Director of Business Development

Business Development Director – Global Location: Dubai, UAE Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer Company: Virtua Executive About Virtua Executive Virtua Executive is a global executive search firm specialising in senior leadership appointments across consumer, fashion, sport, retail and lifestyle sectors. Operating across the UK, Europe, North America and the GCC, we partner with ambitious brands to build leadership teams that drive growth. We’re building a high-performance business where accountability, execution and commercial excellence matter. This is not a corporate environment where people hide behind meetings or processes. We value people who take ownership, solve problems and consistently deliver results. The Opportunity We are looking for an exceptional Business Development Director to lead commercial growth across our global business. This role is responsible for generating new client relationships, expanding strategic accounts and driving revenue across the UK, Europe, GCC and North America. Working directly with the CEO, you will play a key role in shaping our commercial strategy while personally leading high-value business development activity. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys winning business, building long-term relationships and operating with a high degree of autonomy. Key Responsibilities Business Development * Develop and execute a global business development strategy. * Generate new retained executive search mandates across multiple international markets. * Build relationships with C-suite executives, founders, private equity firms and boards. * Identify new market opportunities and verticals for expansion. * Consistently exceed quarterly and annual revenue targets. Commercial Leadership * Own the commercial pipeline across all regions. * Build strategic account plans for priority clients. * Create forecasting models and revenue plans. * Drive proactive outbound business development rather than relying on inbound opportunities. * Ensure opportunities progress efficiently through the sales cycle. Strategic Planning * Work closely with the CEO to define commercial priorities. * Translate business objectives into measurable action plans. * Monitor KPIs, sales performance and pipeline health. * Produce weekly commercial reporting with clear insights and recommendations. * Identify risks early and implement solutions before they become problems. Global Collaboration * Work closely with delivery teams across the UK, Europe, GCC and North America. * Ensure seamless client handovers following mandate wins. * Maintain exceptional client experience throughout every engagement. * Support international growth initiatives and strategic partnerships. What We’re Looking For We are not simply hiring an experienced salesperson. We are looking for someone who thinks like an owner. The successful candidate will be: * Commercially intelligent with exceptional business acumen. * Highly resilient and able to perform under pressure. * Strategic in their thinking while remaining execution focused. * Naturally accountable and comfortable taking ownership. * Excellent at planning, prioritisation and organisation. * Data driven and disciplined with reporting and forecasting. * Comfortable making difficult decisions when required. * Confident leading senior client conversations. * Able to challenge ideas constructively rather than simply agreeing. * Self-motivated with a bias towards action. * Highly professional with exceptional attention to detail. * Calm, composed and solution orientated during periods of uncertainty. * Someone who follows through on commitments without needing to be chased. Essential Experience * Significant experience within executive search, recruitment, professional services, consumer goods industry or management consulting. * Demonstrable track record of winning retained business with senior decision-makers. * Experience selling internationally. * Experience managing complex commercial pipelines. * Strong financial and commercial awareness. * Experience presenting to C-suite stakeholders. Success in the First 12 Months Within your first year you will have: * Built a robust international pipeline across all operating regions. * Secured multiple strategic retained clients. * Established a consistent commercial reporting cadence. * Improved forecasting accuracy across the business. * Created scalable business development processes. * Become a trusted commercial partner to the CEO. * Played a key role in accelerating Virtua Executive’s international growth. The Person You’ll thrive here if you: * Have high standards for yourself and those around you. * Enjoy solving difficult commercial problems. * Prefer accountability over excuses. * Communicate openly and directly with respect. * Take ownership without waiting to be asked. * Stay composed under pressure. * Care deeply about delivering excellent work. * Want to help build an ambitious global business. Why Join Virtua Executive? This is an opportunity to work directly alongside the CEO and help shape the future of a fast-growing international executive search business. You’ll have genuine influence over strategy, access to global markets and the autonomy to make meaningful commercial decisions. For the right individual, this role offers significant long-term career progression and the opportunity to become an integral part of Virtua Executive’s growth story. Show more Show less

Significant experience within executive search, recruitment, professional services, consumer goods industry or management consulting. Demonstrable track record of winning retained business with senior decision-makers. Experience selling internationally. Experience managing complex commercial pipelines. Strong financial and commercial awareness. Experience presenting to C-suite stakeholders.

Develop and execute a global business development strategy. Generate new retained executive search mandates across multiple international markets. Build relationships with C-suite executives, founders, private equity firms and boards. Identify new market opportunities and verticals for expansion. Consistently exceed quarterly and annual revenue targets. Own the commercial pipeline across all regions. Build strategic account plans for priority clients. Create forecasting models and revenue plans. Drive proactive outbound business development rather than relying on inbound opportunities. Ensure opportunities progress efficiently through the sales cycle. Work closely with the CEO to define commercial priorities. Translate business objectives into measurable action plans. Monitor KPIs, sales performance and pipeline health. Produce weekly commercial reporting with clear insights and recommendations. Identify risks early and implement solutions before they become problems. Work closely with delivery teams across the UK, Europe, GCC and North America. Ensure seamless client handovers following mandate wins. Maintain exceptional client experience throughout every engagement. Support international growth initiatives and strategic partnerships.