Business Development & Operations Manager (UAE)

ABOUT ZRC INTERNATIONAL

ZRC International (ZRCI) is a specialist governance, risk and controls consultancy. We help organisations meet regulatory expectations, strengthen their control environments and deliver large-scale transformation with confidence, using practical, technology-enabled approaches.

Our services cover SOX Compliance; Digital & Controls Transformation (including SAP S/4HANA and Oracle Fusion); Governance, Risk & Compliance; Internal Audit; Cyber Risk & Audit; AI Governance & Risk; Programme & Change Management; and Bespoke Advisory Services.

ZRCI was founded in 2023 as the regional arm of ZR Consultants, our UK firm established in 2003, whose clients have included BT Group, HSBC, Tesco, National Grid, and Booking.com. We are founder-led, senior-delivered and growing. To learn more, visit www.zrc.ae

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are looking for an ambitious, commercially driven professional to help build ZRC International in the UAE. Your main job is to win business. You will then help us deliver it by finding, hiring and mobilising the right consultants, and keep both our UAE and UK businesses running smoothly behind the scenes.

This is not an assistant role. It suits someone early or mid-career in business development who wants real ownership, direct access to the CEO and earnings that grow with the revenue they bring in. As the UAE practice grows, so will your salary, title and team.

You will learn our services in depth. We do not expect you to be a GRC expert on day one. We do expect you to open doors, build relationships in Arabic and English, and follow through until the contract is signed.

How your time will be spent

• Business development, proposals and bids - 55% - Prospecting, meetings, proposals, SOWs, portals, closing
• Recruitment and mobilisation - 20% - Sourcing, hiring, visas, onboarding for work we win
• Operations - 15% - Invoicing, payroll, reporting, systems, compliance (UAE and UK)
• CEO support and administration - 10% - Diary, travel, correspondence

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Business development and client acquisition

• Build and work a UAE target list with the CEO. We work with organisations in every sector, with a particular focus on international companies and multinationals operating in the UAE, alongside banks and financial services firms, government-related entities, family groups and listed companies.
• Generate qualified meetings with senior decision-makers such as CFOs, Chief Risk Officers, Heads of Internal Audit, Heads of Compliance and CIOs, through LinkedIn, Apollo, calls, email, referrals and events.
• Use Arabic and English confidently to build relationships, including with Emirati and Arabic-speaking stakeholders.
• Attend client meetings with the CEO, capture requirements and follow up until opportunities are won or closed out.
• Develop referral partnerships with technology vendors, systems integrators, audit firms and other advisers.
• Keep the CRM accurate and report weekly on activity, pipeline and forecast.
• Support LinkedIn content, campaigns and events so marketing activity turns into meetings.

1. Proposals, bids and commercial support

• Register and maintain ZRC on government, semi-government and corporate supplier portals, and monitor them for relevant tenders.
• Coordinate and write proposals, RFP responses, capability statements and presentations to a client-ready standard, with input from the CEO.
• Maintain our library of credentials, CVs and case studies so bids can be turned round quickly.
• Write statements of work (SOWs) and manage proposal, SOW and contract paperwork through to signature.

1. Recruitment and mobilisation for work we win

• Find strong consultants quickly when we win work, using LinkedIn, Indeed, GulfTalent, our associate network and referrals.
• Screen candidates against a clear quality bar and present shortlists to the CEO and clients.
• Manage offers, employment contracts and associate or contractor agreements.
• Run UAE visa and onboarding steps, including employment visas for new arrivals, work permits for candidates already resident, medical tests, Emirates ID and cancellations, working with the free zone authority and our PRO provider.
• Mobilise consultants to client sites on time, with access, equipment and any client vetting in place.
• Build a bench of pre-qualified associates so we can respond to client demand within days.

1. Operations

• Raise invoices, track timesheets and follow up on payments, working with our accountants.
• Produce a short monthly report on pipeline, revenue, cash collection and hiring.
• Run payroll (including WPS in the UAE) and keep licences, insurances and company records current for both entities.
• Improve our systems and processes, including CRM, trackers and AI tools.
• Monitor margins and burn rates against project budgets, and flag issues early.
• Provide the same operational support to ZR Consultants in the UK, staying on top of both businesses.
• As we grow, help establish a physical office and build a back-office team.

