Area Manager – Japan/Korea

Founded in 2016, French leather goods Maison
Polène
is renowned for its exceptional artisanal savoir-faire and the creation of timeless pieces distinguished by organic lines inspired by nature. Rooted in a strong artistic vision, the Maison continuously elevates its collections of handbags and jewelry, crafted by over
800 artisans
in its workshops in Ubrique, Spain.

In a context of sustained growth and accelerated international expansion, Polène is further structuring its organization in 2026, reinforcing governance, processes, and leadership across all functions. Joining Polène means contributing to the long-term development of a luxury Maison with high standards of excellence, precision, and brand coherence.

Polène's story can be written with you. Join us and contribute to this journey by playing a key role in the operational excellence of our Retail network, working closely with our Paris headquarters while being based in
Tokyo
.

WITHIN OUR INTERNATIONAL RETAIL TEAMS – JAPAN & SOUTH KOREA
Reporting to our Global
Retail Director
, based at Polène's Paris headquarters, the
Retail Area Manager – Japan & South Korea
holds full strategic and operational responsibility for the Retail performance of the region.

You act as a senior leader and key interface between headquarters and the local markets, ensuring the flawless execution of the Maison's Retail strategy while preserving the integrity of the Polène brand experience across all touchpoints. This role requires a
highly hands-on, pragmatic leadership style
, with the ability to continuously
adjust and operate effectively within a fast-growing, dynamic retail environment
.

You play a central role in driving sustainable growth, operational excellence, and talent development in two highly strategic and demanding luxury markets, with a
strong on-site presence
and a deep understanding of store-level realities.

This position is embedded in a strong structuring and expansion phase, encompassing performance acceleration of existing boutiques, preparation and governance of future openings, deployment of Retail standards, and implementation of
robust, KPI-driven management and reporting frameworks
. You work in close partnership with
HR, Retail Operations, Logistics, Image, Finance, Digital, and Customer Care teams
, both locally and at headquarters, as an
integral part of Polène's global Retail function
.

Key Responsibilities

• Regional Retail Strategy & Performance Leadership
• Define and implement the Maison's global Retail strategy across Japan and South Korea, in alignment with headquarters' objectives and local market specificities.
• Hold full accountability for regional Retail performance, ensuring the highest standards of operational excellence across all boutiques.
• Lead the region with a hands-on, field-oriented approach, maintaining regular on-site presence and close proximity to Store Managers and teams.
• Oversee daily operations with a strong focus on client experience, service excellence, visual standards, sales processes, inventory management, and brand image.
• Drive a strong KPI-driven culture, monitoring, analyzing, and challenging performance through advanced dashboards (revenue, productivity, conversion, average basket, CRM performance, clienteling effectiveness).
• Translate performance insights into concrete, actionable, data-led action plans, leveraging the local expertise and market knowledge of Store Managers.
• Present clear, structured, executive-level reporting to headquarters, ensuring transparency, alignment, and informed decision-making.
• Orchestrate major commercial milestones, including product launches, high-profile Retail activations, and peak trading periods, ensuring impeccable execution.
• Senior Leadership, Talent Development & Culture
• Provide senior leadership to Store Managers and Retail leadership teams, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Act as a guardian of Polène's culture and DNA, embedding the Maison's values, standards of behavior, and luxury service mindset across the region.
• Lead with credibility in the field, balancing strategic direction with operational involvement and real-time problem solving.
• Lead talent strategy for the Retail network: succession planning, leadership development, internal mobility, and long-term retention of high-potential profiles.
• Partner closely with HR and Talent Acquisition to define organizational structures, anticipate future talent needs, and ensure premium onboarding and training standards.
• Ensure a stable, respectful, and high-performing social climate, with a visible, trusted, and consistent on-site presence.
• Network Development, Governance & Continuous Improvement
• Lead the strategic preparation and operational governance of new store openings, relocations, and pop-ups, in close coordination with headquarters.
• Structure, deploy, and continuously refine Retail processes and governance frameworks (operations, stock management, after-sales service, clienteling, in-store rituals) to ensure scalability and consistency.
• Maintain an in-depth understanding of the Japanese and South Korean luxury Retail landscapes, with particular sensitivity to department store ecosystems.
• Lead and support business negotiations with department store partners, including topics related to new POS system development, operational adjustments, and evolving commercial frameworks.
• Ensure close collaboration with department store stakeholders while safeguarding Polène's operational standards, data integrity, and client experience.
• Provide strategic recommendations to headquarters based on market intelligence, field insights, and operational feedback.
• Ensure full compliance with internal policies, brand guidelines, and all applicable local legal, labor, and regulatory requirements across the region.

What We Are Looking For

• Minimum 5–7 years of experience in senior multi-site Retail leadership roles (Regional Retail Director, Retail Director, Head of Retail), within luxury, fashion, or high-end premium environments.
• Proven track record of leading complex Retail organizations in mature and highly demanding markets, with full P&L and performance accountability.
• Strong hands-on leadership profile, able to operate pragmatically, adapt quickly, and lead effectively in a growing and evolving organization.
• Demonstrated ability to manage Retail performance through KPIs, data analysis, and structured governance, while valuing and leveraging local Store Manager expertise.
• Solid experience working with department stores, including commercial negotiations and operational projects such as POS system implementation or renewal.
• Deep understanding of the Japanese luxury Retail market; solid experience in South Korea is strongly preferred.
• Fluent English and Japanese are essential; Korean proficiency is a strong asset.
• Highly collaborative mindset, with the ability to operate as part of a global Retail leadership team, partnering closely with Paris headquarters.
• Exceptional attention to detail, brand image, and service excellence, fully aligned with the standards of a luxury Maison.
• Willingness to travel frequently across Japan and South Korea, with regular interactions with Paris headquarters.