Retail Operations

Overview

The International Retail Department (IRD) is the custodian of Aramco’s fuel retail international business and aims to expand Aramco’s presence across the downstream value chain by developing retail businesses in high-value regional and global markets. IRD is contributing to Aramco Downstream business’ financial resilience, securing marketing margins and stable returns and integrating demand centers with new and existing manufacturing assets.  The department is responsible for retail international strategy formulation, business development and M&A activities. Finally, the department is also responsible for the management of the newly established international retail fuels subsidiaries.      

Aramco is deploying at a fast pace it’s Retail Strategy, establishing fully owned fuel retail subsidiaries and JVs. This companies typically have sales and marketing operations that include B2B and B2C market segments both for fuels and finished lubricants, logistic infrastructure such as terminals, pipelines and finished lubricants blending and filling facilities.

A Retail JV Management function is currently being developed within the growing Aramco corporate retail organization as part of the IRD, where a great emphasis is given to the deployment of the brand and securing fuel placement in selected international markets through inorganic growth.

The role requires a professional with considerable experience matured within major international oil companies to bring to the team best-of-class methodologies as well as help shaping the retail operations through the transfer of best practices across markets and affiliates. Within this context the JV management specialist’s role is to provide support and guidance in all fields of business operations of Aramco International Retail subsidiaries and being a liaison between central corporate functions at Aramco’s HQ in Dhahran and the subsidiaries. The role scope includes tracking and facilitating the governance of the established subsidiaries and being the focal point for the planning and financial performance process and its link to the Aramco corporate relevant stakeholders. The ideal candidate held throughout his career different leadership positions within major international oil companies and is willing to transition to a subject matte expert role (SME) as an individual contributor. The candidate is expected to be able to work with considerable independence and across a multitude of diverse projects. Finally, this role also requires excellent relationship and communication skills in order to partner with senior internal and external stakeholders and build organizational alignment.

Duties & Responsibilities

Being the focal point for all-matters related to the subsidiaries at Aramco’s HQ in Dhahran.

Establish a strong relationship with local JV key personnel and relevant stakeholders within Aramco’s corporate structure.

Facilitate al related processes of JV management both in Aramco and its affiliates.

Support the Board of Directors of the JVs to oversee and guide the subsidiaries towards the defined strategic objectives.

Play a key role to accomplish the fuel placement strategic objective, facilitating the implementation of a long-term supply agreement between Aramco Trading and the establishes JVs.

Play a key role to accomplish the brand deployment strategic objective facilitating the development and execution of a comprehensive retail sites rebranding plan in selected JVs. 

Review operational details, investment valuations, plans, costs, and actions.

Oversee the development of the retail operating models, the merchandising strategy, supply chain and partnerships for the c-store operation.

Oversee the introduction of specialty fuel products and coordinate pricing strategies across markets and affiliates.

Ensure the transfer of best practices in retail operations across the markets and affiliates.

Set up an investment review process and implement a regular performance analysis for new investments to verify the achievements against the original business plan parameters. Make recommendations both in terms of investment planning and definition of assumptions.

Delivers clear and effective presentations to Senior Management related to ongoing projects and initiatives, anticipating possible questions and objections. Has the ability to adapt presentation stile to the time, and reactions of senior management.

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor in Business administration, Marketing, Economics or Engineering discipline

At least fifteen years of experience in fuel retail or related businesses matured at different organizational levels within major international oil companies. Exposure to corporate level / international oversight roles and P&L accountability is essential.