Business Development Director

Business Development Director

Business Development

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Overview:

Build, execute and acquire new clients and business opportunities across all products, including new event development and acquisition, large scale RFP responses, joint ventures/strategic partnerships, multi-year programs and large-scale events.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Strategy & new business opportunities: Drive revenue and market share growth strategies by developing new business opportunities. Collaborating on new event development and acquisition, large scale RFP responses and one-off mega events, aligned to Ethara’s strategic objectives.
• Relationship & pipeline management: Work with the Business Development Directors to build and sustain engagement and long-term relationships with new and existing clients, to ensure a pipeline of new business opportunities, specifically IP, mega events and one-off major events. For these events, collaborate with business production team to ensure pitches and proposals meet the client’s expectations.
• Inhouse development work: In collaboration with the creative team, build a catalogue of creative concepts and owned, or co-owned properties that we can pitch and win funding support. Additionally, assist the strategy team in commercially evaluating IP’s for acquisition.
• Commercial in-house events: support in development of budgets towards new event and content developed in house working in collaboration with the necessary internal departments.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Event Management, Business, Marketing, or related field. Masters preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in the event industry, specifically with new event and content in the events/entertainment sector.
• Track record of successfully developing business opportunities, evaluating market demand, feasibility and return for investors.
• Demonstrated experience in building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and partners and delivering revenue growth.

Job Specification:

• Strong analytical skills.
• Strong program management skills.
• Strong admin and reporting skills.
• Extensive network of contacts in the industry and region, including government related departments (event originators), corporate clients and customer brands.
• Strong client / team management, excellent communication and presentational skills.
• Knowledge of new event acquisition process and existing network of new event owners.
• Commercial negotiation skills.