Job Title: BDM - Water and Wastewater/Desalination / RO / UF/STP / WWTP / TSE (GCC)

Location: Sharjah

Job Type: Full-Time

Experience: 18-20+ years

Job Brief

We are looking for a senior Business Development Manager with 20+ years of GCC experience to lead sales, business growth, and market expansion across the region.

This is a key leadership role for a commercially strong professional who knows the water and wastewater, EPC, O&M, electromechanical, infrastructure, or industrial utilities sectors.

You will build strong client relationships, find major project opportunities, lead key bids, close high-value deals, and grow business across the GCC.

The ideal candidate will have a strong GCC network and the confidence to work with government bodies, utilities, industrial clients, consultants, EPC contractors, developers, and senior decision-makers.

Responsibilities

Business Growth & Sales

• Build and deliver the GCC sales and business development plan.
• Grow revenue, order intake, margins, and market share.
• Build a strong pipeline of major projects and contracts.
• Find and win new opportunities in water, wastewater, desalination, TSE, STP, WWTP, pumping stations, and related infrastructure.
• Develop business across UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
• Explore opportunities in EPC, design-build, O&M, retrofit, rehabilitation, BOOT/BOT, and technology-led projects.

Client & Market Development

• Build strong relationships with government and semi-government organizations.
• Develop contacts with municipalities, utility authorities, industrial clients, and developers.
• Work closely with consultants, PMCs, EPC contractors, OEMs, technology partners, and investors.
• Lead prequalification and vendor registration activities.
• Track tenders, upcoming projects, and market trends.
• Engage with key decision-makers early and help position the business for future projects.

Commercial & Deal Management

• Review opportunities for technical fit, business value, risk, and profit potential.
• Lead bid/no-bid decisions for major opportunities.
• Drive pricing, partner selection, commercial strategy, and negotiations.
• Support consortium, JV, agency, and strategic partnership discussions.
• Lead negotiations and help turn strong opportunities into profitable contracts.
• Protect the business from high commercial and contractual risks.

Tender & Proposal Leadership

• Work with engineering, proposals, procurement, projects, and finance teams.
• Guide EOI and prequalification submissions.
• Review technical and commercial proposals.
• Lead clarification and post-tender discussions.
• Review commercial terms, exclusions, risks, and scope before submission.
• Ensure bids are competitive, practical, and commercially sound.

Team Leadership & Reporting

• Lead and mentor the sales and business development team.
• Set clear targets, KPIs, and performance measures.
• Build a strong culture of ownership and follow-up.
• Maintain accurate sales forecasts and pipeline reports.
• Track order intake, conversion, margins, key accounts, competitors, and market trends.
• Share regular business updates with senior management.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of progressive experience in the GCC in sales, business development, commercial leadership, or strategic account management.
• Strong experience in one or more of the following:
• Water & wastewater treatment
• Desalination / RO / UF
• STP / WWTP / TSE
• EPC / electromechanical contracting
• Industrial utilities
• Infrastructure and utility projects
• O&M and lifecycle service contracts
• Environmental engineering and treatment solutions
• Strong understanding of GCC tender and procurement processes.
• Experience with government and semi-government projects.
• Strong knowledge of prequalification and vendor registration processes.
• Experience working with consultants, PMCs, EPC contractors, developers, and technology providers.
• Proven ability to win and close high-value projects.
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills.
• Ability to engage confidently with C-level, board-level, and authority-level stakeholders.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, or a related field. Engineering background is preferred.
• MBA or postgraduate qualification is an advantage.

What We Value

We are especially interested in professionals who can demonstrate:

• An active and strong GCC business network.
• Strong market access in UAE and Saudi Arabia.
• Additional GCC exposure across Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
• A clear record of revenue or order intake growth.
• Major projects or contracts personally originated, influenced, or closed.
• Experience in building strategic partnerships, JVs, or agency relationships.
• Strong client relationships and market credibility.
• A disciplined and results-focused approach to business growth.

Success in This Role

You will be expected to:

• Grow annual order intake and revenue.
• Build a strong and qualified project pipeline.
• Improve opportunity conversion and deal closure.
• Expand strategic accounts and senior-level client access.
• Increase market visibility and partner relationships.
• Pursue projects with strong commercial discipline.
• Improve sales reporting, forecasting, and team performance.

Why Join Us?

• Make a real impact: Take ownership of GCC business growth and help shape the next stage of expansion.
• Work on major projects: Engage with high-value opportunities across water, infrastructure, EPC, and industrial sectors.
• Build at leadership level: Work directly with senior decision-makers and key GCC stakeholders.
• Use your network: Bring your market knowledge and relationships to create meaningful business opportunities.
• Grow with the business: Play a key role in expanding markets, partnerships, and strategic accounts.
• Lead with purpose: Build a strong team and turn your experience into measurable business results.

Application Instructions

If you possess the qualifications and are driven to excel in your field, we warmly invite you to apply by sharing your updated resume at resumes@empglobal.ae or by applying directly through this platform.

Note: While we appreciate every application, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Your understanding is appreciated in this regard!