Business Development Manager - Automotive Channels

AlFuttaim; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Al-Futtaim Automotive in Dubai seeks an experienced Business Development Manager to identify and commercialize new revenue opportunities for Automall. The role drives partnerships, import/export opportunities, digital customer acquisition and insurance-linked referrals, with revenue and margin growth as measurable outcomes.

The candidate will develop viable business cases, manage a pipeline and coordinate cross-functional execution across international markets and non-traditional channels.

Qualifications

• 7–9 years of automotive industry experience.
• Proven ability to identify, develop and convert commercial opportunities.
• Experience in UAE market and automotive sales channels.
• Experience in business development, partnerships, and channel development.
• Strong lead generation, sales funnel management and outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Identify, assess and develop new commercial channels for Automall growth and revenue diversification.
• Explore opportunities across vehicle import/export, corporate sales, partnerships, referrals and finance/insurance-led acquisition.
• Evaluate commercial potential of new customer segments and alternative automotive sales models.
• Develop and maintain a structured pipeline of business development opportunities.
• Prioritize opportunities based on viability, revenue potential and strategic alignment.
• Prepare business cases for viable initiatives and secure internal approvals.
• Convert approved opportunities into operating models and revenue channels.
• Monitor performance of new channels against sales, revenue and gross margin targets.

Skills

Business development

Stakeholder management

Sales & partnerships

Lead generation

Job description

Job Snapshot

Business Development Manager - Automotive Channels Job Snapshot - Role: Business Development Manager - Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Industry: Automotive - Function: Business Development - Experience: 7-9 years of relevant automotive experience - Job Type: Full Time - Work Arrangement: On-site

Position Overview

Al-Futtaim Automotive is seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to identify, develop and commercialize new revenue opportunities for Automall. The role focuses on expanding the business beyond traditional automotive sales channels through strategic partnerships, corporate sales, vehicle import and export opportunities, digital customer acquisition and insurance-related referrals. The successful candidate will evaluate emerging commercial opportunities, develop viable business cases and establish partnerships that generate incremental revenue, gross margin and vehicle sales. Key growth areas include non-GCC specification vehicles, international export markets, corporate customer programmes and alternative customer acquisition channels. Approximately 70% of the role is dedicated to business development, with the remaining 30% focused on project governance and cross-functional execution. The position requires a commercially driven professional who can translate strategic opportunities into operational business channels and measurable financial results.

Job Details

Country: United Arab Emirates

City: Dubai

Industry: Automotive

Function: Business Development

Salary: Not disclosed

Gender: No Preference

Candidate Nationality: Not specified

Job Type: Full Time

Work Arrangement: On-site

Key Responsibilities

Business Development and Channel Expansion

• Identify, assess and develop new commercial channels that support Automall 's business growth and revenue diversification.
• Explore opportunities across vehicle import and export, corporate sales, strategic partnerships, referral programmes and finance and insurance-linked customer acquisition.
• Evaluate the commercial potential of new customer segments and alternative automotive sales models.
• Develop and maintain a structured pipeline of business development opportunities.
• Prioritize opportunities based on commercial viability, revenue potential, operational requirements and strategic alignment.
• Prepare business cases for viable initiatives and secure the necessary internal approvals.
• Convert approved opportunities into practical operating models and active revenue-generating channels.
• Monitor the performance of new channels against agreed sales, revenue and gross margin objectives.

Strategic Partnerships and Commercial Relationships

• Identify and engage potential business partners, including driving schools, insurance providers, logistics companies, corporate customers and other relevant organizations.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with internal stakeholders and external commercial partners.
• Develop partnership opportunities that support customer acquisition, vehicle sales and business expansion.
• Establish and activate a partner pipeline for approved pilot programmes and operating models.
• Coordinate commercial discussions and support the development of mutually beneficial partnership arrangements.
• Work with relevant departments to define partnership processes, responsibilities and implementation requirements.
• Monitor partner activity and support the conversion of partnership opportunities into measurable business outcomes.

International Vehicle Export Development

• Identify and develop export sales opportunities in international automotive markets, including Africa.
• Assess target markets and potential customer segments for vehicle export opportunities.
• Support the development of export sales channels through digital lead generation and partner coordination.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to establish appropriate export sales processes.
• Coordinate with logistics and operational teams to support vehicle fulfilment requirements.
• Evaluate digital lead generation opportunities for selected international markets.
• Track export enquiries, customer leads and sales conversions to assess channel effectiveness.
• Support the commercial development of export activities that contribute to incremental vehicle sales and revenue.

