Business Development Manager - SMB

We are seeking a bold and motivated Business Development Manager to join our SMB/Emerging Clients team, based in Dubai, UAE. In this role, you will take full ownership of driving growth in the SMB and Emerging Brands segment, managing a portfolio of high-potential clients while proactively identifying whitespace opportunities to unlock new business.

You will be responsible for representing all NielsenIQ solutions, delivering a seamless client experience, and acting as a growth partner for United Arab Emirates’s next-generation brands.

Responsibilites:

· Identify, qualify, and engage prospective clients through proactive outreach, networking, referrals, and market intelligence.

· Develop targeted prospecting strategies to penetrate new industry verticals, geographies, and customer segments.

· Build and maintain a healthy pipeline of qualified opportunities through outbound business development activities.

· Generate new business leads through cold calling, email campaigns, social selling, and executive networking.

· Identify and pursue whitespace opportunities, including new client acquisition, dormant client reactivation, and untapped budget holders.

· Manage and grow a portfolio of SMB clients, supporting them across all NielsenIQ brands and solutions.

· Drive cross-sell and upsell opportunities by identifying client business challenges and aligning NielsenIQ solutions to address them.

· Collaborate with cross-functional internal teams to ensure solution alignment, data quality, and timely service delivery.

· Own the end-to-end sales cycle from lead generation and proposal development to negotiation and deal closure.

· Represent NIQ at trade fairs, client events, and industry forums, building strong networks and elevating brand visibility in the SMB ecosystem.

· Maintain a robust pipeline supporting the sales forecast while consistently exceeding revenue and growth targets.

· Maintain accurate opportunity management, pipeline hygiene, and sales reporting within CRM systems.

· Stay attuned to emerging market trends, client business dynamics, and the competitive landscape to tailor relevant commercial strategies.

Qualifications:

· 5-7 years of sales experience in a research, analytics, or services business, preferably within a business development or account management role.

· Strong experience in managing SMB or Emerging clients and understanding their unique needs and buying behaviours.

· Proven hunter mindset with a passion for unlocking new accounts and nurturing long-term client relationships.

· Exceptional communication, storytelling, and negotiation skills—fluent in English while fluence in Arabic will be considered a strong plus.

· Strong presence and comfort with client-facing roles across events, meetings, and networking environments.

· High emotional intelligence with strong internal and external stakeholder management skills.

· Analytical thinker with the ability to interpret data and convert insights into commercial impact.

· Self-starter with a strong sense of ownership, accountability, and resilience.

· Familiarity with NielsenIQ solutions, particularly Retail Measurement Services (RMS), is a distinct advantage.

What We Offer

· An opportunity to lead growth in one of the most dynamic client segments in the region.

· High visibility and impact across a global organization with access to best-in-class data assets.

· Collaborative team culture, strong leadership support, and a clear path for professional advancement.

· Competitive compensation, performance incentives, and training programs.

Function: General Business
Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level