Commercial Executive

The Recruitment Events Co.; Whitstable; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading events company is looking for a Commercial Executive for the Middle East to build the sales desk from scratch, focusing on B2B sales within the Talent Acquisition industry. The role offers competitive compensation plus commission, with a strong emphasis on self-starter qualities, CRM proficiency, and exceptional communication skills. Frequent travel across the Middle East is required.

Benefits

Competitive base plus commission

Visa and health insurance

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years in B2B sales or business development, ideally in events or Talent Acquisition.
• Proven track record of exceeding revenue quotas.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills in English; Arabic is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Build the Middle East sales desk, focusing on strategic prospecting.
• Develop and manage a multi-million-dollar sales pipeline.
• Host bespoke client events in key hubs across the Middle East.

Skills

B2B Sales Experience

CRM Proficiency

Communication Skills

Self-Starter Mentality

Market Insight

Networking

Tools

HubSpot

Job description

Job Title: Commercial Executive, Middle East

Location: Remote - based in Dubai/UAE (with frequent travel across the ME region)

Reporting to: CRO (direct) with strategic guidance from the Middle East Executive Sponsor

Package: Competitive base plus commission, visa and health insurance

About Us

Story makers|Experiential innovators|Community builders

We are an award-winning, industry-leading events company that specialises in full-scale Festival Experiences and bespoke Leadership events - all focussed within the Talent Acquisition industry globally with events in Europe, Middle East, and the US with more to come.

Our goal is to raise the profile of TA, and empower those that make a difference. With a community-centred brand at the core of our business, we have our finger on the pulse of the industry and a wealth of experience to be able to facilitate and create premier event experiences.

Role Summary: The Mission

This is a high-growth, 90% sales and 10% event execution role designed for an ambitious, highly autonomous self-starter. Your primary mission is to build the Middle East sales desk from the ground up, establishing our "Resourcing Leaders" product as the premier sponsorship opportunity in the region's Talent Acquisition (TA) industry.

You will be responsible for full-cycle business development—from strategic prospecting to contract closure—with clear revenue targets. The role demands exceptional discipline and a commercial mindset, leveraging in-person events purely as a strategic tool for accelerated relationship building and deal closure.

Key Responsibilities1. Sales & Business Development (90%)

Market Penetration & Desk Building

• Establish the Desk: Own the end-to-end sales strategy for the Middle East, identifying target accounts and prioritising efforts to build a robust book of business from scratch.
• Strategic Alignment: Work directly with the Co-founder & CRO to shape the long-term growth strategy of the Middle East region, ensuring sales efforts and client acquisition align with product development and regional expansion goals.
• Target Clients: Aggressively prospect and acquire new B2B clients across two key segments:
• Global Corporations with a significant presence and budget in the Middle East.
• Leading Local ME Vendors focussed on Talent Acquisition.
• Specific target categories include TA tech companies, employer brand advertising agencies, consultancies, assessment companies, and related vendors.

Global Integration & Collaboration

• Commercial Team Integration: Operate as a fully integrated member of the Global Commercial Team, attending regular weekly meetings and contributing strategic insights as the dedicated "ME voice and feet on the ground." You will work alongside the Commercial Partners and report directly to the CRO.
• Global Client Development: Retain ownership of all Middle East accounts while collaborating closely with the Commercial team in the UK to identify and support opportunities that cross into other global territories, contributing to the overall partnership strategy.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Work in close partnership with the Community Manager and attend regular weekly meetings with the RL Event Team to ensure complete alignment between sales efforts, community growth, and event logistics.

Commercial Excellence & Process

• CRM is King: Utilise HubSpot as the single source of truth for all commercial activity. Accountability for pipeline integrity and reporting is paramount. You must ensure the meticulous recording, management, and strategic prioritisation of every lead, opportunity, and client interaction within it.
• Pipeline Management: Build and manage a predictable, multi-million-dollar sales pipeline, negotiating and closing high-value sponsorship deals to consistently achieve and exceed ambitious quarterly targets.
• Inbound Channel Development: Support the creation and execution of inbound sales channels, such as targeted email marketing campaigns, working collaboratively with the global Events Manager for Resourcing Leaders (RL) to drive qualified leads.

2. Event Execution & Client Relations (10%)

• Strategic Client Hosting: Host and facilitate bespoke, intimate client events, including high-value dinners and breakfast briefings, in primary hubs like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh.
• Market Insight: Act as the local expert, feeding critical market intelligence, competitor activity, and client needs back to the global Commercial and Product teams.
• Event Day Support: Work on-site with the UK Head Office team for larger annual events (e.g., one-day leader summits) to manage key client relationships and ensure smooth event delivery, utilising this time as a high-impact sales accelerator.

Qualifications

• Experience: Proven track record in a high-intensity, B2B sales or business development role (minimum 4 years), consistently meeting or exceeding revenue quotas. Event, media, or Talent Acquisition (TA) supplier sales experience preferred. Experience launching or significantly scaling a new sales territory is highly desirable.
• Sales Mindset: A true self-starter mentality, demonstrating exceptional autonomy, discipline, and a proactive approach to pipeline generation.
• CRM Proficiency: Expert-level proficiency in using CRM software (ideally HubSpot) to manage the entire sales lifecycle, analyze performance, and drive strategic outreach.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to create compelling commercial proposals and presentations. Arabic is a strong advantage.
• Travel: Willingness and ability to travel frequently across the Middle East (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh) for client meetings and event execution.