GCC Excipients Business Unit Development Manager

GCC Excipients Business Unit Development Manager

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Employment Type: Full-timeWorkplace: Hybrid / Customer & Supplier-facingRegional Scope: UAE | Saudi Arabia | Qatar | Kuwait | Oman | BahrainTravel: Regular GCC and international travelPalomba General Trading LLC is seeking an experienced GCC Excipients Business Unit Development Manager to build and develop a dedicated pharmaceutical and nutraceutical excipients platform across the Middle East.This is not a conventional sales role and it is not a position focused on managing an established product catalogue.The successful candidate will help build the business unit from the ground up, identifying the excipients that GCC pharmaceutical manufacturers actually require, selecting qualified international producers, developing the product portfolio and opening strategic customer relationships across the region.Core MissionThe objective is to create a commercially and technically credible PGT Excipients Platform for the GCC.The successful candidate will work on four parallel areas:Product portfolio developmentSupplier and principal developmentPharmaceutical customer developmentRegional go-to-market strategyThe role requires someone who understands both the technical role of pharmaceutical excipients and the commercial realities of international ingredient distribution.Key ResponsibilitiesBuild the PGT pharmaceutical excipients portfolio for GCC markets.Identify the highest-priority excipients required by regional pharmaceutical manufacturers.Map existing suppliers, distributors and competitors.Identify international excipient manufacturers seeking GCC representation or distribution.Evaluate potential principals in Europe, India, China, the United States and other qualified manufacturing regions.Develop direct relationships with pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers.Work with Procurement, R&D, Formulation, Production, Quality and Regulatory departments.Understand customer formulation requirements and identify suitable excipient solutions.Coordinate samples, specifications and technical documentation.Support supplier qualification and customer approval processes.Evaluate local-stock requirements and regional supply models.Develop pricing, MOQ and supply strategies.Create account and territory development plans.Identify portfolio gaps and recommend new products.Develop strategic partnerships with excipient manufacturers.Build a qualified commercial pipeline across GCC pharmaceutical customers.Initial Excipients FocusThe initial portfolio may include:Fillers & DiluentsMicrocrystalline CelluloseLactoseMannitolSorbitolCalcium PhosphatesStarchesBindersPovidonePregelatinized StarchCellulose derivativesSelected polymeric bindersDisintegrantsCroscarmellose SodiumCrospovidoneSodium Starch GlycolateLubricants & Flow AgentsMagnesium StearateStearic AcidColloidal Silicon DioxideTalcLiquid & Syrup SystemsSucroseGlucoseLiquid GlucoseSorbitolGlycerolXanthan and selected hydrocolloidsAdvanced / Functional ExcipientsCyclodextrin systemsSolubility-enhancement excipientsMicroencapsulation carriersFunctional coating systemsSpecialty delivery systemsStrategic Portfolio DevelopmentThe candidate should not simply accept whatever suppliers offer.We expect the Business Unit Manager to determine:Which excipients GCC manufacturers buy most frequently?Which products require local stock?Which products are controlled by established distributors?Where are customers looking for alternative sources?Which categories offer meaningful margin?Which products create strong technical differentiation?Which manufacturers are underrepresented in the Middle East?Which excipients can serve both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications?Customer SegmentsPriority customer groups include:Pharmaceutical manufacturersGeneric pharmaceutical companiesNutraceutical manufacturersSupplement manufacturersCDMO / CMO companiesHealthcare-product manufacturersFormulation laboratoriesSelected pharmaceutical distributorsGCC Market DevelopmentThe role will initially focus on:UAESaudi ArabiaQatarKuwaitOmanBahrainParticular attention will be given to identifying the different purchasing structures and formulation requirements of each market.Supplier & Principal DevelopmentThe successful candidate will actively identify international manufacturers capable of supplying:Compendial-grade excipientsConsistent industrial qualityComplete technical documentationCompetitive GCC pricingCommercially realistic MOQsReliable international supplyThe candidate will participate in:Supplier evaluationCommercial negotiationsRepresentation discussionsTerritory strategyProduct prioritisationMarket-entry planningTechnical UnderstandingThe ideal candidate should understand why an excipient is selected, not simply know its name.Experience or knowledge in areas such as the following is strongly valued:Tablet compressionPowder flowBindingDisintegrationDissolutionLubricationSolubilitySuspension systemsCoatingOral solid dosage formsGummiesSachetsPowdersSyrupsEffervescent productsCandidate Profile7+ years in Pharmaceutical Excipients, Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Pharma Distribution or related B2B markets.Strong existing knowledge of excipient products.Experience with pharmaceutical manufacturers.Good understanding of formulation and pharmaceutical production.Experience developing suppliers or international principals.Strong commercial and negotiation capabilities.Experience building new markets or product portfolios.Ability to operate independently and create a business unit rather than simply inherit one.GCC or Middle East experience strongly preferred.Fluent English required.Arabic is an advantage.Ideal BackgroundRelevant candidates may currently work as:Excipients Business Development ManagerPharmaceutical Ingredients Business ManagerExcipients Product ManagerPharma Distribution Business Unit ManagerRegional Sales Manager – ExcipientsTechnical Sales Manager – Pharma IngredientsStrategic Sourcing Manager – ExcipientsPharmaceutical Ingredients Portfolio ManagerExcipients Market Development ManagerWhat We OfferCompetitive fixed salary.Performance-based incentive structure.GCC-wide responsibility.High autonomy in building the business unit.Direct access to international ingredient manufacturers.Opportunity to select and develop new supplier relationships.Direct interaction with pharmaceutical manufacturers across the Middle East.Opportunity to shape the long-term PGT pharma ingredient strategy.Possibility to build a significant new business platform rather than simply manage an existing territory.Who We Are Looking ForWe are looking for someone who can enter a pharmaceutical market and determine:Which excipients are being consumed?Who currently supplies them?What problems do customers have with existing suppliers?Which products require alternative sources?Which principals could compete?What specifications are required?Which customers need local stock?Where does technical support matter?Which products have enough commercial potential to justify adding them to the portfolio?The goal is to build a structured, technically credible and scalable GCC excipients business.