Business Development Manager

Abra VMSD; Dubai; On-site; AED 700,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Abra VMSD seeks a senior Business Development leader to drive market access, lead generation and bid management in the premium interior fit-out and bespoke joinery sectors.

You will build a strong UAE network, own the end-to-end sales process, and partner with marketing to enhance lead generation through digital channels. Experience in luxury commercial projects and large tenders is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline and 8–10+ years of B2B sales or business development experience.
• Demonstrated success in premium interior fit-out, luxury retail or construction environments.
• Established UAE market network and experience with large tenders and negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Build access to new clients, consultants, brands, developers and tenders in premium interior fit-out and joinery segments.
• Develop a strong network and generate qualified leads through market engagement and partnerships.
• Own bid management for luxury tenders, including documentation, clarifications and submissions.
• Maintain market intelligence on projects, client priorities and competitor activity.
• Partner with marketing to improve lead generation via LinkedIn, Instagram and channels.
• Own pipeline with CRM, manage next actions, values and timelines.
• Deliver a booking target and manage end-to-end sales process from qualification to award.
• Lead cross-functional handovers with Estimation, Projects, Operations, Design and Production.
• Set targets for BDC team and ensure structured governance and reporting.

Skills

Market development

Sales leadership

Lead generation

Networking

Bid management

Strategic partnerships

CRM management

Presentation & negotiation

Commercial acumen

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration

Marketing/Engineering/Architecture related discipline

Tools

CRM systems

MS Office

Job description

Key Responsibilities:

Market Access, Lead Generation & Bid Management

• Build access to new clients, consultants, brands, developers and tenders within the premium interior fit-out and customized joinery segments.
• Develop a strong network and generate qualified leads through direct market engagement, referrals, industry relationships and strategic partnerships.
• Own bid management for luxury tenders, including documentation, clarifications, submissions, follow-ups and coordination across stakeholders.
• Maintain active market intelligence on upcoming projects, client priorities, competitor activity and changing commercial conditions.
• Partner with the marketing team to improve lead generation and targeting through LinkedIn, Instagram and other relevant channels.

Pipeline Ownership & Revenue Delivery

• Build and maintain a visible, qualified and realistic opportunity pipeline through CRM, with clear stage ownership, next actions, values and timelines.
• Deliver a booking target of AED 20 million in Y1 Sales & Commercial Acumen
• Present ABRA’s capabilities, solutions and value proposition with strong business knowledge and a clear understanding of client requirements.
• Influence customer decisions and negotiate commercial contracts, scope, pricing, payment terms and risk provisions within agreed authority levels.
• Build strong win strategies and manage the end-to-end sales process from opportunity qualification to award.
• Provide clear feedback on the realism of targets, market conditions, pricing expectations and required commercial support.
• Develop and master the ABRA way of selling, ensuring consistency in client engagement and internal decision-making.

Cross-Functional Alignment & Sales-to-Delivery Handover

• Work closely with Estimation, Costing, Projects, Operations, Design and Production to ensure the opportunities being sold are technically and commercially deliverable. ABRA VM&SD | Job Description
• Validate scope, cost, timelines, risks and capacity before committing to clients.
• Lead structured sales-to-delivery handovers with complete documentation, assumptions, commercial terms, client commitments and key risks.
• Remain engaged through execution where commercial support, client alignment or collection follow-up is required.

Team Leadership, Systems & Governance

• Set independent targets, activity measures and review cadences for the Business Development team.
• Lead the Business Development Coordinators and Junior Business Development team by defining responsibilities, reviewing pipeline activity and ensuring disciplined follow-through.
• Build and maintain sales systems, SOPs, reporting rhythms, dashboards and governance that allow the function to operate independently.
• Own the recruitment, onboarding, retention, development and performance management of additional team members as targets increase in subsequent years.
• Ensure all activities, pipeline updates, client interactions and reports are accurately maintained in CRM.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Engineering, Architecture or a related discipline.
• 8-10+ years of progressive business development or sales experience, including leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated success in premium interior fit-out, luxury retail, bespoke joinery, construction, contracting or project-based B2B sales.
• Established UAE market network and experience handling large-value tenders and commercial negotiations.
• Proven experience leading teams and building an independent business development function.
• Strong working knowledge of CRM systems, reporting tools and MS Office.

Skills

Key Skills and Competencies:

• Strong business development and sales leadership capability within luxury retail fit-out, interior contracting, bespoke joinery or closely related sectors.
• Excellent market access, networking, lead generation and relationship-building skills.
• Proven ability to build and manage a high-value sales pipeline and convert complex opportunities.
• Strong bid management, presentation, influencing, negotiation and commercial contracting capability.
• Ability to assess opportunity quality, delivery feasibility, margin, risk and cash-flow implications.
• Capability to build systems, SOPs, reporting cadences, CRM discipline and performance measures.
• Strong team leadership, coaching and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• High level of ownership, commercial judgement and executive communication.