ABOUT DEPARTER - THE KNOW-WHO PEOPLE
Departer is a leading German Executive Search firm with over 20 years of experience in global leadership recruitment. We specialize in placing executives in medium-sized enterprises and private equity portfolio firms across DACH, MEAI, ASIA, and ANZ regions. With a deep understanding of the DACH economy, we facilitate successful placements within global management teams across corporate headquarters and entities abroad.
On behalf of our client, a globally operating German industrial company known for its engineering excellence in conveyor, lifting, and drive technologies, we are searching for a Regional Manager (m/f/d) to establish and lead the company’s new regional office in the UAE. With a product portfolio tailored to demanding applications in the cement and offshore industries, this newly created role offers a unique opportunity to take full ownership of business development and market expansion across the Middle East. This is a high-impact position for an entrepreneurial, technically skilled professional ready to build operations from the ground up and drive long-term growth for a respected industrial brand.
Your duties and responsibilities will include:
- Spearhead the market entry strategy for the Middle East region, with a focus on GCC countries
- Develop and execute a regional sales and growth strategy tailored to the unique demands of the cement and offshore sectors
- Build and lead a multidisciplinary team, fostering high performance, accountability, and customer excellence
- Engage C-level decision-makers at client organizations, positioning high-end technical solutions as value-adding investments
- Oversee all regional operations including commercial management, logistics coordination, administration, and compliance
- Ensure full P&L responsibility for the Middle East unit, including budget planning, forecasting and performance control
- Implement effective pipeline, sales and CRM processes via Salesforce in line with headquarters standards
- Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and regulatory developments to inform strategic decisions and secure long-term growth
- Represent the company at industry events, trade shows, and key client engagements throughout the region
- Coordinate closely with the German executive leadership to align strategy, ensure quality standards and report progress
To be successful in this role you should have the following skills and experiences:
- Technical degree in Mechanical, Process, or Industrial Engineering or a comparable qualification
- Extensive experience in B2B technical sales within industrial sectors, ideally including cement, offshore, or bulk material handling
- A proven entrepreneurial mindset and a hands-on leadership style, with a track record of setting up or scaling business operations
- Strong commercial, project management, and negotiation skills in international contexts
- Ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments, both regionally and at global headquarters level
- Prior experience in building and leading regional teams and establishing new market entities is highly desirable
- Strategic acumen, paired with operational execution capabilities and a structured, goal-oriented approach
- Excellent command of English, Arabic and/or German language skills are a strong asset
- High intercultural competence, professionalism and the ability to work across diverse teams and customer environments
- Proficiency in CRM systems, preferably Salesforce