BD & Sales Lead JOB

Job Title: BD & Sales Lead

Sector: Tourism

Department: Abu Dhabi Conventions & Exhibitions Bureau

Section: Conferences & Exhibitions Section

Direct Manager: Conferences & Exhibitions Section Head 

Role purpose:

Lead on meeting with potential clients and grow awareness of Abu Dhabi as a major conferences and exhibition destination. Position Abu Dhabi as the premier destination for target market conferences by leveraging the strengths of unique and authentic Abu Dhabi Tourism offering. 

Key responsibilities:

Annual Planning  

• Contribute to the development of the Convention Bureau department’s annual business plan in order to ensure that the Business Development and Sales activities of the Conferences & Exhibitions Section to ensure plans are aligned and congruent with the needs and plans of the department. 

Business Development & Sales Operations  

• Lead on attracting conferences and exhibitions to the Abu Dhabi by submitting bids and proposals to the relevant associations. Develop proposals that are creative, timely and respond to planners’ unique needs. Manage the bidding process end-to-end including strategy development, liaison and communications. 

• Coordinate with other units and departments within DCT to conduct feasibility studies in relevance to any bid opportunities to ensure that any bids or engagements would further advance DCT’s position. 

• Foster positive relationships and strong links with government and key stakeholders. Work closely with international offices and ambassadors on the identification and development of business.  

• Identify potential exhibition IPs, trade associations & PEOs / PCOs with best fit with Abu Dhabi’s value proposition in-line with the defined goals and strategies.  

• Lead on collaborate with MICE associations (i.e. MICE group of entities that focuses on collaboration & knowledge) to gather knowledge, increase awareness of Abu Dhabi as a MICE event destination and identify leads in-line with the defined strategies.  

• Initiate contact with C & E- initiators & intermediaries, e.g. professional exhibition organizer (PEO), professional conference organizer (PCO), media outlets with relevant business events, to assess interest and identify opportunities.  

• Closely coordinate with MICE officers in international markets in relationship management with MICE stakeholders by providing projects’ background and actions required 

• Work closely with Hotels and business event organizers to create attractive packages and incentives for conferences and exhibitions. Manage special programs/initiative to increase corporate conferences and exhibitions. 

Conferences & Exhibitions Operations  

• Lead on leveraging data & CRM database gathered by business intelligence team (MICE baseline, MICE steering model metrics, etc.) to perform analyses on segments, understand Abu Dhabi baseline, monitor gap to target vs. steering model metrics and influence key decision-makers to choose Abu Dhabi as host city for the identified business events. 

• Ensure the organization of site inspection for RFP senders and assist with organizer’s market feasibility study, and ensure arrangement for greeting selected events based on number of delegates in-line with the defined goals.  

• Conduct assessments for potential and means to support the MICE ecosystem to address the virtual trend.  

• Closely collaborate with the Marketing Lead to ensure promoting and advertising related events to increase awareness and reach to the defined target audience and ensure drafting news, press releases, speeches for upcoming conferences and exhibition events.  

Shared Activity 

• Ensure effective cascading of the functional strategy into section business plans to ensure vertical alignment and horizontal integration with other interfacing sectional strategies.  

• Lead the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement and sustainability of systems, processes and practices considering global standards, productivity improvement and cost reduction.  

• Carry out any other duties and responsibilities related to the role at the request of the direct manager. 

• Manage and ensure effective implementation of functional policies, procedures and controls covering all areas of assigned section activity so that all relevant procedural/legislative requirements are fulfilled while delivering a quality, cost-effective service.  

• Follow all relevant departmental policies, processes, standard operating procedures, and instructions so that work is carried out in a controlled and consistent manner. 

• Demonstrate compliance to organization’s values and ethics at all times to support the establishment of a value drive culture within the organization 

• Contribute to the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement and sustainability of systems, processes and practices considering global standards, productivity improvement and cost reduction. 

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree preferred) in Marketing, Business Administration, Sales or any other decree within relevant industry. 
• At least 4 to 7 years’ of experience in Marketing, Brand Management, Sales or another experience within similar role or industry.

Skills

• Full professional English proficiency both in speaking and writing  

• Arabic bilingual desirable but not mandatory  

• Skilled in MS Office (PowerPoint, Word and Excel) 

• Experience in website design and content development 

• Extensive knowledge of current and relevant markets 

• Proficient in analytics and market testing 

• Willingness to try innovative marketing strategies 

• Excellent time management, able to balance many projects at once 

• Administrative skills and attention to detail 

• Self-motivated with a proven ability to complete work in a timely manner 

• Expert knowledge on rebates schemes, preferably accustomed with UAE best practices 

• Experience with business planning 
• Extensive experience with program management related to finance and policy