Senior Specialist - Commercial & BD, AD Food Hub

Role Overview

Senior Specialist – Commercial & Business Development at AD Ports Group, Abu Dhabi. The role supports the commercial growth of Abu Dhabi Food Hub by identifying, developing and converting business opportunities across the UAE food ecosystem.

Role Purpose

Drive commercial growth by identifying and converting business opportunities within the UAE food ecosystem, focusing on tenant acquisition and strategic partnerships. Operate as a highly market-facing commercial resource, translating customer requirements into relevant solutions and coordinating internally to progress opportunities through conversion.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Pipeline Management

• Identify and develop new business opportunities aligned with target sectors and commercial strategy.
• Build and maintain a qualified prospect pipeline across food trading, FMCG, F&V, wholesale, distribution, retail, HORECA and related businesses.
• Qualify prospects based on business fit, infrastructure requirements, product and category relevance, investment potential, timing and strategic value.
• Develop relationships with food traders, importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, F&V companies, FMCG businesses, HORECA/foodservice operators and other relevant market participants.
• Identify prospective tenants and strategic partners.
• Engage decision-makers and present the Company value proposition.
• Coordinate site visits and commercial discussions.
• Support opportunities through to conversion.

Commercial Execution

• Support the preparation and negotiation of commercial proposals, Letters of Intent, booking forms and other relevant documentation.
• Coordinate prospect client requirements with Operations, Finance, Legal, Marketing and other internal stakeholders.
• Support commercial events, trade missions, exhibitions, industry meetings and other lead-generation activities.

Market Intelligence & Strategy

• Provide market intelligence on customer demand, competitor activity, pricing, product categories and emerging opportunities.
• Support the wider commercial strategy and tenant acquisition priorities.
• Support the development of Abu Dhabi Food Hub as an active food trading ecosystem.
• Contribute market intelligence that helps shape Abu Dhabi Food Hub's commercial strategies.
• Support the development of a diversified tenant mix capable of creating critical mass and increasing the attractiveness of the ecosystem.

Collaboration

• Demonstrate positive teamwork and collaboration across Abu Dhabi Food Hub members.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Supply Chain, Food Business, Economics, Commerce or a related discipline.
• Relevant professional qualifications or sector experience may be considered in lieu of specific academic requirements where appropriate.

Years of Experience

• Approximately 6–8 years of relevant professional experience with exposure to the UAE food market.

Nature of Experience

• Progressive experience in business development, commercial development, sales, key account management, leasing or food trading.
• Strong practical knowledge of the UAE food and FMCG ecosystem, preferably including F&V, wholesale, distribution, retail and/or HORECA/foodservice.
• Demonstrated experience identifying prospects, developing senior relationships, generating leads and converting opportunities.
• Proven ability to understand customer business models and translate a service infrastructure or proposition into relevant commercial value proposition.
• Experience in real estate, industrial/logistics, food hubs, marketplaces, free zones or B2B ecosystem development is advantageous.
• UAE market network and existing relationships within the food sector are highly desirable.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Operations, Finance, Legal and Marketing to close commercial opportunities is preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Good knowledge of CRM and business-development tools.
• Good analytical and reporting skills.
• Ability to prepare and present commercial proposals and business cases.
• Excellent English, both written and spoken.
• Arabic is advantageous.
• Additional languages relevant to the UAE food trading community are an advantage.
• Strong relationship-building capabilities and disciplined pipeline execution.

Additional Information

• No direct people-management responsibility.