Director – Business Development

Space42; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 500,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance for you and family

Well-being initiatives

Exclusive UAE-discount programs

Job summary

Space42 in the UAE seeks a senior leader to drive the National Security & Law Enforcement Solutions portfolio, aligning customer priorities with commercially viable AI-enabled satellite and secure connectivity offerings.

You will own revenue, margins, and pipeline for government accounts, build relationships with ministers and procurement authorities, and lead multi-stakeholder bids through governance and contract closure. The role demands deep government sector experience and English fluency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, telecommunications, defence studies, or related discipline; master's preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience with leadership in government, defence, aerospace, telecommunications, security, geospatial, or advanced-technology sectors.
• Proven record of originating and closing complex government opportunities and managing long, multi-stakeholder procurement cycles.
• Experience with commercial modelling, proposals, contracts, negotiations, program governance, and executive customer management.
• Strong understanding of government procurement, tendering practices, security requirements, and the operational environment of public-sector customers.
• Professional fluency in English; Arabic capability is strongly preferred for customer engagement in the UAE.

Responsibilities

• Own the business plan, revenue, gross margin, pipeline, forecast accuracy, and overall commercial performance for assigned government accounts and business units.
• Develop and execute account strategies for priority UAE and regional government customers, aligned with corporate growth objectives.
• Build trusted relationships with senior government stakeholders, end users, procurement authorities, strategic partners, and prime contractors.
• Identify, qualify, shape, and capture complex opportunities across satellite communications, geospatial services, AI-enabled solutions, and secure connectivity.
• Lead opportunity governance, bid strategy, proposal development, pricing alignment, negotiations, and contract closure in coordination with internal stakeholders.
• Coordinate with solution engineering, programs, operations, finance, legal, procurement, security, and other business units to ensure executable commitments and successful delivery.
• Maintain disciplined oversight of customer commitments, contractual milestones, collections, risks, issues, and executive escalations.
• Create strategic partnerships and teaming arrangements that strengthen market access, local value, and solution competitiveness.
• Ensure compliance with corporate governance, export-control requirements, information security, customer confidentiality, and applicable regulatory obligations.
• Lead, coach, and develop account management and business development personnel, with clear objectives, ownership, and performance expectations.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Government engagement

Commercial acumen

Opportunity capture

Delivery orientation

People leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

Job Description

Lead the National Security & Law Enforcement Solutions portfolio, with accountability for sustainable growth, strategic customer engagement, opportunity conversion, commercial performance, and coordinated delivery across government, national security, law enforcement, civil government, and related sectors. The role translates customer priorities into commercially viable solutions leveraging Space42 capabilities in satellite communications, geospatial intelligence, artificial intelligence, and secure connectivity.

Responsibilities

• Own the business plan, revenue, gross margin, pipeline, forecast accuracy, and overall commercial performance for assigned government accounts and business units.
• Develop and execute account strategies for priority UAE and regional government customers, aligned with corporate growth objectives.
• Build trusted relationships with senior government stakeholders, end users, procurement authorities, strategic partners, and prime contractors.
• Identify, qualify, shape, and capture complex opportunities across satellite communications, geospatial services, AI-enabled solutions, and secure connectivity.
• Lead opportunity governance, bid strategy, proposal development, pricing alignment, negotiations, and contract closure in coordination with internal stakeholders.
• Coordinate with solution engineering, programs, operations, finance, legal, procurement, security, and other business units to ensure executable commitments and successful delivery.
• Maintain disciplined oversight of customer commitments, contractual milestones, collections, risks, issues, and executive escalations.
• Create strategic partnerships and teaming arrangements that strengthen market access, local value, and solution competitiveness.
• Ensure compliance with corporate governance, export-control requirements, information security, customer confidentiality, and applicable regulatory obligations.
• Lead, coach, and develop account management and business development personnel, with clear objectives, ownership, and performance expectations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, telecommunications, defence studies, or a related discipline; a relevant master's degree is preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience, including significant leadership responsibility in government, defence, aerospace, telecommunications, security, geospatial, or advanced-technology sectors.
• Proven record of originating and closing complex government opportunities and managing long, multi-stakeholder procurement cycles.
• Experience with commercial modelling, proposals, contracts, negotiations, program governance, and executive customer management.
• Strong understanding of government procurement, tendering practices, security requirements, and the operational environment of public-sector customers.
• Professional fluency in English; Arabic capability is strongly preferred for customer engagement in the UAE.

Core Competencies

Strategic Leadership

Translates market and customer priorities into focused account plans.

Commercial Acumen

Balances revenue growth, margin, risk, cash flow, and contractual obligations.

Government Engagement

Builds credibility with senior stakeholders in sensitive, regulated environments.

Opportunity Capture

Shapes differentiated solutions and leads disciplined bid-to-contract execution.

Delivery Orientation

Ensures commitments are realistic, governed, and executed across functions.

People Leadership

Sets clear accountability and develops capable, collaborative teams.

Indicative Success Measures

• Achievement of approved order intake, revenue, gross margin, collections, and cash-conversion targets.
• Quality and coverage of the qualified pipeline, forecast accuracy, and opportunity conversion.
• On-time closure of strategic bids, commercial agreements, and customer decisions.
• Customer satisfaction, account retention, executive engagement, and growth of strategic relationships.
• Effective management of contractual, delivery, financial, security, and reputational risks.
• Team capability, succession readiness, collaboration, and delivery against agreed objectives.

Our Benefits & Perks

• Competitive compensation packages and comprehensive medical insurance to support you and your family.
• Well-being focused initiatives and resources, designed to enhance your personal and professional life.
• Access to exclusive discount programs, offering savings across various lifestyle and leisure experiences across the UAE.

What Makes a Great Fit

If you are performance-driven and possess an inquisitive mind with the agility to navigate ambiguity, you will thrive here. At the heart of the Space42 community is a bias for action and a passion for developing innovative, efficient space services through AI-driven smart solutions that drive technological advancements and create a better tomorrow

About Us

Space42 (ADX: SPACE42) is a UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company that integrates satellite communications, geospatial analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities to enlighten the Earth from space. Established in 2024 following the successful merger between Bayanat and Yahsat, Space42’s global reach allows it to address the rapidly evolving needs of its customers in governments, enterprises, and communities.