Franchise Manager, Gulf

Acino International AG; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

A pharmaceutical company in Dubai is seeking a Specialty Sales Manager to lead their sales team and drive marketing activities within the Specialty portfolio. The ideal candidate will have at least 7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with a strong background in product launches and sales management. This role requires excellent leadership skills and fluency in both Arabic and English. A dynamic work environment awaits you where your contributions can significantly impact healthcare.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
• 2–3 years in a first-line people management role.
• Demonstrated success in product launches and achieving commercial objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Specialty sales team to achieve annual sales and market share targets.
• Monitor territory and sales team performance through KPIs.
• Ensure compliance with internal SOPs, ethical standards, and national regulations.

Skills

Leadership and coaching skills

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

Bilingual in Arabic and English

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy or related fields

Job description

Established in 1836, Acino is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Zurich, with a clear focus on selected markets in the Middle East, Africa, the CIS Region and Latin America. With over 3,000 people across 90 countries, we deliver quality pharmaceuticals to promote affordable healthcare in these emerging markets and leverage our high-quality pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and network to supply leading companies through contract manufacturing and out-licensing.

The Position

The Role

The position is based in Dubai, UAE and will report directly to the Franchise Head, META . The rolewill be responsible for the in-country execution of sales and marketing activities for the Specialty portfolio. This role directly leads the Specialty sales team and ensures brand plans are localized and executed effectively in alignment with country and regional strategies. The incumbent drives commercial performance, product launches, customer engagement, and cross-functional coordination while ensuring compliance with all internal and regulatory standards.

• Lead the Specialty sales team to achieve annual sales, market share, and profitability targets.
• Translate regional brand and access strategies into actionable, country-specific go-to-market plans.
• Ensure high-quality execution of the field force strategy, including segmentation, targeting, and call quality.
• Monitor territory and sales team performance, driving excellence through coaching and KPIs.
• Localize and execute brand plans in collaboration with regional marketing teams.
• Lead product launches with full alignment to launch excellence frameworks.
• Ensure omnichannel marketing tools are utilized effectively across HCP and institutional channels.
• Support the development of promotional content that reflects local market dynamics, ensuring medical and regulatory compliance.
• Partner with Market Access and Regulatory Affairs to support pricing, listing, and product availability.
• Maintain and grow relationships with healthcare professionals, key accounts, and institutions.
• Identify and engage with national KOLs to support scientific exchange and product advocacy.
• Drive customer-centric strategies that align with the portfolio value proposition.
• Act as the in-country lead across Sales, Marketing, Medical, and Market Access for the Specialty portfolio.
• Ensure timely input into demand planning, S&OP, and inventory forecasting processes.
• Provide local insights to regional stakeholders to inform portfolio lifecycle and access decisions.
• Manage territory budgets, promotional spending, and resource allocation effectively.
• Ensure compliance with internal SOPs, ethical standards, and national regulations.
• Recruit, coach, and develop a high-performing Specialty sales team.
• Conduct regular field visits, feedback sessions, and performance reviews.
• Promote a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.

Who You Are

Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy, or related fields.

Minimum 7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

At least 2–3 years in a first-line people management role.

Previous experience in specialty care sales and in-field marketing or product management.

Demonstrated success in product launches, sales force execution, and achieving commercial objectives.

Experience working in hospital and specialty care environments, including engagement with institutional customers. Experience in hospital antibiotics is a plus.

Exposure to cross-functional collaboration with market access, medical affairs, and regulatory teams.

Strong commercial acumen and understanding of the specialty pharmaceutical business model.

Knowledge of market access, pricing, and regulatory processes relevant to specialty products.

Excellent leadership and coaching skills to manage and develop high-performing teams.

Ability to translate strategy into execution, with a focus on results and accountability.

Strong communication, stakeholder management, and interpersonal skills.

Proficient in project management, sales analytics, and decision-making based on data insights.

Digital mindset and experience using omnichannel tools for HCP engagement and promotion.

Excellent command of written and spoken Arabic and English languages.

We Are Acino

At Acino, we push the boundaries to deliver high-quality pharmaceutical products that improve patients’ lives. Driven by our collective purpose to provide access to medicines to those in need, our strength lies in our unique expertise and presence in emerging and high-growth markets. We are proud to be challenging the status quo in the pharmaceutical industry, always looking ahead to the future with an open mind.

Join Acino, a dynamic and rapidly growing environment where your contributions can make a real difference.

Acino is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

How To Apply

If you are interested in the position, please apply here .

Please note that our company name Acino as well as names of members of the management committee are occasionally misused by third parties for scamming, particularly in the context of fake job offers.

Acino would never ask for down payments in relation to job applications. Should you have any doubt as to the authenticity of a job proposal please get in contact with us using the above form.

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