National Modern Trade Manager

confidential; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading FMCG company in Dubai is looking for a candidate with 8-10 years of experience in sales. The role involves developing Modern Trade strategies, managing key accounts, and leading teams to achieve performance goals. The ideal applicant will possess strong skills in strategic planning and communication in both English and Arabic. An MBA is preferred, and proficiency in SAP is a plus.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of progressive experience in FMCG sales.
• 3-5 years in a Modern Trade management role in the Food & Beverage sector.
• Strong strategic and commercial planning skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the Modern Trade business plan.
• Manage national key accounts such as Carrefour and Lulu.
• Lead joint business planning discussions with retail partners.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain, Marketing, and Finance.

Skills

FMCG sales experience

Key Account and business management

Strategic and commercial planning

Execution excellence

People leadership

Strong communication in English

Strong communication in Arabic

Proficiency in MS Excel

Proficiency in PowerPoint

Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP preferred)

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration

MBA (preferred)

Job description

Tactical

• Develop and execute the Modern Trade business plan aligned with overall sales strategy.
• Set annual sales targets, trade spend budgets, and promotional calendars for key accounts.
• Lead joint business planning (JBP) discussions and trade negotiations with major retail partners.

Operational (Core)

• Manage national key accounts such as Carrefour, Lulu, Spinneys, Choithrams, Union Coop, and other modern trade partners.
• Ensure listing, activation, and visibility of all SKUs across store formats.
• Monitor sales performance, category share, and profitability by channel.
• Oversee in-store execution, planograms, and promotional compliance.

Operational (General)

• Coordinate with Supply Chain, Marketing, and Finance to ensure product availability and cost efficiency.
• Analyze market data, consumer insights, and competitor trends to identify growth opportunities.
• Provide regular reports and business reviews to management.

People Management

• Lead, coach, and motivate the Key Account and Merchandising teams to deliver on performance objectives.
• Build capability through ongoing training, performance reviews, and succession planning.
• Foster a results-oriented and collaborative team culture.

Skills

• 8-10 years of progressive experience in FMCG sales, with at least 3-5 years in a Modern Trade management role within the Food & Beverage sector in the UAE.
• Strategic and commercial planning, account management, execution excellence, people leadership, financial governance
• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Marketing or a related field (MBA preferred).
• Requires strong communication skills in English and Arabic.
• Strategic and Commercial planning
• Key Account and business management
• Execution Excellence and people leadership
• Proficiency in MS Excel , PowerPoint, and ERP systems (SAP preferred)