Strategy and Business Development Director

Rawaj - Human Capital Management; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail firm in Saudi Arabia is seeking a dedicated Strategy & Business Development Director. This role will focus on developing corporate strategies, identifying growth opportunities, and conducting deep market analyses. The ideal candidate will have 10–15 years of experience in strategy formulation, with a strong preference for background in retail or luxury sectors. An MBA is strongly preferred. This opportunity offers a chance to shape the strategic agenda of a prominent organization in a dynamic market.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of experience in strategy or corporate development.
• Proven track record in strategy formulation and evaluation.
• Experience in GCC markets, particularly Saudi Arabia is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of corporate and business strategies.
• Identify and assess strategic growth opportunities.
• Conduct market, consumer, and competitive analyses.
• Design strategic initiatives for enhanced commercial performance.
• Provide strategic guidance to Sales, Marketing, and Finance.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Market intelligence

Business modeling

Executive-level advisory

Analytical capabilities

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field

MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification

Job description

We are seeking a dedicated and meticulous Strategy & Business Development Director for a prominent and leading retail company in Saudi Arabia, renowned for its commitment to excellence and innovation.

The Strategy & Business Development Director will lead the design, structuring, and articulation of corporate and business strategies by identifying growth opportunities, evaluating strategic options, and supporting long-term value creation. The role emphasizes strategic thinking, market intelligence, business modeling, and executive-level advisory, ensuring the company’s strategic agenda is clear, coherent, and data-driven.

Work location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the development of corporate and business-level strategies, including long-term growth roadmaps and strategic priorities.
• Identify, assess, and structure strategic growth opportunities across products, brands, channels, and markets.
• Conduct deep market, consumer, and competitive analyses to inform strategic decisions related to expansion, portfolio optimization, and positioning.
• Design and recommend strategic initiatives to enhance commercial performance, operational effectiveness, and customer value without direct involvement in execution.
• Act as a strategic partner to Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, and Product teams by providing direction, frameworks, and strategic guidance, while execution remains with respective functions.
• Provide strategic input and insights for new product, brand, and category development based on trends, data, and market intelligence.
• Evaluate opportunities related to market entry, store expansion, partnerships, acquisitions, and new business models at a strategic level.
• Develop business cases, financial models, and scenario analyses to support investment and transformation decisions.
• Lead cross-functional strategic studies and planning exercises, ensuring alignment at leadership level without managing day-to-day project execution.
• Track strategic KPIs and outcomes, delivering insightful recommendations to executive leadership and board-level stakeholders.
• Prepare high-quality strategy decks, reports, and presentations for senior management and key decision-makers.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

We are Looking for:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Strategy, Marketing, Finance, or a related field
• MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification is strongly preferred
• 10–15 years of experience in strategy, corporate development, business planning, or advisory-focused leadership roles
• Proven track record in strategy formulation, strategic planning, and business evaluation (rather than hands-on execution)
• Prior exposure to retail, luxury, beauty, or fragrance sectors is highly preferred
• Strong analytical, conceptual, and financial modeling capabilities
• Exceptional communication, storytelling, and executive stakeholder management skills
• Experience in GCC markets, particularly Saudi Arabia, is preferred