1. CEO support and administration

• Manage the CEO’s diary, travel and key correspondence.
• Prepare briefing notes for client meetings and track follow-up actions.
• Help prioritise the CEO’s workload.
• Handle confidential information with discretion.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

These are indicative targets. Final objectives will be agreed in your first month and reviewed quarterly:

First 90 days :

• A target list of at least 50 UAE organisations agreed with the CEO
• At least 15 qualified meetings with senior decision-makers
• ZRC registered on the supplier portals of priority targets
• CRM live, with a weekly pipeline report in place
• A clear understanding of ZRC’s services, able to explain them to a client unaided

12 months :

• A qualified pipeline of at least AED 10 million
• At least AED 5 million of new contracted business originated
• At least three new UAE clients won
• Every new engagement staffed and mobilised on time
• Full compliance on visas, payroll and company records

ABOUT YOU

Essential

• Languages: business-fluent Arabic and excellent written and spoken English. Your Arabic will be assessed during the selection process.
• Sales experience: at least three years in B2B business development or sales in the UAE, with a measurable record of new business you personally won.
• Relevant background: for example consulting, professional services, recruitment or staffing, B2B technology, or corporate services.
• Drive: ambitious, persistent and motivated by earning performance bonuses rather than relying on a fixed salary, with the resilience to keep going through long sales cycles.
• Recruitment and UAE onboarding: practical experience of hiring people and handling UAE visas, work permits or onboarding, directly or through a PRO.
• Organisation: able to run operations and light administration alongside sales without dropping either.
• Written work: able to produce professional proposals and presentations in PowerPoint, Word or Canva.
• Location: currently based in the UAE.

Desirable

• An existing network in UAE banking, government, family groups or listed companies.
• Exposure to GRC, internal audit, risk, compliance, cyber or ERP-related services.
• Experience of tenders and supplier portals.
• Experience in a founder-led or growing firm.
• Use of CRM and prospecting tools such as HubSpot, Zoho, Apollo and LinkedIn Sales Navigator.
• Practical use of AI tools for research, content and productivity.

How you work

• You take ownership and do not wait to be told what to do next.
• You are confident and credible with senior people, in Arabic and English.
• You follow through: every lead, every proposal, every invoice.
• You are discreet and trustworthy with confidential information.
• You want to grow with the firm, not just fill a role.

PACKAGE AND GROWTH

• Fixed salary

AED 7,000 to AED 12,000 per month, depending on experience, plus bonuses.

• New client bonus

A fixed bonus for each new client you introduce and win, above a minimum contract value. The bonus increases with the size of the contract.

• Delivery bonus

A fixed bonus for each engagement you resource and mobilise successfully, so we deliver what you have won.

• Terms

Bonuses are uncapped and paid once the client has paid. Full terms will be set out in your contract – expected OTE of AED 250,000+ including Salary

• Growth

Formal salary and title review when you reach AED 1 million of new business won, with a route to Head of Business Development & Operations as the UAE practice grows.

• Probation

Six months, with agreed 30, 60 and 90-day objectives.

Pay: AED7,000.00 - AED12,000.00 per month

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Dubai: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Application Question(s):

• Please share your LinkedIn profile URL. (required)
• Describe the largest B2B deal you personally found and closed in the UAE: the client sector, the buyer’s role, the value in AED and your specific role.(required)
• How much new business did you personally win in each of the last two years, and how did that compare with your target? (required)
• Rate your Arabic and English (business fluent, conversational or basic), and give an example of using Arabic with clients. (required)
• What hands-on experience do you have of recruiting people and handling UAE visas, work permits or onboarding?(required)
• This role pairs a modest fixed salary with uncapped performance bonuses. Why does that appeal to you, and what have you earned in commission or bonuses before? (required)
• Are you currently based in the UAE (required)
• What is your current visa status? (required)
• What is your current (or last role) package (fixed salary, commission and bonuses), and what are your expectations? (required)
• What is your notice period or earliest available start date?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Language:

• English (Required)
• Arabic (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Dubai (Dubai)