Sales Manager

About the Role

Food People is seeking a Sales Manager to join a fast-growing international business that is expanding its operations in Saudi Arabia. This full-time position, based in Riyadh or Jeddah (ideally Riyadh), will be the first dedicated employee on the ground in the Kingdom, playing a central role in market development.

Role Context and Scope

This role operates within a start-up environment characterized by a small regional team and a lean structure. The Sales Manager will be responsible for driving commercial growth across Modern Trade, Quick Commerce, and Foodservice channels. This involves managing existing accounts, developing new business, and collaborating closely with distribution partners. The position offers an opportunity to build market presence and potentially advance into broader country leadership responsibilities as the Saudi operation scales.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive commercial growth and achieve sales targets across Saudi Arabia.
• Manage and develop key Modern Trade and Quick Commerce customer relationships.
• Identify and secure new customers, product listings, and commercial opportunities.
• Develop the Foodservice channel in partnership with local distribution partners.
• Build strong relationships with customers, distributors, and other commercial stakeholders.
• Present new brands and opportunities to existing and prospective customers.
• Negotiate listings, commercial terms, promotions, and customer activations.
• Develop account plans and identify opportunities to increase revenue from existing customers.
• Monitor sales performance, market developments, and competitor activity.
• Collaborate with regional leadership to identify opportunities and shape the Saudi growth strategy.
• Oversee day-to-day commercial execution as the company's first dedicated employee in the Kingdom.
• Contribute beyond traditional sales functions to establish and grow the Saudi operation as needed.

Qualifications and Requirements

• 5-10 years of proven sales experience within the Saudi Arabian market.
• Strong exposure to Modern Trade and Quick Commerce customers.
• Foodservice experience is a significant advantage.
• Demonstrated success in winning new business, growing accounts, and delivering measurable sales results.
• A genuine start-up mentality with a desire to build from the ground up.
• Comfortable operating independently within a small team and without large corporate infrastructure.
• Commercially driven, proactive, and willing to take ownership.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and emotional intelligence for effective collaboration with distribution partners.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills with professional fluency in English.
• Arabic language capability is advantageous.
• Positive, energetic, adaptable, and naturally relationship-oriented.
• Ideally based in Riyadh with the intention of building a long-term career in Saudi Arabia.
• Ambitious to grow with the business and potentially progress into broader country leadership responsibilities.

Work Environment

This role is based in Riyadh or Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with a preference for Riyadh. It is a full-time position within a lean, start-up structured team, requiring independent operation and problem-solving.

Application Information

Salary for this position will be discussed during the interview process.