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.

Our client is a globally recognized leader in drainage and water management solutions, providing innovative systems for major infrastructure, commercial, and hospitality projects worldwide. With a long-standing presence across the GCC, the company has built a strong market position supported by a highly capable and experienced regional team. To further strengthen and expand its operations in Saudi Arabia, it is now seeking an experienced Country Manager (m/f/d) to lead the local organization, drive sustainable growth, and cultivate long-term strategic partnerships.

Your duties and responsibilities will include:

• Develop and implement a best-in-class sales and market entry strategy to drive the company’s growth and positioning in Saudi Arabia
• Serve as a trusted commercial partner to regional and global leadership, contributing strategic insight and influencing key business decisions
• Proactively identify and capitalize on major business opportunities, converting them into sustainable and profitable revenue streams
• Build, manage, and expand long-term strategic relationships with government bodies, key clients, and industry partners
• Lead complex commercial negotiations and oversee sophisticated contract frameworks to maximize value and manage risk
• Drive the growth and operational advancement of the Saudi entity, optimizing systems, workflows, and overall efficiency
• Create and embed a high-performance sales culture, setting clear objectives and driving consistent achievement of ambitious targets
• Act as the company’s senior representative in executive-level discussions, reinforcing its reputation as a preferred partner for large-scale infrastructure and hospitality projects
• Track market trends, regulatory changes, and competitive movements to anticipate risks and identify growth opportunities
• Ensure alignment between sales strategy, operational execution, and long-term business objectives in the Saudi market

To be successful in this role you should have the following skills and experiences:

• An academic background in business, engineering, or a related discipline, supported by extensive executive leadership exposure
• A strong track record of driving revenue and managing complex commercial portfolios within the construction or infrastructure sector
• Hands-on experience operating in Saudi Arabia, with a clear understanding of local regulations, decision-making structures, and cultural dynamics
• The ability to set a clear growth vision and translate it into executable market-entry and expansion plans
• Advanced deal-structuring and negotiation capabilities, with demonstrated success in closing strategically significant agreements
• High-level commercial and financial insight, enabling disciplined growth, margin improvement, and long-term value creation
• A proven leadership style that attracts, develops, and energizes top-performing sales talent
• Fluency in both Arabic and English for senior-level stakeholder engagement

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.

Our client is a fast-growing, internationally active technology company headquartered in Germany and recognized as a global innovation leader in fiber-reinforced composite systems for trenchless pipeline rehabilitation. The company designs and manufactures high-performance solutions for the sustainable renewal of water, wastewater, stormwater, and gas infrastructure, supporting municipalities, utilities, and infrastructure operators across international markets.

With strong growth ambitions in the Middle East, the company is now establishing its regional presence from the ground up. To lead this strategic expansion, we are seeking an entrepreneurial and hands-on Business Development Manager (m/f/d) GCC. This role offers a unique opportunity to build a new market, establish long-term partnerships, and shape the regional business strategy. You will act as the first local representative, combining technical consulting, project sales, and strategic business development in a highly demanding, solution-driven environment.

Your duties and responsibilities will include:

• Build and develop the regional market presence across the Middle East, with a strategic focus on municipal infrastructure solutions within the water, wastewater, and stormwater segments
• Act as the first on-the-ground employee, representing the company locally and establishing long-term market structures
• Drive hands-on business development, identifying, developing, and converting new project opportunities
• Manage and grow existing key accounts, ensuring long-term customer satisfaction and repeat business
• Work closely with municipalities, engineering consultants, and contractors through tender-based sales processes and technical specification work
• Support project acquisition by influencing specifications, providing technical consulting, and positioning premium system solutions
• Develop strong relationships with end customers and contractors, jointly promoting optimized technical and commercial project solutions
• Lead technical presentations, workshops, and training sessions for stakeholders
• Act as the interface between local customers, engineering partners, and the company’s technical and production teams in Germany
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and project pipelines to continuously refine the regional strategy

To be successful in this role, you should have the following skills and experiences:

• Minimum 6–10 years of experience in technical project sales or business development, ideally within the building materials, construction solutions, or infrastructure technology sectors
• Strong background in consultative, specification-driven, and high-value technical sales
• Proven experience working in tender-based project environments, particularly with municipalities and infrastructure operators
• Proven ability to understand, position, and successfully commercialize complex, technically sophisticated, and high-value solutions within project-driven environments
• Strong entrepreneurial mindset with a demonstrated track record in building markets, structures, and business pipelines from the ground up
• Commercial acumen combined with strong technical credibility, enabling effective engagement with engineering, contractor, and end-user stakeholders
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence decision-makers at senior and municipal levels
• Fluency in English is mandatory; additional language skills are a strong advantage
• High flexibility and willingness to travel extensively across the Middle East region as required