Location: Sharjah & Chennai
GWT is looking for a highly accomplished and commercially driven Business Development Manager with a minimum of 20 years of proven GCC market experience to lead strategic sales, business development, market expansion, and revenue growth across the region.
The ideal candidate will have a strong track record in water and wastewater treatment, EPC, O&M, electromechanical works, industrial utilities, infrastructure, or related engineering sectors, with demonstrated success in securing high-value projects, developing strategic partnerships, and converting opportunities into profitable business outcomes.
What You'll Do
Strategic Sales & Business Growth
- Develop and execute the company's GCC sales and business development strategy aligned with revenue and profitability targets.
- Build and maintain a strong pipeline across EPC, design-build, O&M, retrofit, rehabilitation, BOOT/BOT, and technology-led projects.
- Identify, pursue, and secure opportunities in water, wastewater, desalination, TSE, industrial treatment, pumping stations, STP/WWTP, and related infrastructure sectors.
- Drive market penetration across UAE, KSA, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and other relevant GCC territories.
Client & Market Development
- Establish and maintain high-level relationships with:
- Government and semi-government entities
- Municipalities and utility authorities
- Industrial clients and developers
- Consultants, PMCs, and EPC contractors
- Technology partners, OEMs, and strategic investors
- Lead prequalification, vendor registration, tender intelligence, and opportunity tracking.
- Position GWT early in the project cycle through consultants, specifiers, and key decision-makers.
Commercial Leadership & Opportunity Conversion
- Qualify opportunities based on technical fit, commercial viability, risk profile, payment terms, and strategic value.
- Develop bid / no-bid strategies and support pursuit planning for high-value opportunities.
- Lead pricing strategy, scope positioning, partner strategy, and commercial negotiations.
- Support or lead consortium, JV, agency, and strategic alliance discussions.
- Ensure pursued opportunities align with company capabilities, risk appetite, and profitability objectives.
Tendering & Proposal Strategy
- Work closely with Proposals, Engineering, Procurement, Projects, and Finance teams to deliver technically competitive and commercially sound submissions.
- Oversee and guide:
- EOIs and prequalification submissions
- Budgetary and firm proposals
- Technical-commercial offers
- Clarification responses
- Deviation sheets
- Post-tender negotiations
- Maintain strong control over commercial exposure, exclusions, qualifications, and contractual risks.
Leadership & Governance
- Lead, mentor, and structure the Sales / Business Development team with clear KPIs, KRAs, accountability, and reporting discipline.
- Drive a culture of market intelligence, proactive follow-up, commercial ownership, and forecast accuracy.
- Maintain and present structured reports covering:
- Pipeline value and quality
- Order intake
- Conversion ratio
- Margin outlook
- Strategic accounts
- Market trends and competitor activity
Required Experience
- Minimum 20 years of progressive GCC experience in sales, business development, commercial leadership, or strategic account management.
- Proven experience in one or more of the following sectors:
- Water & Wastewater Treatment
- Desalination / RO / UF / STP / WWTP / TSE
- EPC / Electromechanical Contracting
- Industrial Process Utilities
- Infrastructure / Utility Projects
- O&M / Lifecycle Service Contracts
- Environmental Engineering / Treatment Solutions
GCC Market Expertise
The candidate should have strong working knowledge of:
- GCC procurement and tendering processes
- Government and semi-government opportunity cycles
- Prequalification and vendor registration systems
- Consultant-driven specifications and early-stage positioning
- Contractual and commercial negotiations in engineering projects
Experience with government, municipal, utility, industrial, infrastructure, consultant/PMC, EPC, developer, OEM, and technology-provider stakeholders is required.
Demonstrated Commercial Success
Applicants must be able to provide clear evidence of their GCC market performance, including:
- Verifiable references from previous employers, clients, consultants, or strategic partners within the GCC.
- Proven success in securing and closing high-value GCC projects.
- Measurable contribution to annual order intake and revenue growth.
- Successful development of new markets, clients, or sectors.
- Experience winning direct awards, negotiated contracts, or major tenders.
- Successful strategic partnerships, JVs, or agency relationships.
- A portfolio or list of major projects/contracts influenced, originated, or closed.
- Strong network access and relationships across relevant GCC stakeholders.
- Proven ability to convert a healthy opportunity pipeline into awarded business.
What We're Looking For
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Business, Marketing, or a related field.
- Engineering background is strongly preferred for technical sectors.
- MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification in Business / Management is an advantage.
Additional certifications in:
- Sales Leadership
- Commercial / Contract Management
- Business Strategy
- Key Account Management
- Negotiation
- Project Commercial Management