Senior Manager / Deputy Director International Business Development (UAE)

About the Opportunity

We are looking for a highly driven, entrepreneurial, and commercially focused Senior Manager / Deputy Director – International Business Development to lead business expansion and accelerate growth in the UAE and GCC markets.

The ideal candidate must have a strong hunter mindset, proven new business development experience, and hands-on knowledge of the UAE/GCC Food & FMCG market.

This role requires someone who can independently open new accounts, establish distributor partnerships, negotiate commercial agreements, and turn business opportunities into sustainable revenue.

We are seeking a passionate business builder with strong ownership, a winning attitude, and the potential to grow into a UAE Branch Manager role within approximately one year.

Key Responsibilities:

1. New Business Development & Market Expansion

• Identify, develop, and secure new business opportunities across the UAE and GCC markets.
• Proactively acquire new customers, distributors, and strategic business partners.
• Develop market-entry strategies and expand business presence across key sales channels.
• Build a strong sales pipeline and convert opportunities into actual sales revenue.
• Drive sales growth, market penetration, and sustainable business expansion.

2. Distributor Development & Channel Management

• Identify, evaluate, negotiate with, appoint, and develop distributors in target markets.
• Establish strong relationships with local distributors, key customers, and commercial partners.
• Develop distributor performance targets, sales plans, and channel expansion strategies.
• Monitor distributor performance and identify opportunities to improve market coverage and sales effectiveness.

3. Commercial Management & Negotiation

• Lead commercial negotiations covering pricing, margins, trade terms, sales targets, and exclusivity agreements.
• Develop profitable pricing strategies and commercial proposals.
• Manage sales performance, revenue growth, and profitability targets.
• Negotiate and close new business deals to achieve commercial objectives.

4. Sales Planning & Demand Forecasting

• Prepare sales forecasts, demand projections, and business growth plans.
• Coordinate with supply chain and headquarters teams to ensure product availability and inventory alignment.
• Monitor sales trends, customer demand, and market conditions to improve forecast accuracy.
• Support inventory planning and minimize potential stock shortages or excess inventory.

5. Business Operations & Leadership

• Take ownership of local business development and commercial activities.
• Operate independently and effectively within a lean organization with limited local support.
• Collaborate with regional and headquarters teams to achieve business objectives.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen local operations and develop future business capabilities.
• Demonstrate leadership potential to take on broader responsibilities, including future UAE Branch Manager opportunities.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Business Administration, International Business, Marketing, Economics, or a related field.
• Master's degree or MBA is an advantage.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 8–12 years of experience in Business Development, Sales, Commercial Management, or International Trade, preferably within the Food/FMCG industry.
• At least 3–5 years of hands-on business experience in the UAE, GCC, or Middle East markets.
• Proven experience in new business acquisition, market expansion, and distributor development.
• Demonstrated success in winning new customers, securing distributors, and converting sales opportunities into measurable revenue.
• Experience operating at Senior Manager level or above, with strong commercial ownership and business leadership capabilities.