Business Development Manager

Core Laboratories; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 450,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

Core Laboratories in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Business Development Manager to identify and deliver strategic growth initiatives across regions and disciplines. You will shape opportunities, lead market analysis, and guide partnerships to strengthen the company’s competitive position in the energy services sector.

You will build senior-level relationships, drive proactive engagement, and champion new services while collaborating across business units.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline.
• Proven experience in business development, commercial strategy, or sales leadership.
• International or multi-country experience, preferably in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Responsibilities

• Lead identification, evaluation, and delivery of strategic growth initiatives and special projects to support revenue growth and diversification.
• Develop and implement business development strategies aligned with regional and corporate objectives.
• Analyze market trends, competitor activity, and customer requirements to identify opportunities and partnerships.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with customers, partners and industry stakeholders.
• Champion new service offerings and cross-business opportunities across units and disciplines.

Skills

Business development

Strategic thinking

Relationship building

Market analysis

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Engineering/Geoscience/Petroleum

Job description

Overview

The Business Development Manager is responsible for identifying, shaping, and delivering strategic growth initiatives that expand market share, diversify revenue streams, and support long‑term business growth. The role leads market analysis, opportunity development, and strategic partnerships across business units and technical disciplines to position Core Laboratories for sustainable growth. It focuses on influencing regional strategy, developing new market opportunities, and delivering special projects that strengthen the company’s competitive position in the energy services sector.

Responsibilities

• Lead the identification, evaluation, and delivery of strategic growth initiatives and special projects that support revenue growth, market penetration, and business diversification.
• Develop and implement business development strategies and opportunity plans aligned with regional and corporate objectives.
• Analyze market trends, competitor activity, and customer requirements to identify new business opportunities, emerging markets, and strategic partnerships.
• Build and maintain senior‑level relationships with customers, partners, and key industry stakeholders to position the business for future opportunities.
• Lead proactive customer engagement, networking, and industry representation to strengthen market presence and identify new commercial opportunities.
• Champion new service offerings, cross‑business opportunities, and integrated solutions by working collaboratively across all business units and technical disciplines.
• Provide strategic direction and commercial input into tenders, growth opportunities, and business cases to ensure alignment with company objectives and profitability expectations.
• Evaluate commercial viability, strategic fit, and return on investment for growth initiatives, providing recommendations to support investment and approval decisions.
• Monitor growth initiative performance, market trends, and competitive positioning, adjusting strategies to maximize business performance.
• Maintain visibility of business development activities, pipeline development, growth initiatives, and strategic priorities through effective reporting and communication.
• Travel locally and internationally as required to support client engagement, regional growth initiatives, and market development (expected travel over 50%).

Key Performance Indicators

• Delivery of assigned strategic initiatives and special projects to agreed timelines and milestones.
• Contribution to annual revenue growth from new business opportunities and strategic initiatives.
• Growth in market share within targeted sectors and geographic regions.
• Value of new service line introductions or cross‑business opportunities generated.
• Number of strategic executive‑level client relationships established or strengthened.
• Successful introduction of new service offerings or cross‑business solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Geoscience, Petroleum Studies or a related discipline.
• Proven experience in business development, commercial strategy, or sales leadership within oilfield services, energy services, or the upstream petroleum sector.
• Demonstrated experience in international or multi‑country environments, preferably within the Eastern Hemisphere region.
• Strong commercial acumen, including experience in financial evaluation, business case development, and budget management.
• Track record of identifying and converting strategic opportunities into business outcomes.

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes

• Strong financial and commercial acumen, with the ability to manage budgets and evaluate business opportunities effectively.
• Excellent communication, presentation and networking skills, with the ability to represent the business credibly both internally and externally.
• Strong relationship‑building skills, with the ability to influence clients, colleagues and senior leadership.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects and deadlines in a fast‑paced commercial environment.
• Strong reporting and organizational skills, with the ability to maintain clear visibility of team progress, pipeline activity and performance.
• Self‑motivated, results‑focused and accountable, with a proactive approach to identifying and delivering growth opportunities.
• Professional judgement, discretion and the ability to make sound recommendations to senior management.
• Adaptable and resilient, with flexibility to travel extensively and operate effectively across different markets and cultures.

Competencies

• Business Acumen – interpret external trends, business context, and client needs to co‑create value and impact.
• Execution Excellence – deliver impact through practical problem‑solving and adaptive plans.
• People Advocacy – build human‑centric organizational cultures that promote performance and well‑being.
• Data Literacy – analyze operational data to derive actionable insights that inform decisions.
• Digital Agility – utilize technology to enhance operational efficiency and prepare the organization for digital practices.
• People Analytics – collect and apply organizational data to improve critical business outcomes.
• Leading Self – demonstrate self‑awareness and respond to feedback with empathy.
• Decision‑Making – analyze complex situations quickly and make timely, well‑reasoned decisions in consultation with senior stakeholders.
• Customer Orientation – focus on delivering high‑quality service and meeting client expectations.
• HSSEQ Awareness – understand safety, security, and quality standards within the industry (advantageous).
• Communication & Collaboration – liaise effectively with internal teams and customers.