Director of International & New Business in Manchester

Location: Hybrid | UK Based

Salary: Competitive + Bonus + Executive Benefits

Shape the Future of an Ambitious Global Retail Brand

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a highly successful omnichannel retail business as Director of International & New Business. This is a pivotal executive leadership role, responsible for driving the next phase of international expansion and identifying new commercial opportunities that will accelerate long-term growth. Reporting into the Executive Leadership Team, you'll play a key role in shaping the company's global strategy, developing new routes to market and building sustainable revenue streams across multiple territories. The role combines strategic thinking with hands-on commercial delivery across retail, digital and partnership channels.

The Opportunity

You'll lead the development and execution of an ambitious international growth strategy, identifying new markets, evaluating commercial opportunities and delivering successful expansion through a mix of:

• Owned retail
• Franchise
• Wholesale
• Licensing
• Marketplaces
• E-commerce
• Strategic partnerships and joint ventures

Working closely with senior leaders across Commercial, Digital, Finance, Supply Chain, Marketing and Operations, you'll ensure growth plans are commercially viable, operationally scalable and aligned with the brand's long-term vision.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the international growth strategy across multiple global markets.
• Identify, assess and prioritise new market entry opportunities.
• Build robust business cases and investment proposals for international expansion.
• Develop new revenue streams beyond the core business.
• Negotiate commercial agreements with franchisees, distributors and strategic partners.
• Drive international digital growth through owned websites, marketplaces and partner platforms.
• Take ownership of international commercial performance, budgets and profitability.
• Present strategic recommendations and business performance to Executive and Board stakeholders.
• Lead governance across international partner operations to ensure consistent brand standards and commercial performance.
• Build and influence high-performing cross-functional teams to deliver ambitious growth objectives.

About You

We're looking for a commercially driven leader who has successfully delivered international growth within a retail, fashion, consumer or omnichannel environment. You'll bring:

• A proven track record of leading international expansion strategies.
• Experience across franchise, wholesale, licensing, marketplaces or digital commerce.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to build financial models and investment cases.
• Experience negotiating complex commercial partnerships and agreements.
• A strategic mindset combined with the ability to execute at pace.
• Outstanding stakeholder management skills with experience influencing Executive and Board-level audiences.
• The ability to lead cross-functional teams through change and growth.
• An entrepreneurial approach with a passion for identifying new opportunities and delivering commercial results.

Why Apply?

This is a genuine opportunity to shape the international future of an established consumer brand with ambitious growth plans. You'll have the autonomy to influence strategy, open new markets and create lasting commercial impact while working alongside an experienced executive team committed to innovation and long-term success. If you're an international commercial leader looking for your next challenge, we'd love to hear from you.

To apply, or for a confidential discussion, please contact Zachary Daniels Search.