Head of Trade Marketing (Saudi)

Role Overview

Our esteemed client, a leading FMCG organisation, is seeking a dynamic and strategic Head of Trade Marketing (Saudi) to be based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In this pivotal leadership role, you will spearhead the trade marketing function, driving commercial growth and enhancing market penetration across the Kingdom. Your expertise will be instrumental in crafting and executing innovative trade marketing strategies, optimising channel performance, and ensuring flawless in-market execution.

This position requires close collaboration with sales, marketing, and commercial teams to align brand objectives with actionable trade initiatives. You will play a transformative role in fostering customer and channel growth, maximising trade investments, and elevating the organisation’s commercial capabilities to new heights. If you are a seasoned trade marketing professional with a passion for driving results and a deep understanding of the Saudi market, this is an exceptional opportunity to make a significant impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement comprehensive trade marketing strategies that align with the organisation’s business goals and brand priorities, ensuring sustainable growth across all channels.
• Channel Performance: Lead the design and execution of channel-specific strategies to enhance visibility, availability, and demand for products, while driving efficiency in trade investments.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with sales, marketing, and commercial teams to translate strategic objectives into executable trade initiatives, fostering a cohesive and high-performing commercial ecosystem.
• Market Execution: Oversee the in-market execution of trade marketing plans, ensuring alignment with local market dynamics, shopper behaviour, and customer needs to drive measurable outcomes.
• Investment Optimisation: Analyse trade investment performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and reallocate resources to maximise return on investment (ROI) and commercial effectiveness.
• Team Leadership: Mentor and lead a high-performing trade marketing team, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement to deliver exceptional results.
• Stakeholder Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including retailers, distributors, and internal teams, to ensure seamless collaboration and alignment with business objectives.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate for this role will possess a robust background in trade marketing within the FMCG sector, with a proven track record of driving commercial growth and channel performance. Key qualifications include:

• Experience: A minimum of 10 years in trade marketing, with hands-on experience leading trade marketing functions and teams in a fast-paced FMCG environment.
• Strategic Acumen: Demonstrated expertise in developing and executing channel strategies, with a deep understanding of shopper behaviour, customer needs, and market execution.
• Commercial Mindset: Proven ability to manage trade investments effectively, optimise commercial capabilities, and deliver measurable business growth.
• Leadership Skills: Strong leadership qualities, including the ability to inspire and guide teams, manage stakeholders, and drive organisational success.
• Analytical Proficiency: Exceptional analytical skills to evaluate performance data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions that enhance trade marketing effectiveness.
• Cultural Alignment: In line with Saudi government Saudisation initiatives, this role is reserved for Saudi Nationals, ensuring alignment with national employment priorities.

Why This Role Matters

As the Head of Trade Marketing (Saudi), you will have the opportunity to shape the future of trade marketing in one of the region’s most dynamic markets. Your leadership will be critical in driving the organisation’s commercial success, strengthening its market position, and delivering tangible value to customers and stakeholders alike. If you are ready to take on a challenging and rewarding role in a thriving FMCG environment, we invite you to apply and become a key driver of our client’s growth journey in Saudi Arabia.