Country Manager - MEA

Big Bad Wolf Books is looking for an experienced Country Manager to lead our Middle East and Africa operations from Sharjah. This is a senior leadership role with end-to-end responsibility for regional performance, people, and delivery.

You will work closely with the Board of Directors and in strategic alignment with our HQ team in Malaysia, turning strategy into well-run, profitable operations across multiple markets.

Key Accountabilities

• Full ownership of MEA operational performance and delivery
• P&L accountability and financial governance
• Strategic execution of Board and HQ-aligned objectives
• Leadership of all country and regional functions
• Risk, compliance, and operational resilience
• Board-level reporting and decision support

Key Responsibilities (Strategic & Executive)

• Set the overall direction for Big Bad Wolf’s MEA business and take responsibility for results.
• Make the key decisions on where and how the business operates across MEA markets.
• Turn Board and group direction into clear plans for markets, events, and spending.
• Take full responsibility for financial results, including profits, costs, and cash flow.
• Decide how resources, budgets, and teams are allocated across markets and events.
• Lead managers and hold them accountable for delivery and performance.
• Ensure the business runs consistently and responsibly across events, logistics, warehousing, and customer experience.
• Act as the final point of decision for major operational, financial, and people issues.
• Identify risks early and take action to protect the business.
• Report to the Board with clear updates, issues, and recommendations.

Leadership Expectations

• Leads with integrity, accountability, and sound judgment.
• Builds alignment across the Board, HQ, and regional teams.
• Sets a culture of ownership, professionalism, and delivery.
• Makes decisions calmly and decisively in complex environments.

Experience & Background

• 12–15 years of senior leadership experience, including country or regional responsibility.
• Demonstrated ownership of P&L and complex, multi-market operations.
• Experience in events, retail, logistics, or similarly execution-heavy environments.
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent preferred.

Job Type: Full-time

Experience:

• Senior Leadership: 10 years (Required)
• Large Scale Events: 5 years (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 100% (Required)

Work Location: In person