Senior Manager - Paper Sales

April Fine Paper Trading Middle East FZE; Dubai; On-site; AED 420,000 - 660,000; Full time

Job summary

April Fine Paper Trading Middle East FZE in Dubai seeks a Commercial Sales Manager to lead regional sales, drive growth across MEA, and manage key distributors and major customers.

The role oversees forecasting, pricing, contract negotiations, and performance tracking, collaborating with supply chain and marketing to expand market share and profitability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, economics, supply chain or related discipline.
• MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification preferred.
• Minimum 12-15 years of progressive sales and commercial experience in paper-related industries.
• At least 5 years in a regional sales leadership role covering Middle East and/or Africa markets.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sales strategies to achieve volume revenue profitability and market share targets across the MEA region.
• Manage the complete sales cycle for Cut Size and Offset Paper products including forecasting pricing contract negotiations and order fulfillment.
• Drive regional sales growth through effective channel management distributor development and direct customer engagement.
• Identify new business opportunities market segments and strategic partnerships to expand APRIL s footprint in the region.
• Ensure achievement of annual sales budgets and commercial KPIs.
• Analyze market trends competitor activities customer requirements and economic developments to identify growth opportunities.
• Develop and implement go-to-market strategies for existing and new paper product lines.
• Support product positioning and brand-building initiatives to strengthen market presence and customer loyalty.
• Gather market intelligence and provide recommendations on pricing product mix and commercial strategies.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key distributors merchants converters printers publishers and large end-users.
• Lead negotiations of commercial agreements and strategic partnerships.
• Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction through proactive account management and service excellence.
• Resolve customer issues and commercial disputes in a timely and professional manner.
• Develop sales forecasts and demand plans in coordination with supply chain and operations teams.
• Monitor sales performance profitability market share and customer metrics.
• Prepare regular sales reports business reviews and market analysis for management.
• Drive pricing and margin optimization initiatives to maximize profitability.
• Lead coach and develop regional sales teams and channel partners to achieve business objectives.
• Foster a high-performance customer-centric sales culture.
• Support succession planning capability development and talent management initiatives within the sales function.
• Work closely with supply chain customer service finance marketing and mill teams to ensure seamless business operations.
• Coordinate inventory planning product availability and customer delivery requirements.
• Support strategic projects and business transformation initiatives.

Skills

Paper markets

Distribution channels

Negotiations

Pricing strategy

Trade terms

Logistics

CRM systems

MS Office

Sales analytics

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, Supply Chain, or related discipline.

MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification preferred.

Job description

Commercial Sales Management

• Develop and execute sales strategies to achieve volume revenue profitability and market share targets across the MEA region
• Manage the complete sales cycle for Cut Size and Offset Paper products including forecasting pricing contract negotiations and order fulfillment
• Drive regional sales growth through effective channel management distributor development and direct customer engagement
• Identify new business opportunities market segments and strategic partnerships to expand APRIL s footprint in the region
• Ensure achievement of annual sales budgets and commercial KPIs

Market Development

• Analyze market trends competitor activities customer requirements and economic developments to identify growth opportunities
• Develop and implement go-to-market strategies for existing and new paper product lines
• Support product positioning and brand-building initiatives to strengthen market presence and customer loyalty
• Gather market intelligence and provide recommendations on pricing product mix and commercial strategies

Key Account Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key distributors merchants converters printers publishers and large end-users
• Lead negotiations of commercial agreements and strategic partnerships
• Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction through proactive account management and service excellence
• Resolve customer issues and commercial disputes in a timely and professional manner

Business Planning Performance Management

• Develop sales forecasts and demand plans in coordination with supply chain and operations teams
• Monitor sales performance profitability market share and customer metrics
• Prepare regular sales reports business reviews and market analysis for management
• Drive pricing and margin optimization initiatives to maximize profitability

Leadership Team Management

• Lead coach and develop regional sales teams and channel partners to achieve business objectives
• Foster a high-performance customer-centric sales culture
• Support succession planning capability development and talent management initiatives within the sales function

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with supply chain customer service finance marketing and mill teams to ensure seamless business operations
• Coordinate inventory planning product availability and customer delivery requirements
• Support strategic projects and business transformation initiatives

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, Supply Chain, or related discipline.
• MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 12-15 years of progressive sales and commercial experience within the paper, pulp & paper, printing & writing paper, paper distribution, packaging, or related industries.
• At least 5 years in a regional sales leadership role covering Middle East and/or Africa markets.
• Proven track record of delivering sales growth, market expansion, and profitable business results.
• Strong experience managing distributors, merchants, and key accounts across multiple countries.
• Experience in international trade, export sales, and cross-border business operations is highly preferred.

TECHNICAL & COMMERCIAL COMPETENCIES

• Strong understanding of Cut Size Paper, Copier Paper, Printing & Writing Paper, and Offset Paper markets.
• Excellent knowledge of distribution channels, commercial negotiations, and pricing strategies.
• Solid understanding of international trading terms, logistics, supply chain, and export documentation.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing sales budgets, profitability, and business performance.
• Proficiency in CRM systems, Microsoft Office, and sales analytics tools.