Senior Manager - Pricing and VME/Discounts | Al-Futtaim Automotive

Job Requisition ID: 170576 

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 organization 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

This new role is key to aligning commercial strategies with business unit objectives; enhancing competitiveness, maximizing profitability through informed product positioning and pricing, thereby reducing Auto Division’s tactical spending.  A commercially savvy Category Specialist this individual will assist the Head of Product & Pricing to more efficiently manage tactical spend, business unit VME proposals and provide product profitability analysis to support data-driven/fast paced decision-making and cross-functional collaboration.  This role is responsible for end-to-end planning, execution, and monitoring of vehicle discount schemes, Variable Marketing Expenditure (VME), and pricing strategies. 

 
What You Will Do 

Discount & VME Management/Control: 
    • Manage the monthly and quarterly VME budgeting process with Dealer Brands and Divisional stakeholders.
    • Implement channel and regional VME programs across dealers.
    • Track campaign effectiveness, sales incrementality, ROI, and customer uptake.
    • Ensure alignment of VME with overall sales, inventory and margin objectives.
    • Monitor the implementation of VME and adherence to guidelines.
    
Chain margin/Price Management:
    • Advise Head of Product & Pricing and wider team to develop pricing strategies for new and existing vehicle models, including MSRP and tactical pricing.
    • Analyse competitor pricing trends from market research and recommend tactical adjustments.
    •Collaborate with finance, sales, and product teams to review margin structures and propose pricing strategies to maximize revenue and market share / protect against sales risks.
    • Analyse and recommend periodic price positioning reviews based on market conditions, exchange rates, and cost fluctuations.
    • Ensure pricing integrity across all channels
    • Monitor, report and advise on chain margin across vehicle range and lifecycle.
    
Product Management Support:
    • Collaborate with Product/Pricing team and brands teams to influence product specifications based on market needs and competitive benchmarking.
    • Support Head of Product & Pricing in lifecycle management activities, such as product introductions, phase-outs, and variant planning.
    • Support Head of Product & Pricing to analyse product performance by trim, engine, or feature level to support decision-making on product mix optimization.
    
Reporting and Analytics:
    • Develop dashboards in conjunction with the Performance team and tools to track VME spend, pricing effectiveness, and tactical schemes utilization.
    • Perform variance analysis and scenario modelling.
    • Support forecasting processes and elasticities for VME and pricing impact on sales and profitability.
    
Stakeholder Engagement:
    • Liaise regularly with Brands to align on pricing, VME, and product strategies.
    • Collaborate with internal teams including Sales, Product & Pricing, Central Planning, Central Finance and Marketing to ensure cohesive execution of commercial strategies.
    • Act as the key point of contact for business units and their dealers on matters related to VME programs and pricing.
    • Ensure clear communication and documentation of pricing updates, campaign mechanics, and VME guidelines.
    • Support/advise leadership with insights and presentations for strategic decision-making for business unit OEM negotiations

Required Skills to Be Successful

    • Strong analytical and commercial/financial acumen
    • High attention to detail and data accuracy
    • Effective stakeholder management and communication
    • Knowledge of automotive market and pricing strategies
    • Proficiency in Excel, Power BI/Tableau, and ERP systems (SAP preferable)

 
About the Team
As a senior VME & Pricing controller you will be reporting to general manager 
 
What Equips You for the Role
    • Finance degree, Economics, or related field (CA is preferred)
    • 8-10 years experience in pricing, OPEX category management, or finance in automotive (Mandatory)
    • Exposure to OEM or distributor environments preferred
    • Strong Commercial/Business Acumen
    • Structured thinker: able to summarise complex problems and solutions in a simple way

About Al-Futtaim Automotive
A major division of the UAE-based Al-Futtaim Group of companies, Al-Futtaim Automotive is an industry leader with presence in 10 countries across the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Our core business activities at Al-Futtaim Automotive include distribution, manufacturing, leasing and aftersales, and we are firmly established as the regional representative of some of the world’s most iconic automotive brands: Toyota, Lexus, Honda, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Volvo and RAM.
We are driven by a customer-centric approach, constantly pushing the boundaries on innovation, quality standards, and value-added service across our vast universe of customers - right from motoring enthusiasts to fleet operators to contractors. Our mission is to become the leader in custom-made mobility solutions by delivering nothing less than world-class omni-channel experiences. 
We channel our local expertise and global trust to deliver one of the most comprehensive portfolios of mobility products and solutions, from passenger cars to SUVs, electric vehicles to high-performance motorbikes, commercial vehicles to industrial & construction equipment.
What keeps the company moving forward is a 9000-member strong team, with inspiring possibilities for growth, throughout the career path. This is Al-Futtaim Automotive and we empower talent to move forward.