Overview
- About us: D42 Group is an investment fund with presence across the food value chain (i.e., production, supply chain, trading & distribution, retail & CPG). Crafted by seasoned industry experts, our dedicated team converges on a singular mission to establish a comprehensive food value chain powerhouse. From our strong presence within the Middle East, Africa & Asia, we continue to extend our influence across emerging markets.
- Scope of role: This role will focus on supporting our development in Southeast Asia. We aim to build a market leader in retail with advanced tech platforms combining classical brick-and-mortar operations with omnichannel offer to consumers and traditional retailers (to be organized across separate verticals).
What you will be expected to do:
Strategy Development:
- Turn investment thesis into green field / partnership strategy (i.e., ambition, aspiration & objectives) & identify key enablers (i.e., investments, people, processes & other assets)
- Identify & leverage local partnerships to enhance market entry and penetration.
- Update shareholders regularly on progress, blockers & proposed way forward.
Developing new retail format pilots:
- Refine omnichannel retail CVP hypothesis generated through customer research (i.e., desk research, focus groups & conjoint surveys)
- Evaluate appetite of B2B segment (i.e., mom & pop shops) in terms of stock-up missions, financial services & potentially other technological solutions (e.g., inventory management incl. PoS, e-payments, digital services incl. ticketing / bill & tax payments, etc.)
- Define pilots scope and go-to-market approach (assortment, pricing, promotions, look & feel, service level, customer experience, private label, other categories ready to eat, cosmetics, etc.)
- Define objectives, budget & timeline (i.e., feasibility model) for first pilots
- Hire key personnel to execute first pilots
- Operationalize first pilots (i.e., location, real estate development, supply chain, last-mile fulfilment, etc.), in-store operations (i.e., format layout, staff, SLAs, etc.), commercial (i.e., suppliers, mom & pop consumers, pricing architecture, assortment structure, promotion calendar, etc.), customer perception (i.e., look & feel, service level, customer experience, etc.) & technology (i.e., omnichannel, eB2B stack, etc.)
- Run multiple test, learn & refine cycles to optimize commercial & operational elements of first pilots in accordance with defined feasibility model
New retail format scale-up:
- Establish processes for successful format scale up
- Run seamless tech integration for target e-offering to consumers and traditional retailers
- Develop financial services & digitization strategies for local mom & pop players to enhance their operational efficiency
- Expand team as necessary across commercial, operations, supply chain, IT, HR, finance, etc. along with developing necessary processes & systems
- Define objectives, budget & timeline (i.e., feasibility model) for scale up in accordance with JV strategy (i.e., ambition, aspiration & objectives) and execute within approved budget & timelines.
What qualifications and experience are required:
- Advanced degree in business administration or equivalent (preferably Master's / MBA)
- Past experience in startups or strategy consulting with focus on launch of innovative products (preferably with technology components) with 10+ years of experience
- Knowledgeable in the SEA market
- Knowledgeable in retail (experience with discounter formats will be a plus)
- Prior experience of working with shareholders and senior executives
- Fluent in English and an additional SEA language (Bahasa (Indonesian/Malaysian), Vietnamese etc.)
What we would like to see:
Core Competencies
- Knowledgeable in retail channels, including modern brick-and-mortar, e-commerce & traditional channels.
- Track record of successful business launch & management
- Building & leading high-performing teams to achieve business objectives.
- Focusing on customer experience & satisfaction in all retail initiatives
- Implementing efficient processes & systems for optimal store performance
- Utilizing data & analytics to inform strategic decisions & drive growth.
Personal Attributes
- Self-driven, ambitious & entrepreneurial mindset
- Excellent leadership skills, incl. agile practices
- Creative problem-solving skillset & strategic mindset
- Excellent relationship skills & ability to liaise with stakeholders from multiple markets
- Excellent written & verbal communication skills
