Country Head of Business Development

Job Title:Country Head of Business DevelopmentLocation:United Arab Emirates (On-site)Department:Business DevelopmentReporting To:Managing DirectorRole SummaryWe are seeking a Country Head of Business Development to lead offline business expansion across the UAE. This senior leadership role is accountable for driving the corporate gifting business, securing high-value partnerships, and scaling new offline revenue streams such as vending machines, institutional contracts, and experiential collaborations.As a member of the country leadership team, this role will blend strategic vision with operational execution - balancing corporate revenue delivery with long-term channel innovation. The ideal candidate brings a strong background in B2B partnerships, offline sales leadership, and gifting solutions, coupled with the ability to build high-performing teams and deliver sustainable commercial growth.Key ResponsibilitiesCorporate Gifting & Sales ExpansionOwn the corporate gifting strategy for the UAE, tailoring solutions to meet the needs of corporates, institutions, and government entities.Develop innovative gifting offerings for seasonal, cultural, and occasion-driven demand.Drive end-to-end acquisition, retention, and upselling of high-value corporate accounts.Offline Partnerships & New ChannelsBuild partnerships with malls, airports, hotels, and large corporates to expand Floward’s offline footprint.Lead the rollout of vending machines as a new revenue channel, ensuring both operational excellence and commercial ROI.Negotiate high-value partnerships and long-term contracts that increase offline visibility and distribution.Strategic Leadership & PlanningDefine the country business development roadmap aligned with group-level growth priorities.Identify and capitalize on new market opportunities, ensuring revenue diversification beyond core gifting.Partner with category, operations, and marketing to deliver seamless corporate and offline solutions.Team Leadership & DevelopmentLead, mentor, and grow a high-performing business development team.Instill a culture of accountability, ownership, and customer excellence.Build internal capabilities to support scaling of both gifting and offline channels.Financial & Operational AccountabilityOwn the BD P&L and ensure profitability across gifting and offline partnerships.Monitor KPIs such as pipeline health, corporate gifting revenue, account retention, and channel ROI.Deliver regular performance updates to country and regional leadership.Qualifications & ExperienceBachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field (MBA preferred).Minimum 10 years’ experience in business development, corporate sales, or partnerships, with at least 4 years in a senior leadership role.Proven success in corporate gifting, offline partnerships, and high-value contract negotiations.Background in retail, eCommerce, luxury goods, FMCG, or lifestyle sectors preferred.Experience with alternative distribution models (e.g., vending machines, institutional partnerships) is highly desirable.Skills & CompetenciesCore CompetenciesCustomer Focus: Builds bespoke gifting solutions and strong client partnerships.Innovation: Expands offline presence through vending machines and new partnerships.Accountability: Owns revenue delivery and partnership performance at the country level.Collaboration: Works seamlessly with cross-functional teams for execution.Behavioral CompetenciesStrategic Thinking: Aligns offline and gifting initiatives with long-term business goals.Negotiation & Influencing: Secures high-value gifting contracts and offline partnerships.Problem-Solving: Anticipates and resolves challenges in execution and fulfillment.Market Orientation: Monitors corporate, retail, and offline partnership trends.Functional CompetenciesCorporate Sales & Gifting Leadership: Leads large-scale B2B and corporate gifting programs.Partnership Development: Creates new alliances with corporates and institutions.Channel Development: Oversees vending machine and offline channel launches with commercial rigor.Leadership CompetenciesBusiness Growth Enablement: Defines country BD vision and drives measurable results.Stakeholder Management: Manages senior relationships internally and externally.About the CompanyA premium global lifestyle brand with a strong international footprint, built around life’s most important occasions. The company is rapidly expanding its offline presence, with a focus on corporate gifting, partnerships, and new distribution channels. With a culture rooted in creativity, collaboration, and customer excellence, the organization is pioneering innovative ways to deliver meaningful, occasion-driven experiences.