Senior Specialist - Commercial & BD, AD Food Hub

Abu Dhabi Ports; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 320,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Abu Dhabi Ports is seeking a Senior Specialist Business Development to drive growth across the UAE food ecosystem. You will identify opportunities in food trading, FMCG, and related sectors, build a robust prospect pipeline, and coordinate with Operations, Finance, Legal and Marketing to close commercial deals.

The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, market intelligence, and tenant acquisition, with a focus on translating client needs into practical commercial solutions and value

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree as listed; relevant sector experience may substitute for academic requirements
• Good knowledge of CRM and business-development tools
• Good analytical and reporting skills; ability to prepare and present commercial proposals and business cases

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop new business opportunities aligned with target sectors and commercial strategy
• Build and maintain a qualified prospect pipeline across food trading, FMCG, F&B, wholesale, retail, HORECA and related businesses
• Qualify prospects based on business fit, infrastructure, product category relevance, investment potential, timing and strategic value
• Coordinate requirements with Operations, Finance, Legal, Marketing and other internal stakeholders and support commercial events and lead-generation activities

Skills

CRM knowledge

Business development tools

Analytical & reporting skills

Proposal & business case development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business / Marketing / Supply Chain / Economics or related

Tools

CRM systems

Industry tools

Job description

Educational and Technical Qualifications

Bachelor s degree in Business Administration Marketing Supply Chain Food Business Economics Commerce or a related discipline Relevant professional qualifications or sector experience may be considered in lieu of specific academic requirements where appropriate Good knowledge of CRM and business-development tools Good analytical and reporting skills Ability to prepare and present commercial proposals and business cases

Language Skills

Excellent English both written and spoken Arabic is advantageous Additional languages relevant to the UAE food trading community are an advantage

Years of Experience

Approx 6-8 years of relevant professional experience with exposure to the UAE food market

Nature of Experience

Progressive experience in business development commercial development sales key account management leasing food trading Strong practical knowledge of the UAE food and FMCG ecosystem preferably including F amp V wholesale distribution retail and or HORECA foodservice Demonstrated experience identifying prospects developing senior relationships generating leads and converting opportunities Proven ability to understand customer business models and translate a service infrastructure or proposition into relevant commercial value proposition Experience in real estate industrial logistics food hubs marketplaces free zones or B2B ecosystem development is advantageous UAE market network and existing relationships within the food sector are highly desirable Experience working cross-functionally with Operations Finance Legal and Marketing to close commercial opportunities is preferred

Core Responsibilities

Identify and develop new business opportunities aligned with the target sectors and commercial strategy Build and maintain a qualified prospect pipeline across food trading FMCG F amp V wholesale distribution retail HORECA and related businesses Qualify prospects based on business fit infrastructure requirements product category relevance investment potential timing and strategic value Support the preparation and negotiation of commercial proposals LOIs booking forms and other relevant documentation Coordinate prospect clients requirements with Operations Finance Legal Marketing and other internal stakeholders Support commercial events trade missions exhibitions industry meetings and other lead-generation activities

People Management Responsibilities

No direct people-management responsibility Demonstrate positive teamwork and collaboration across ADFH members

Strategic Responsibilities

Support the development of ADFH as an active food trading ecosystem Contribute market intelligence that helps shape ADFH s commercial strategies Support the development of a diversified tenant mix capable of creating critical mass and increasing the attractiveness of ADFH ecosystem

The Senior Specialist Business Development will support the commercial growth of Abu Dhabi Food Hub by identifying developing and converting business opportunities across the UAE food ecosystem The role will focus on generating and managing a qualified commercial pipeline identifying prospective tenants and strategic partners engaging decision-makers presenting the Company value proposition coordinating site visits and commercial discussions and supporting opportunities through to conversion The Senior Specialist will operate as a highly market-facing commercial resource developing relationships with food traders importers distributors wholesalers retailers F amp V companies FMCG businesses HORECA foodservice operators and other relevant market participants The role will translate customer requirements into relevant solutions and coordinate internally with Operations Finance Legal Marketing and others to progress opportunities The role will also provide market intelligence on customer demand competitor activity pricing product categories and emerging opportunities supporting the wider commercial strategy and tenant acquisition priorities