Head of Commercial & Business Development

Head of Commercial & Business Development

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Experience: 10–15 years of experience in commercial management, business development, sales strategy, or related leadership roles.

Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Management, Engineering, Finance, or a related field. Master's degree is preferred.

Languages: English and Arabic

About the Client

Our client is a growing Saudi-based industrial organization operating in a specialized, project-driven environment. The company is at an important stage of growth and requires strong financial leadership to support business expansion, shareholder expectations, governance maturity, and operational discipline.

This is a dynamic and fast-paced environment where priorities can shift quickly, decisions are closely scrutinized, and leadership requires both strategic thinking and hands-on execution.

About the Role

The Head of Commercial & Business Development will lead the company's commercial strategy, revenue growth, market expansion, client engagement, strategic partnerships, and business development agenda.

This is a senior leadership role reporting directly to the CEO. The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying high-impact business opportunities, developing commercial solutions, leading bids and proposals, negotiating contracts, managing strategic accounts, and building a strong commercial pipeline.

The role requires a commercially sharp, hands-on leader who can operate in a fast-paced environment, influence senior stakeholders, and convert business opportunities into sustainable revenue.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Commercial Leadership

• Develop and execute the commercial and business development strategy in alignment with the company's vision and growth objectives.
• Translate strategic priorities into actionable commercial plans.
• Support market positioning, competitive advantage, and long-term business growth.

Business Development & Market Expansion

• Identify and assess high-value opportunities across priority sectors.
• Build a strong pipeline of qualified opportunities through proactive market development.
• Develop market entry and expansion strategies for local and international growth.
• Monitor industry trends, competitor activity, and regulatory developments.

Client Engagement & Strategic Accounts

• Build and manage executive-level relationships with key clients, partners, and stakeholders.
• Understand client requirements and translate them into commercially viable solutions.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders.
• Represent the company in strategic meetings, forums, and commercial negotiations.

Proposal, Bid & Contract Leadership

• Lead end-to-end development of commercial proposals, bids, and client submissions.
• Ensure proposals are aligned with client requirements, commercial objectives, and internal capabilities.
• Lead contract negotiations, pricing discussions, risk mitigation, and deal closure.
• Ensure commercial agreements are profitable, compliant, and sustainable.

Revenue Growth & Pipeline Management

• Own revenue targets and drive performance through disciplined pipeline management.
• Oversee CRM usage, lead qualification, deal tracking, and forecasting accuracy.
• Review commercial KPIs and provide regular performance updates to leadership.
• Prepare board-level and executive reports on commercial performance and market opportunities.

Product-Market Fit & Commercialization

• Work closely with technical, product, and operational teams to convert capabilities into market-ready offerings.
• Support pricing strategies, customer solution design, and commercialization models.
• Ensure new solutions are aligned with customer needs and market demand.

Government, Regulatory & Ecosystem Engagement

• Engage with government entities, regulators, strategic partners, and ecosystem stakeholders.
• Identify public-sector opportunities and lead competitive proposal development.
• Support initiatives related to industrial localization and national development priorities.

Project Oversight & Delivery Assurance

• Oversee commercial projects to ensure delivery aligns with client expectations and contractual commitments.
• Coordinate with internal teams to ensure smooth execution, resource alignment, and client satisfaction.
• Support issue resolution and maintain strong stakeholder confidence throughout project delivery.

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing commercial and business development team.
• Create a culture of accountability, performance, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Coach team members and support succession planning within the commercial function.

Commercial Governance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with legal, financial, and commercial governance requirements.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to contracts, partnerships, proposals, and client commitments.
• Maintain high standards of commercial discipline and documentation.

Digital Tools & Commercial Technology

• Leverage CRM, analytics, automation, and digital tools to improve sales effectiveness.
• Enhance forecasting, reporting, customer insights, and commercial decision-making.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Management, Engineering, Finance, or a related field. Master's degree is preferred.
• 10–15 years of experience in commercial management, business development, sales strategy, or related leadership roles.
• Proven track record of winning and executing significant contracts with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience in B2B environments with strong understanding of client needs, market dynamics, and complex solution selling.
• Experience in regulated industries, complex proposal development, and commercial governance.
• Prior experience leading teams and managing cross-functional collaboration is preferred.

Required Skills & Competencies

• Commercial strategy and execution
• Business development and market expansion
• Strategic account management
• Executive stakeholder management
• Proposal and bid management
• Contract negotiation and commercial risk management
• CRM and pipeline management
• Financial acumen, budgeting, and forecasting
• Market research and competitive analysis
• Project and program oversight
• Leadership, team development, and cross-functional collaboration
• Strong communication, negotiation, and influencing skills
• Data-driven decision-making and performance management

Only shortlisted candidates shall be contacted.