Strategic Partnerships & Technical Development Manager – Botanical & Pharma Ingredients
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Employment Type: Full-timeWorkplace: Hybrid / Customer-facingRegional Scope: UAE | Saudi Arabia | GCCTravel: Regular regional travelPalomba General Trading LLC is seeking a Strategic Partnerships & Technical Development Manager to develop technically driven relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers, nutraceutical companies, formulation partners and specialised distributors across the GCC.The role focuses on converting botanical extracts, natural actives and specialised pharmaceutical ingredients into structured customer-development projects.This position sits between technical business development, product qualification and strategic partnerships.Key ResponsibilitiesDevelop strategic relationships with pharmaceutical and nutraceutical manufacturers.Build direct contacts with R&D, Formulation, Procurement, Regulatory, Quality and senior management teams.Identify new projects for botanical extracts and specialised active ingredients.Qualify customer technical requirements before proposing products.Coordinate product specifications, samples, CoAs, TDS and supporting documentation.Manage technical discussions between customers and international manufacturers.Follow customer evaluations from initial brief through technical approval.Identify suitable distributors and technical partners in selected GCC markets.Evaluate potential new international principals and ingredient manufacturers.Develop account-specific product strategies rather than generic catalogue selling.Support pricing, commercial negotiation and supply discussions once technical qualification is achieved.Maintain a structured pipeline of customer projects, evaluations and partnership opportunities.Ingredient FocusThe portfolio may include:Standardised botanical extractsHibiscus extractsAronia extractsSaffron extractsLiquorice extracts and derivativesRed vine extractsAlfalfa extractsSeaweed-derived activesPolyphenol-rich botanicalsAnthocyanin-standardised extractsPAC-standardised extractsCitrus flavonoidsFunctional botanical combinationsSelected pharma and nutraceutical ingredientsTaste-masking and formulation-support solutions where relevantCustomer SegmentsPharmaceutical manufacturersNutraceutical manufacturersSupplement companiesFunctional-health brandsContract manufacturersCDMO / CMO partnersIngredient distributorsFormulation laboratoriesHealthcare-product developersCandidate Profile5+ years in Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Nutraceutical Ingredients, Botanical Extracts or related B2B markets.Experience working directly with pharmaceutical or nutraceutical manufacturers.Strong understanding of technical product qualification.Experience dealing with R&D, Procurement, Quality or Regulatory teams.Ability to understand specifications, CoAs and technical documentation.Experience coordinating samples and customer evaluations.Strong commercial judgement and negotiation ability.Experience developing distributors or strategic partners is highly valued.Fluent English required.Arabic is an advantage.Ideal BackgroundRelevant profiles may currently work as:Technical Business Development Manager – PharmaStrategic Partnerships Manager – NutraceuticalsBotanical Extracts Business ManagerTechnical Account Manager – Pharmaceutical IngredientsProduct Development Manager – Nutraceutical IngredientsRegional Business Development Manager – Natural ActivesPharmaceutical Ingredients Product ManagerTechnical Commercial Manager – Botanical ExtractsWhat We OfferCompetitive fixed salary.Performance-based bonus.GCC regional responsibility.High autonomy in strategic account development.Access to international botanical and pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturers.Direct involvement in technically complex customer projects.Opportunity to evaluate and develop new international principals.Exposure to Pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical and Functional Health industries.Opportunity to build long-term partnerships rather than purely transactional sales.Who We Are Looking ForWe are looking for someone who understands that a serious pharmaceutical or nutraceutical project rarely begins with:“Here is our catalogue.
What would you like to buy?”The right candidate should instead be able to determine:What is the customer developing?Which active or botanical fits the application?What specification is required?Which documentation is missing?Who makes the technical decision?What is preventing approval?Which supplier can realistically support the project?When does the technical opportunity become commercially scalable?The objective is to create qualified, technically defensible and repeatable business across GCC pharmaceutical and nutraceutical markets.