Non-GCC Vehicle and Import Opportunities

• Evaluate commercial opportunities involving non-GCC specification vehicles and imported vehicle streams.
• Conduct market assessments to understand customer demand, pricing considerations and potential sales opportunities.
• Provide commercial inputs to support vehicle pricing and market positioning.
• Coordinate go-to-market activities for selected vehicle categories.
• Develop suitable commercial models for approved vehicle streams.
• Work with relevant internal teams to assess operational requirements and market readiness.
• Monitor lead generation, customer interest and sales conversion for newly introduced vehicle opportunities.

Digital Customer Acquisition and Referral Channels

• Identify opportunities to generate qualified customer leads through digital platforms and referral partnerships.
• Collaborate with internal and external platforms to develop referral-led customer acquisition programmes.
• Support the design of referral incentives, campaign mechanics and customer conversion processes.
• Establish appropriate tracking methods for leads generated through new acquisition channels.
• Monitor customer engagement and conversion performance to evaluate channel effectiveness.
• Coordinate with relevant commercial teams to improve lead quality and sales outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to expand successful digital and referral programmes.

Insurance-Linked Customer Acquisition

• Coordinate with Orient Insurance and relevant service providers to develop customer acquisition opportunities.
• Support the design of processes for converting total-loss vehicle customers into potential Automall used car buyers.
• Explore opportunities involving customers facing high vehicle repair costs.
• Work with insurance and automotive stakeholders to define appropriate customer referral and conversion procedures.
• Support the implementation of agreed insurance-linked acquisition initiatives.
• Monitor referral activity and customer conversion outcomes.
• Identify improvements that can increase the commercial contribution of insurance-related sales channels.

Project Governance and Cross-Functional Execution

• Coordinate the implementation of approved business development initiatives across relevant departments.
• Establish project timelines, responsibilities, dependencies and delivery requirements.
• Monitor progress against agreed implementation milestones.
• Identify operational risks and execution challenges that may affect project delivery.
• Work with internal stakeholders and external partners to resolve implementation issues.
• Maintain visibility of project ownership, outstanding actions and commercial deliverables.
• Support the launch and activation of new business channels and pilot programmes.
• Ensure strategic initiatives are translated into practical operating processes and measurable business results.

Commercial Performance and Revenue Growth

• Generate incremental revenue and gross margin through the development of new automotive sales channels.
• Increase sales volumes through active partnerships and alternative customer acquisition models.
• Monitor business development pipelines, lead generation activity and sales conversion rates.
• Evaluate the commercial performance of new initiatives and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support the growth of corporate, export, referral and insurance-linked vehicle sales.
• Track the contribution of new channels to overall business performance.
• Maintain focus on timely project delivery and the achievement of agreed commercial objectives.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• 7-9 years of relevant experience in the automotive industry.
• Professional experience in business development, commercial sales, strategic partnerships, channel development, retail or wholesale automotive sales, or mobility-related businesses.
• Proven experience identifying, developing and converting commercial opportunities within the UAE market.
• Mandatory experience in at least one relevant area, including automotive, used vehicles, fleet operations, insurance, digital marketplaces or vehicle exports.
• Demonstrated experience preparing commercial business cases and evaluating new revenue opportunities.
• Experience managing business development pipelines and tracking sales funnels.
• Practical experience conducting partner discussions and developing commercial relationships.
• Experience supporting the launch and implementation of new business initiatives.
• Understanding of customer acquisition, lead generation and sales conversion processes.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong business development capabilities and commercial judgment.
• Ability to identify and evaluate new revenue opportunities.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong understanding of automotive sales channels and customer acquisition models.
• Ability to develop commercial partnerships and convert discussions into executable opportunities.
• Experience assessing business cases, revenue potential and commercial feasibility.
• Proficiency in lead generation, sales funnel management and conversion tracking.
• Ability to coordinate multiple initiatives while maintaining focus on financial and commercial outcomes.
• Strong project coordination and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage timelines, dependencies, risks and stakeholder responsibilities.
• Analytical thinking and practical problem-solving capabilities.
• Effective communication, negotiation and commercial presentation skills. -