Channel Development Lead, Cluster B

About the Role
As Channel Development Lead, you will play a key role in developing and executing customer growth strategies across a portfolio of Modern Trade customers in Saudi Arabia. Working closely with Sales, Category Planning, Marketing, and other cross-functional teams, you will identify commercial opportunities, develop customer-specific business plans, and translate shopper and market insights into actionable initiatives that drive sustainable growth, market share, and profitability.

How You Will Contribute
You will:

• Customer & Channel Development

  • Develop and execute customer development strategies aligned with business priorities and channel objectives.
  • Build strong relationships with key Modern Trade customers and internal stakeholders.
  • Identify growth opportunities through customer performance, market trends, and shopper insights.
  • Support the development and execution of Joint Customer Business Plans (JCBPs).
  • Drive customer-specific initiatives to strengthen category performance and market share.

• Commercial Planning & Execution

  • Partner with Sales and Category Planning teams to develop customer promotional plans and activation calendars.
  • Translate brand and category strategies into customer-specific commercial initiatives.
  • Support new product launches, promotional activities, and in-store execution plans.
  • Monitor customer performance against agreed objectives and identify opportunities for improvement.
  • Ensure effective utilization of trade investments and resources to support profitable growth.

• Shopper & Category Insights

  • Leverage shopper, customer, and market insights to identify commercial opportunities.
  • Analyze customer performance, category trends, and competitor activities to support business decisions.
  • Work closely with cross-functional teams to develop customer propositions that strengthen category growth.
  • Support initiatives to improve product visibility, assortment, and promotional effectiveness.

• Stakeholder Collaboration

  • Work closely with Key Account Managers, Category Planning, Marketing, and other commercial teams to ensure alignment on customer priorities.
  • Collaborate with internal stakeholders to support the execution of customer plans.
  • Present business recommendations and customer development initiatives to relevant stakeholders.
  • Ensure alignment between customer requirements and overall business objectives.

What You Will Bring
A desire to drive your future and accelerate your career, along with the following experience and knowledge:

• Education

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Sales, Economics, or a related field.
  • Master’s degree or MBA is an advantage.

• Professional Experience

  • 6–8 years of relevant experience within FMCG, preferably in Trade Marketing, Channel Development, Category Management, Shopper Marketing, or Key Account Management.
  • Strong understanding of the Saudi Arabian Modern Trade landscape and key retail customers.
  • Experience in customer business planning, promotional planning, and commercial execution.
  • Exposure to Joint Customer Business Planning (JCBP) and customer development strategies.
  • Experience working with cross-functional commercial teams.
  • Understanding of category performance, shopper behavior, and market dynamics.

• Skills & Competencies

  • Strong commercial and analytical thinking.
  • Customer relationship management and stakeholder engagement.
  • Ability to translate market and shopper insights into actionable business plans.
  • Strong communication, presentation, and influencing skills.
  • Negotiation and problem-solving capabilities.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently.
  • Results-oriented mindset with a focus on business growth and execution excellence.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
  • Familiarity with commercial reporting and analytical tools is an advantage.

• Certifications & Additional Qualifications

  • Professional certifications in Sales, Trade Marketing, Category Management, or Business Analytics are advantageous but not mandatory.
  • Training in negotiation, commercial planning, or customer relationship management is an advantage.

Job Specifications

• Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• Function: Sales / Channel Development
• Grade: SG10
• Customer Scope: Modern Trade – Cluster A
• People Management: Individual contributor role with no direct reports
• Travel: As required for customer meetings and business needs
• Language: Strong English communication skills; Arabic proficiency is an advantage.

Job Type
Regular
Account Management
Sales

No Relocation support is available.

Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.