About the company

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organisation to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day.

Overview of the role

The Import Specialist for Oman is responsible for ensuring a seamless integration of retail and supply processes at store level. This role involves managing logistics operations to align supply and demand for optimal service levels at minimal costs. The specialist must efficiently handle imports and warehouse operations, supporting the store's stock availability for customers and optimizing the logistics across external warehouses. Key success factors include proactive management, strong partnerships with customs and logistics services, and maintaining high service levels while minimizing operational costs. The role requires collaboration with cross-functional teams to achieve business objectives and maintain brand standards.

What you will do

• Control incoming containers by sea/road to IKEA Oman, ensuring adherence to supply setups.
• Possess full knowledge of customs/documentation processes in Oman and coordinate with authorities for product approvals and duty rates.
• Manage imports and exports by tracking article ranges and tariff codes.
• Plan for stock availability by prioritizing clearance and generating stock receipts (GRN) in systems.
• Ensure store stock availability to minimize local shortages and meet customer demand.
• Provide input on warehouse capacity needs to the GCC logistics manager three months in advance.
• Manage goods flow processes from external warehouse to store, ensuring checks for discrepancies and damages are conducted with immediate claims.
• Manage all import documentation and processes, ensuring coordination with suppliers and external warehouse planning based on capacity needs.
• Monitor and optimize the total supply chain costs by regularly evaluating partner communication and customer expectations.
• Lead logistics and goods flow department, working closely for highest goods availability at lowest possible cost.
• Secure warehouse prerequisites to support efficient range administration considering space dimensioning and goods allocation.
• Contribute to optimizing supply chain costs by monitoring customer expectations and communication processes.
• Maintain strong relations with local authorities, customs, and logistics partners.
• Ensure store stock availability to maximize sales and optimize goods flow productivity from external warehouses to stores.
• Collaborate with commercial teams to secure efficient goods flow and enhanced merchandising.
• Identify causes of recurring damages to minimize their reoccurrence in the future and optimize logistics capacity usage in the external warehouse.
• Actively contribute to creating and implementing the external warehouse business plan, ensuring proper execution of logistic actions.
• Ensure compliance with global and national solutions, routines, and working methods to enhance operational efficiency.
• Ability to manage a high-volume retail environment, ensuring flexibility, speed, and simplicity in operations.
• Analyze customer and brand feedback to improve service and implement global/national solutions, processes, and tools for warehousing.
• Contribute to environmental compliance and health and safety performance within the store.
• Work proactively to optimize goods flow operations contributing to profit & loss goals.
• Ensure timely clearance and delivery of containers as per agreements, coordinating necessary certificates and approvals.
• Monitor performance against global KPIs, ensuring timely actions and decisions align with business growth and long-term profitability.
• Control costs through lean, cost-conscious operations and active participation in budgeting plans based on sales forecasts.
• Engage in store logistics meetings to support and adapt to activity changes impacting warehousing processes and patterns.
• Provide an inspiring and motivating direction for co-workers, supporting their development and growth in line with IKEA values and business objectives.
• Recruit team members considering skills, motivations, and capabilities needed for achieving department goals.
• Empower team by delegating responsibilities and supporting personal development plans to achieve business and personal goals.
• Create an environment of trust, encouraging open feedback for continuous improvement.
• Ensure effective training for team members to coordinate and optimize goods flow operations.
• Maintain a living succession plan working with matrices and HR manager to prepare future organizational leaders.

Required skills to be successful

• Proficiency in MS Excel and other Microsoft Office programs.
• Strong communication skills in English, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work with schedules and maintain deadlines.
• Experience with planning, implementation, and monitoring of logistics operations.

What qualifies you for the role

• Bachelor of commerce or equivalent degree.
• 3-5 years of experience in logistics, supply chain, warehousing, local customs, and clearance processes.
• Proficient in MS Excel and other MS Office programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to work with deadlines and implement planned actions.

Additional information

We’re here to provide excellent service but a little help from you can ensure a five-star candidate experience from start to finish.

Before you click “apply”: please read the job description carefully to ensure you can confidently demonstrate why this opportunity is right for you and take the time to put together a well-crafted and personalised CV to further boost your visibility. Our global Talent Acquisition team members are all assigned to specific businesses to ensure that we make the best matches between talent and opportunities. We not only consider the requisite compatibility of skills and behaviours, but also how candidates align with our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, and excellence.

As part of our candidate experience promise, we also want to make ourselves available to you throughout the application process. We make every effort to review and respond to every application.