Head of Sales — FMCG Principal (Abu Dhabi)

eMagine Solutions; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading FMCG firm in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Head of Sales to drive commercial growth across the UAE. In this senior leadership role, you will own the sales strategy, manage high-performing sales teams, and ensure profitability. Ideal candidates will have proven FMCG experience in the UAE, strong leadership skills, and the ability to influence at the executive level. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape strategy and culture while having direct impact on the company's commercial direction.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in FMCG within the UAE, demonstrating growth delivery.
• Strong understanding of Modern Trade and Traditional Trade dynamics.
• Experience managing and developing sales teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver UAE sales strategy across Modern and Traditional Trade.
• Drive strategic account planning and negotiations with key customers.
• Build cross-functional alignment with marketing, supply chain, and finance.

Skills

FMCG experience in the UAE

Leadership capability

Strong negotiation skills

Strategic insights

Job description

An established FMCG Principal in Abu Dhabi is hiring a Head of Sales to lead commercial growth across the UAE. This is a senior leadership role for someone with a strong track record building high-performing sales teams, owning P&L, and partnering closely with the C‑Suite to shape go-to-market strategy.

• Own and deliver the UAE sales strategy across Modern Trade and Traditional Trade, ensuring profitable, sustainable growth
• Lead, coach, and scale a sales organisation (field sales, key accounts, channel teams)
• Take full accountability for sales performance, budgets, forecasting, and P&L
• Drive strategic account planning and commercial negotiations with key customers across key retail and wholesale accounts
• Provide market and competitor insights, translating data into clear recommendations for the executive team
• Strengthen route‑to‑market, improve coverage, and raise standards of merchandising execution across the country
• Establish clear execution rhythms (KPIs, call cycles, visibility, promotions compliance) to ensure consistent in‑market performance
• Build cross‑functional alignment with marketing, supply chain, finance, and operations

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience in FMCG within the UAE, with a demonstrable record of delivering growth
• Mandatory: experience working with Principal companies (brand owner/manufacturer side)
• Strong understanding of Modern Trade and Traditional Trade dynamics in the UAE
• Strong capability in route‑to‑market design, coverage optimisation, and merchandising / in‑store execution
• Bonus: exposure to working with distributors and distributor management models
• Strong leadership capability with experience managing and developing sales teams
• Solid commercial acumen with hands‑on P&L ownership and forecasting discipline
• Confident communicator who can provide strategic insights and influence at C‑Suite level
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to build long‑term customer partnerships

Anything else...

• Senior leadership seat with direct impact on UAE commercial direction
• High visibility with the executive team and ownership of key decisions
• Opportunity to shape strategy, structure, and performance culture