A prestigious African luxury fragrance house is seeking an entrepreneurial and commercially astute Market Development Manager to lead the launch, development and expansion of its brand within South Africa.
Inspired by Africa's rich culture, creativity and heritage, the fragrances are crafted to world-class standards and positioned within the premium luxury market. This is a rare opportunity for a commercially driven beauty or fragrance professional to build a brand from the ground up and establish its presence within South Africa's leading beauty and luxury retail channels.
Reporting directly to international leadership, the successful candidate will be responsible for developing and executing the South African market strategy, securing and growing retail partnerships, driving brand visibility, optimising commercial performance and acting as the key link between the international brand team and local retail partners.
This role requires a highly connected individual with an established network within the luxury beauty, fragrance and retail sectors.
Key Responsibilities:- Retail and Commercial Development:
- Develop and execute the South African market entry and growth strategy
- Identify, secure and grow partnerships with leading retail groups and luxury beauty channels
- Lead negotiations with retailers, distributors and strategic partners
- Build strong relationships with senior decisionmakers, category managers and buying teams
- Drive sales growth across all retail and wholesale channels
Brand Management and Market Expansion:
- Act as the custodian of the brand within South Africa
- Ensure consistent execution of brand standards across all retail touchpoints
- Manage new store listings, product launches and promotional activities
- Oversee merchandising, visual presentation and in-store brand visibility
- Monitor market trends, competitor activities and consumer behaviour
Supply Chain and Operations:
- Coordinate stock forecasting and inventory planning with international stakeholders
- Oversee order management and replenishment processes
- Ensure products are available in the right channels at the right time
- Work closely with logistics, retail partners and distributors to support business growth
Marketing and Brand Activation:
- Collaborate with marketing teams to localise global campaigns
- Plan and execute luxury events, activations and launch initiatives
- Identify strategic opportunities to elevate brand awareness and market positioning
- Build relationships with influencers, media partners and industry stakeholders where appropriate
Commercial Performance:
- Deliver sales and profitability objectives
- Manage budgets, forecasts and business reporting
- Analyse sales performance and recommend corrective actions where required
- Present regular business reviews and growth plans to executive leadership
Requirements:
- Minimum 5 years' experience gained within Top Ten Luxury fragrance houses
- Proven track record of successfully managing or launching premium brands within South Africa
- Existing relationships with major South African beauty and luxury retailers
- Demonstrated success in business development, retail partnership management and commercial negotiations
- Strong understanding of retail distribution, merchandising, inventory planning and brand execution
- Excellent presentation, communication and stakeholder engagement skills
- Ability to operate strategically while remaining hands-on and execution focused
- Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel nationally
Desired Skills:
- Fragrance
- Luxury
- Business Development
- External Sales
- Premium Beauty
- New store listings
- Product Knowledge
- Retail distribution
- Market expansion
- Partnership management
Desired Work Experience:
- 5 to 10 years
Desired Qualification Level:
- Diploma
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