Senior Director - Local Shops Marketplace

Talabat; Dubai; On-site; AED 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Talabat is seeking a Senior Director - Local Shops Marketplace to lead the regional Local Shops P&L across eight markets in the Dubai region, driving GMV growth and profitability.

You will partner with Product, Technology, Operations, and Country leaders to scale grocery and retail partnerships, oversee strategic accounts, and steer commercial programs. The role demands strong marketplace economics, supplier commercials and multi‑market leadership experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Business, Commerce, Economics or a related discipline.
• An MBA would be advantageous.
• Ten years or more of experience in commercial management, account management or business development within marketplace, grocery, retail or e‑commerce organizations.
• Senior leadership with regional or multi‑market responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Own the consolidated regional Local Shops P&L.
• Direct country performance across eight talabat markets and two Instashop markets.
• Guide country Local Shops Heads through clear priorities, targets and performance reviews.
• Analyse commission revenue structures, NCR, NMR and fulfilment-related costs.
• Monitor basket value, basket size and country or vertical mix effects.
• Improve the commercial contribution of talabat Pro subscriptions.
• Establish regional growth plans covering marketplace choice and assortment.
• Lead the launch and expansion of new partner shops.
• Own commercial relationships with major strategic accounts.
• Increase GMV and gross profit across priority regional partners.
• Improve the efficiency of NCR investments and promotional spending.
• Develop Joint Business Plans with leading account groups.
• Lead Quarterly Business Reviews and align regional commitments with market execution.
• Maintain accountability for regional GMV, GP and NCR targets.
• Identify performance gaps and deploy corrective commercial actions.
• Coordinate category implementation across local and regional stakeholders.
• Define the strategy for entering new retail verticals.
• Evaluate marketplace whitespace and develop supporting business cases.
• Lead cross‑functional pilots and scale successful new concepts.
• Coordinate third‑party loyalty programs and specialized platform integrations.
• Establish a consistent QBR governance framework for major account groups.
• Ensure each priority group completes four effective business reviews annually.
• Monitor action‑item ownership and delivery following commercial reviews.
• Act as the regional coordination point between local teams and central functions.
• Build, mentor and lead a high‑performing team of two direct reports.
• Promote commercial ownership, analytical discipline and career development.

Skills

Regional P&L ownership

Marketplace commercial strategy

GMV growth management

Gross‑profit optimization

NCR investment efficiency

NMR performance analysis

Strategic account management

Joint Business Planning

Quarterly Business Reviews

Marketplace economics

Commission revenue analysis

Basket‑value optimization

Multi‑market leadership

Grocery marketplace strategy

Retail category expansion

Health and Beauty growth

New vertical launches

talabat Pro penetration

Subscription‑program commercials

Loyalty‑program integration

Inventory‑management strategy

Order‑fulfilment strategy

Commercial business cases

Cross‑functional execution

Executive team development

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business/Commerce/Economics or related discipline

MBA (advantageous)

Job description

Senior Director - Local Shops Marketplace Job Snapshot

Role: Senior Director - Local Shops Marketplace Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates Industry: Internet Function: Business-Strategic Management Experience: Minimum 10 years Job Type: Full-time

The Senior Director - Local Shops Marketplace position in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a regional leadership opportunity within the Internet industry. talabat is hiring a commercially focused executive to scale its grocery and retail marketplace across eight markets, accelerate GMV growth and strengthen gross-profit performance.

Job Details Country: United Arab Emirates City: Dubai Industry: Internet Function: Business-Strategic Management Salary: 50000-75000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer.

