Director of Business Development

ACCEL HUMAN RESOURCE CONSULTANTS; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Director of Business Development to spearhead expansion efforts and forge high-impact partnerships. This pivotal role involves shaping and executing growth strategies, exploring new markets, and driving innovative product development. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in business development, with at least 10 years of experience in strategic roles. Join a dynamic team and play a crucial part in transforming opportunities into long-term value, while collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver customized solutions for clients. If you're ready to make a significant impact in a fast-paced environment, this is the opportunity for you.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years in business development with leadership experience.
• Proven success in driving growth and securing partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement a business development strategy aligned with growth objectives.
• Lead end-to-end business opportunity development from prospecting to closing.

Skills

Business Development

Strategic Partnerships

Negotiation Skills

Stakeholder Management

Commercial Acumen

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

Job Title: Director of Business Development

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Role Overview:

Director of Business Development will be responsible to lead the company’s expansion efforts, identify new business opportunities, and build high-impact partnerships. This role will play a critical part in shaping and executing the company’s growth strategy by exploring new markets, forging alliances, and converting opportunities into long-term value.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and implement a business development strategy aligned with the company's vision and growth objectives.
• Identify and evaluate new market opportunities, industry trends, and customer segments.
• Build business cases for new initiatives, including revenue projections, cost structures, and ROI assessments.
• Collaborate with Product and Technology teams to conceptualize and validate new product ideas driven by market insights.
• Act as a business lead in the development of digital products, platforms, and technology solutions, ensuring alignment with commercial goals.
• Gather market feedback and customer pain points to inform product features, value propositions, and go-to-market strategies.
• Support product roadmap planning with a focus on commercial viability and scalability.

Strategic Partnerships & Alliances

• Identify, engage, and negotiate strategic partnerships, alliances, and joint ventures.
• Develop proposals, MOUs, and commercial agreements with external partners to drive business growth.
• Manage existing partnerships to ensure mutual value and long-term alignment.

Opportunity Management & Sales Enablement

• Lead end-to-end business opportunity development—from prospecting and pipeline building to closing.
• Work with cross-functional teams (Product, Marketing, Legal, Finance) to structure and deliver customized solutions for strategic clients or partners.
• Support the commercial team with key accounts, proposals, and go-to-market initiatives.

Internal Collaboration & Strategic Planning

• Collaborate with the executive team to refine the go-to-market strategy and identify key growth levers.
• Provide market and competitor insights to influence product development and innovation.
• Represent the business in key industry forums, client meetings, and stakeholder engagements.

Qualifications:

Experience

• 10–15 years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships, or commercial roles, with at least 5 years in a leadership position.
• Proven success in driving growth, entering new markets, or securing large-scale partnerships.
• Experience in technology, fintech, insurtech, digital platforms, or B2B/B2B2C sectors is highly preferred.

Skills

• Strong commercial acumen and strategic mindset.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to develop compelling business cases and drive complex deal structures.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, high-growth environments.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Marketing, or a related field (required).
• MBA or advanced degree (preferred).

Preferred Attributes:

• Regional experience in MENA or emerging markets.
• Familiarity with regulated industries (e.g., insurance, banking, health tech) is a plus.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to work autonomously with high ownership.