The Al Shirawi Group is one of the largest privately held conglomerates headquartered in the UAE, with a legacy dating back to 1971. From its origins as a small trading house, it has grown into a market leader with over 30 companies operating across 17 verticals including construction, oil & gas, manufacturing, HVAC, electronics, and logistics. Employing over 10,000 people representing 55 nationalities, the group is known for its innovation, high governance standards, and strong market presence across the GCC.
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Job Title: Business Development Manager (Specifications) at Al Shirawi Group (UAE)
Full Time
📍 Location: UAE 🇦🇪 (with GCC-wide scope)
Company: Al Shirawi Group
Apply nowPosition Overview: Business Development / Specifications Manager
Al Shirawi Group is seeking a strategic and well-connected Business Development / Specifications Manager to be the driving force behind securing its products in major regional projects. This is a high-impact role focused on the front-end of the sales cycle: leveraging your existing network to get our products “specified” in project designs by the region’s top MEP consultants, and securing “vendor approvals” (AVL) with key clients, developers, and government authorities across the GCC. The role requires deep market knowledge, relationship management expertise, and the ability to create “pull demand” from concept through to project execution. Women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be entrusted with the following strategic duties:
Specification & Consultant Engagement:
- Network Leverage: Utilize your established relationships with leading MEP consultants, architects, and engineering firms across the GCC to introduce and promote our product lines.
- Technical Advocacy: Conduct presentations and product seminars to educate consultants on the commercial and technical advantages of our solutions, positioning them as the preferred choice.
- Design Integration: Successfully drive the integration of our products into consultant master specifications and project-specific MEP design documents.
Vendor Listing & Client Approvals (AVL):
- Targeted Engagement: Target major government entities, utility providers (like DEWA, FEWA), and mega-project developers for inclusion on their Approved Vendor Lists (AVL).
- Pre-qualification Management: Navigate complex pre-qualification processes, compile and submit comprehensive documentation, and ensure our status is maintained across key clients.
Business Development & Market Strategy:
- Project Tracking: Monitor major construction, retrofit, and district cooling projects across the GCC from concept to execution to identify specification opportunities.
- Demand Creation: Coordinate with direct sales teams and local partners to ensure specified products translate into actual orders, closing the loop from specification to purchase.
- Market Intelligence: Track market trends, competitor activities, and evolving regulatory standards (e.g., Estidama, SASO, LEED) to inform strategy.
Candidate Requirements (Mandatory)
| Requirement Category | Specific Qualification |
|---|---|
| Industry Knowledge | Strong general knowledge of the commercial HVAC-R industry, applied systems, and MEP project workflows. Deep market knowledge is paramount. |
| Network | Proven, existing relationships with leading MEP consultants, architects, engineering firms, and key clients across the GCC. |
| Education | A Bachelor’s Degree is required. A degree in Mechanical Engineering or a technical field is beneficial, but a general degree is acceptable for candidates with the right experience and network. |
| Gender Preference | Women candidates are preferred and strongly encouraged to apply. |
| Core Skills | Ability to navigate pre-qualification processes, deliver compelling presentations, and track complex projects from concept to order. |
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal manager for this strategic role will be:
- A relationship-driven business developer with an extensive network in the GCC’s MEP and construction consultancy sector.
- A strategic thinker who understands that specifications are the foundation for major project sales and can execute a long-term engagement plan.
- Commercially astute and technically conversant, able to discuss product advantages while understanding the consultant’s and client’s project drivers.
- Proactive and persistent, capable of navigating complex approval processes and maintaining visibility on key projects from design through to tender.
What Al Shirawi Group Offers
- Market Leadership: The backing of a major, diversified group with a 50-year legacy and a commanding presence in the UAE and GCC markets.
- Impactful Role: A position at the very start of the sales cycle, directly influencing the success of products on landmark projects across the region.
- Professional Growth: Opportunity to work with a diverse portfolio of companies and products within a large, established organization.
- Inclusive Environment: A workplace that values diversity, employing over 10,000 people from 55 nationalities, and actively encourages applications from women candidates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the primary difference between this role and a standard sales role?
This is a pre-sales and specification role. You focus on getting products approved and written into project designs by consultants and clients. Direct sales teams then execute the orders. Your success is measured by your network and ability to influence specifications.
2. Is a technical engineering degree absolutely required?
No. While a Mechanical Engineering degree is beneficial, the job description explicitly states a general degree is acceptable provided you have the required market experience, deep industry knowledge, and existing network within the MEP consultancy world.
3. What does “intermediate technical understanding” mean in this context?
It means you need to be conversant enough to explain product benefits, answer basic technical queries from consultants, and understand how products fit into MEP systems. You are not expected to be the design engineer, but a credible technical advocate.
4. Which specific consultants and clients are we targeting?
The role targets top-tier MEP consultants (e.g., those involved in major projects), government entities (like municipalities, utility authorities), and major developers (like Emaar, Nakheel, Meraas, and their counterparts across the GCC).
How to Apply
If you are a strategic Business Development professional with an established network in the GCC’s MEP/construction sector and are ready to drive specifications for a market-leading group, Al Shirawi Group encourages you to apply.
Submit your application via the official listing:
👉 Apply for Business Development Manager Position