Business Development Manager

Food People; Dubai; On-site; AED 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

Food People in the UAE is seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to drive expansion across the UAE. You will identify and secure new locations, develop strategic relationships, and evaluate commercial opportunities to support growth in the F&B portfolio.

You will lead site assessments, negotiate leasing terms, and coordinate with operations, finance, and projects to ensure smooth development of new outlets.

Qualifications

• 5 to 7 years of experience in business development, retail expansion, or commercial real estate.
• Experience identifying and securing locations for F&B or multi-unit retail businesses.
• Strong understanding of the UAE commercial property market, including shopping malls, retail developments, and high street locations.
• Established relationships with landlords, property developers, and leasing agents across the UAE.
• Demonstrated experience in site acquisition, lease negotiations, and commercial feasibility assessments.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to evaluate investment opportunities, budgets, and commercial returns.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to conduct market research, competitor analysis, and geographic assessments to support expansion decisions.

Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, and secure new locations to support business expansion across the UAE.
• Develop and execute strategic expansion plans aligned with business objectives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with landlords, property developers, leasing agents, and commercial partners.
• Lead market research and location scouting to identify potential opportunities for new outlets.
• Conduct detailed site assessments, including footfall analysis, demographics, accessibility, and commercial viability.
• Prepare feasibility studies and financial assessments to evaluate potential locations.
• Negotiate commercial leasing terms and agreements to secure favourable conditions for the business.
• Identify opportunities to acquire existing retail spaces and support their development into new outlets.
• Develop geographic market mapping to identify priority areas for expansion.
• Collaborate with internal departments, including operations, finance, and projects, to ensure successful site acquisition and development.
• Conduct site visits with senior management to assess and approve potential locations.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and emerging commercial developments to identify growth opportunities.
• Maintain an active pipeline of potential locations and provide regular updates on expansion progress.
• Ensure all leasing and site acquisition activities comply with relevant regulatory and legal requirements.

Skills

Business development

Retail expansion

Negotiation

Market research

Stakeholder management

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration

Bachelor's degree in real estate

Bachelor's degree in finance

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Business Development Manager to drive the expansion of an established F&B business across the UAE. The role will focus on identifying and securing new locations, developing strategic relationships with landlords and property developers, and supporting the company's growth plans. The successful candidate will play a key role in evaluating commercial opportunities, negotiating leasing agreements, and ensuring new locations align with the business's expansion strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, and secure new locations to support business expansion across the UAE.
• Develop and execute strategic expansion plans aligned with business objectives.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with landlords, property developers, leasing agents, and commercial partners.
• Lead market research and location scouting to identify potential opportunities for new outlets.
• Conduct detailed site assessments, including footfall analysis, demographics, accessibility, and commercial viability.
• Prepare feasibility studies and financial assessments to evaluate potential locations.
• Negotiate commercial leasing terms and agreements to secure favourable conditions for the business.
• Identify opportunities to acquire existing retail spaces and support their development into new outlets.
• Develop geographic market mapping to identify priority areas for expansion.
• Collaborate with internal departments, including operations, finance, and projects, to ensure successful site acquisition and development.
• Conduct site visits with senior management to assess and approve potential locations.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and emerging commercial developments to identify growth opportunities.
• Maintain an active pipeline of potential locations and provide regular updates on expansion progress.
• Ensure all leasing and site acquisition activities comply with relevant regulatory and legal requirements.

Requirements

• 5 to 7 years of experience in business development, retail expansion, or commercial real estate.
• Experience identifying and securing locations for F&B or multi unit retail businesses.
• Strong understanding of the UAE commercial property market, including shopping malls, retail developments, and high street locations.
• Established relationships with landlords, property developers, and leasing agents across the UAE.
• Demonstrated experience in site acquisition, lease negotiations, and commercial feasibility assessments.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to evaluate investment opportunities, budgets, and commercial returns.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to conduct market research, competitor analysis, and geographic assessments to support expansion decisions.
• Strong commercial awareness with a strategic and results driven approach.
• Highly organised, proactive, and capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with senior management and internal teams.
• Bachelor's degree in business administration, real estate, finance, marketing, or a related field.
• Valid UAE driving licence and access to a car.

Please note, only candidates with relevant experience will be contacted to discuss the position in more detail.