviews and close collaboration between local teams and the Paris head office.

1. Meeting with Talent Acquisition: discover the House, our development project, and share your background and ambitions.

2. Interview with the International Retail Director: explore the challenges of the role, the EMEA scope and our vision for network development.

3. Interview on your management practices and leadership: share concrete situations around team development, performance management and how you support managers.

4. Case study: picture yourself in the role through a problem representative of the performance, management and network structuring challenges.

5. Presentation and in-depth discussion: present your approach and discuss your recommendations and method with the key contacts for the role.

6. Final interview: take a step back to discuss the vision, the House's development ambitions and your long-term contribution at Polène.

By joining Polène, you will have the opportunity to:

• Be part of a House with a unique company project and a very ambitious development plan across its entire value chain.

• Work in a constantly improving environment where innovation and the pursuit of excellence are the watchwords.

• Thrive in an environment where people are at the heart of the project and where attention to employees is a genuine differentiator.

Joining Polène also means benefiting from a range of measures designed for you:

• A 100% on-site employee experience, at our Paris offices in the heart of the 2nd arrondissement, rue du Louvre.

• 25 days of annual leave + 10.5 days of RTT (reduced working time days).

• A ClassPass sport and wellbeing subscription.

• Privileged access to the House's collections (private sales and preferential prices after one year of seniority).

• Access to the People and Baby and Les Petits Chaperons Rouges childcare networks.

• The Alan supplementary health insurance with a tailor-made contract reserved for House employees, with 60% employer contribution.

• The option of a sustainable mobility allowance of up to €40/month or 50% reimbursement of public transport passes.

• Swile meal vouchers with a face value of €10 per day.

What you may not yet know about Polène:

Born in Paris in 2016, shaped in Ubrique, open to the whole world, Polène is much more than a leather goods House: it is a culture, a way of being and creating. Each of our creations reflects this meeting of technical rigour and poetry of form.

Today, Polène brings together 1,500 employees, including 900 exceptional artisans based in Ubrique, Spain, and operates on 3 continents with a target of 7 annual boutique openings.

Polène promotes an inclusive, ethical and fair culture in all its recruitment. We welcome you as you are, with your talents, your energy and your desire to contribute.