Chanel Head of Travel Retail
- Employment
- Full-Time
- Seniority
- Director
- Department
- Retail & Boutique Operations
- Posted
- Jun 15, 2026
About Chanel
Chanel is one of the world’s most revered luxury houses, founded by Gabrielle Chanel and distinguished by an enduring vision of elegance, freedom, and modernity. As an employer, the House brings together métiers ranging from haute couture, fashion and leather goods to fragrance, beauty, watches, and fine jewelry, offering employees the opportunity to contribute to a legacy defined by exceptional craftsmanship and creative audacity. Chanel values excellence, discretion, collaboration, and long-term development, fostering an environment where talent is nurtured and heritage is continually reinterpreted for contemporary clients. Its teams are united by a commitment to quality, innovation, and the timeless spirit of the brand.
Chanel is hiring a Head of Travel Retail Director in Tokyo, Japan. Lead luxury duty-free operations across 15 airport locations.
Role & Responsibilities
- Develop and execute the Travel Retail strategy for Japan in alignment with global business objectives and deliver consistent revenue growth
- Lead and mentor a team of department managers and retail staff, fostering a sales-focused culture and ensuring achievement of targets
- Manage strategic relationships with airport business partners and negotiate favorable commercial terms to enhance brand visibility and priority positioning
- Oversee all operational aspects including store layout, visual merchandising, inventory management, staffing, and logistics across all locations
- Establish and monitor key performance indicators, analyze sales data and market trends, and implement data-driven decisions to optimize business performance
- Prepare and manage the Travel Retail budget, monitor expenses, and ensure financial objectives and profitability targets are met
- Design and implement customer experience initiatives including product knowledge enhancement, loyalty programs, and digital engagement tools
- Drive internal collaboration between Travel Retail and Local Market teams to ensure cohesive brand representation and operational synergy
- Recruit, develop, and engage team members through mentorship programs and training initiatives that support career progression
- Partner with marketing and global headquarters teams to execute promotional campaigns, events, and initiatives that drive customer acquisition
- Ensure full compliance with customs regulations, tax obligations, and all relevant travel retail industry standards and legal requirements
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or higher qualification in business, retail management, or related field
- Minimum 10 years of business experience with a proven track record of driving revenue growth and operational excellence
- Prior experience in travel retail, duty-free, or airport retail environments
- Demonstrated expertise in luxury goods, cosmetics, or accessories retail and wholesale operations
- Strong understanding of merchandising concepts, store design principles, and retail optimization
- Proven ability to develop business models with deep understanding of cost structures, margin management, and incentive mechanisms
- Established track record of building and managing strategic business partnerships and negotiating commercial agreements
- Fluent business-level proficiency in both Japanese and English
- Strong leadership skills with proven ability to manage and develop high-performing teams
- Strategic thinker with excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities
Skills
Experience
Minimum 10 years of progressive business experience, preferably including leadership roles in travel retail, duty-free, luxury retail, or airport retail environments. Demonstrated success in driving revenue growth, managing multi-site retail operations, and building strategic partnerships with retail partners is essential. Experience in the beauty, cosmetics, or luxury goods sectors is highly desirable.
Education
Bachelor's degree or above in business administration, retail management, commerce, or a related field.
Workplace
This position is based in Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Culture
Chanel fosters a culture of timeless creativity, exacting craftsmanship, and quiet excellence, where employees are encouraged to uphold the house’s heritage while contributing to its continued innovation. The workplace environment is refined, collaborative, and deeply committed to quality, offering professionals the opportunity to grow within a globally respected maison that values discretion, artistry, and long-term vision.
About Cerulean
Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.
Frequently Asked Questions
The luxury industry is characterised by a diverse and nuanced nomenclature. Esteemed houses frequently employ proprietary terminology, and even within a single organisation like Chanel, titles may vary across global markets to reflect local conventions. To ensure absolute clarity, Cerulean assigns a standardised, industry-coherent canonical title to every listing. However, it is worth noting that this role is functionally synonymous with «Travel Retail Director», «Travel Retail Manager», «Duty-Free Retail Director», «Airport Retail Leader», «Travel Retail Business Manager», and other variations. Our sophisticated search architecture anticipates these variations, ensuring that inquiries using related terms will seamlessly yield the exact roles you desire.