Gender: Any Candidate Nationality: Any Job Type: Full-time

Role Context Local Shops is a high-growth regional vertical connecting customers with grocery, retail, health and beauty partners. This position owns consolidated financial performance, strategic account relationships, category expansion and marketplace innovation. The Senior Director will align country leaders with regional Product and Technology, Operations, Content and Delivery Hero teams while balancing rapid growth with sustainable profitability.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the consolidated regional Local Shops P and L.
• Direct country performance across eight talabat markets and two Instashop markets.
• Guide country Local Shops Heads through clear priorities, targets and performance reviews.
• Analyse commission revenue structures, NCR, NMR and fulfilment-related costs.
• Monitor basket value, basket size and country or vertical mix effects.
• Improve the commercial contribution of talabat Pro subscriptions.
• Establish regional growth plans covering marketplace choice and assortment.
• Lead the launch and expansion of new partner shops.
• Own commercial relationships with major strategic accounts.
• Increase GMV and gross profit across priority regional partners.
• Improve the efficiency of NCR investments and promotional spending.
• Develop Joint Business Plans with leading account groups.
• Lead Quarterly Business Reviews and align regional commitments with market execution.
• Maintain accountability for regional GMV, GP and NCR targets.
• Identify performance gaps and deploy corrective commercial actions.
• Optimize the balance between revenue expansion and long‑term profitability.
• Co‑own inventory‑management and order‑fulfilment strategy with Regional Operations.
• Ensure product, content and operational plans support commercial targets.
• Partner with Product and Technology teams on future shopping and fulfilment capabilities.
• Increase strategic‑account participation in talabat Pro.
• Deploy Pro Exclusive Deals and other subscription‑program enablers.
• Track loyalty‑program activation and its effect on Local Shops results.
• Build the regional playbook for Health and Beauty expansion.
• Identify priority brands, strategic partnerships and market opportunities.
• Coordinate category implementation across local and regional stakeholders.
• Define the strategy for entering new retail verticals.
• Evaluate marketplace whitespace and develop supporting business cases.
• Lead cross‑functional pilots and scale successful new concepts.
• Coordinate third‑party loyalty programs and specialized platform integrations.
• Establish a consistent QBR governance framework for major account groups.
• Ensure each priority group completes four effective business reviews annually.
• Monitor action‑item ownership and delivery following commercial reviews.
• Act as the regional coordination point between local teams and central functions.
• Build, mentor and lead a high‑performing team of two direct reports.
• Promote commercial ownership, analytical discipline and career development.

Ideal Profile

Candidates must hold a Bachelor 's Degree in Business, Commerce, Economics or a related discipline. An MBA would be advantageous. At least ten years of experience in commercial management, account management or business development is required within marketplace, grocery, retail or e‑commerce organizations. Applicants should have spent three to five years in a senior leadership role with regional or multi‑market responsibility. A successful record of managing strategic accounts, large‑scale P and L performance, GMV growth and investment‑efficiency targets is essential. The position requires strong knowledge of marketplace economics, supplier commercials and category expansion. Candidates must be highly analytical and able to influence senior stakeholders across functions and countries. Previous experience in the Middle East and North Africa is strongly preferred.

Skills Set

• Regional P and L ownership
• Marketplace commercial strategy
• GMV growth management
• Gross‑profit optimization
• NCR investment efficiency
• NMR performance analysis
• Strategic account management
• Joint Business Planning
• Quarterly Business Reviews
• Marketplace economics
• Commission revenue analysis
• Basket‑value optimization
• Multi‑market leadership
• Grocery marketplace strategy
• Retail category expansion
• Health and Beauty growth
• New vertical launches
• talabat Pro penetration
• Subscription‑program commercials
• Loyalty‑program integration
• Inventory‑management strategy
• Order‑fulfilment strategy
• Commercial business cases
• Cross‑functional execution
• Executive team development

Why Join Us

This appointment offers the authority to shape a major regional marketplace across eight diverse markets. It combines full commercial ownership, category innovation and multi‑country leadership, giving an accomplished executive the opportunity to build the next stage of talabat 's grocery and retail growth.

About the Company

talabat is part of Delivery Hero, a global local-delivery group operating across numerous international markets. Through its technology, logistics and partner network, talabat connects customers across the Middle East and North Africa with restaurants, grocery stores and a growing range of local retailers.