Business Development Manager

Job Description
Business Development Manager Middle East, Africa & French West Africa
Business Development Manager
Middle East, Africa & French West Africa
DepartmentBusiness Development / CommercialLocationDubai, UAE (with regional travel)Reporting ToChief Executive OfficerEmployment TypeFull-TimeKey MarketsMiddle East | Africa | French West Africa (Cte d'Ivoire & Region)
Role Overview
The Business Development Manager will drive Taurian Pharma's commercial growth across the Middle East, Africa, and French West Africa markets. This role is responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities, building strategic partnerships with distributors and healthcare institutions, and expanding the company's pharmaceutical portfolio footprint across target territories. The ideal candidate combines strong pharmaceutical market knowledge with proven business development experience in emerging markets.

Key Responsibilities
Business Development & Market Expansion
Identify, evaluate, and onboard new distributors, agents, and institutional partners across the MEA region and Francophone West Africa
Develop and execute territory-specific business development plans aligned with company growth objectives
¢ Lead end-to-end partnership negotiations from initial outreach through contract finalization
¢ Build and maintain a robust pipeline of business opportunities across assigned markets
¢ Drive product registration and market entry strategies in new territories
Sales & Revenue Management
¢ Own and deliver against revenue and growth targets for assigned territories
¢ Develop pricing strategies and commercial proposals in line with market dynamics
¢ Collaborate with field teams to monitor sell-through performance and address gaps proactively
¢ Prepare regular sales forecasts, business reviews, and pipeline reports for senior management
Market Intelligence & Strategy
¢ Conduct ongoing competitive intelligence and market mapping across therapeutic categories
¢ Track competitor activities, pricing, and distribution strategies across target geographies
¢ Analyse trade data, tender opportunities, and regulatory developments to inform business strategy
¢ Provide actionable market insights to the CEO and leadership team
Stakeholder & Relationship Management
¢ Build long-term relationships with key customers, KOLs, government procurement bodies, and trade associations
¢ Represent Taurian Pharma at industry events, trade fairs, and business forums
¢ Liaise with internal teams (regulatory, supply chain, finance) to ensure seamless partner onboarding and order fulfilment
¢ Support the field team in Cte d'Ivoire and broader West Africa with commercial strategy and escalations

Qualifications & Experience
Essential
¢ Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy, Life Sciences, Business, or a related field
¢ Minimum 15 years of experience in pharmaceutical business development or sales, with at least 5 years in MEA markets
¢ Demonstrated track record of building distributor networks and delivering revenue growth in emerging markets
¢ Strong understanding of pharmaceutical regulatory and import/export frameworks in Africa and the Middle East
¢ Proficiency in English; working knowledge of French strongly preferred
Preferred
¢ MBA or postgraduate qualification in Business or International Trade
¢ Prior experience in French West Africa (Cte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Cameroon, etc.)
¢ Familiarity with therapeutic areas including anti-infectives, pain management, and OTC products
¢ Arabic language skills an advantage

Core Competencies
¢ Strategic thinking and commercial acumen
¢ Negotiation and influencing skills
¢ Cross-cultural communication and stakeholder management
¢ Results orientation with strong analytical capability
¢ Self-starter with the ability to work independently in complex, multi-geography environments
¢ High proficiency in MS Office and CRM tools

What We Offer
¢ Competitive compensation package with performance-linked incentives; CTC: 15,00,000 18,00,000 per annum
¢ Opportunity to shape commercial strategy across high-growth emerging markets
¢ Exposure to a diverse, multinational operating environment
¢ Regional travel and international market exposure
¢ Applications from retired pharmaceutical professionals with relevant MEA/Africa market experience are welcome and will be given full consideration