Sales Director – UAE | FMCG

Overview

We are looking for an experienced and commercially driven Sales Director to lead our Sales, Distribution and Commercial Operations across the UAE. The role will have overall responsibility for sales & revenue growth, market expansion, distribution, key accounts, channel development and commercial profitability across Modern Trade, Traditional Trade, Key Accounts, Wholesale/Retail, Pharmacy, and other strategic channels. The successful candidate will lead a portfolio of premium Personal Care, Baby Care, Mother Care, Home Care, Beauty & Cosmetics and OTC brands, while working closely with Principals, Customers, Marketing, Supply Chain and Finance to deliver sustainable business growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the UAE Sales & Commercial Strategy, Annual Business Plan, Sales Budget and Revenue Targets
• Drive profitable growth across brands, channels, customers and regions
• Lead sales and distribution operations and strengthen numeric/weighted distribution, availability, visibility and market coverage
• Develop and manage strategic relationships with Modern Trade, Key Accounts, Specialty Retailers and Pharmacy Chains
• Lead Joint Business Planning (JBP), commercial negotiations, pricing, trading terms, promotions, listings and customer investments
• Develop channel-specific strategies and identify new customers, markets and business opportunities
• Manage sales forecasts, pricing, margins, trade investment and commercial profitability / P&L. Work with Marketing and Trade Marketing to drive effective promotions, brand activation and ROI-focused commercial execution
• Partner with Supply Chain and Finance to improve forecast accuracy, stock availability, inventory management and working capital
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing sales organisation with clear KPIs and accountability
• Maintain strong relationships with Principals / Suppliers, Market and strategic customers
• Provide senior management with market intelligence, competitive insights, business performance and growth recommendations/reports

Experience

Bachelor's / Master’s Degree in Business, Commerce, Marketing or related discipline. 12–18+ years of progressive FMCG / Consumer Goods experience, with significant UAE / GCC exposure. Minimum 5–7+ years in a senior sales / commercial leadership role such as Sales Director, Commercial Director, Head of Sales, Business Unit Head or equivalent. Proven track record in managing UAE sales, distribution and commercial operations. Strong Modern Trade and Key Account experience is essential; exposure to Specialty Retail and Pharmacy is highly preferred. Experience with Personal Care, Baby Care, Mother Care, Home Care, Beauty & Cosmetics, Consumer Healthcare or OTC categories is strongly preferred. Experience managing premium / international brands and Principals is an advantage. Strong commercial expertise in JBP, negotiations, pricing, trade investment, forecasting and profitability management. Strong analytical skills with advanced MS Excel and working knowledge of ERP / CRM / sales reporting systems. Excellent leadership, negotiation, communication and stakeholder management skills. Ideal Candidate: A strategic, commercially astute and hands-on FMCG leader with a proven track record of building brands, expanding distribution, developing strategic customer relationships and delivering profitable growth in the UAE market. Candidates with strong UAE FMCG relationships and proven exposure to Modern Trade, Key Accounts, Specialty Retail and Pharmacy channels are strongly preferred. Employment Type Full-time

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