Business Development Manager - SMB

We are seeking a bold and motivated Business Development Manager to join our SMB/Emerging Clients team, based in Dubai, UAE. In this role, you will take full ownership of driving growth in the SMB and Emerging Brands segment, managing a portfolio of high-potential clients while proactively identifying whitespace opportunities to unlock new business. You will be responsible for representing all NielsenIQ solutions, delivering a seamless client experience, and acting as a growth partner for United Arab Emirates s next-generation brands. Responsibilites: Identify, qualify, and engage prospective clients through proactive outreach, networking, referrals, and market intelligence. Develop targeted prospecting strategies to penetrate new industry verticals, geographies, and customer segments. Build and maintain a healthy pipeline of qualified opportunities through outbound business development activities. Generate new business leads through cold calling, email campaigns, social selling, and executive networking. Identify and pursue whitespace opportunities, including new client acquisition, dormant client reactivation, and untapped budget holders. Manage and grow a portfolio of SMB clients, supporting them across all NielsenIQ brands and solutions. Drive cross-sell and upsell opportunities by identifying client business challenges and aligning NielsenIQ solutions to address them. Collaborate with cross-functional internal teams to ensure solution alignment, data quality, and timely service delivery. Own the end-to-end sales cycle from lead generation and proposal development to negotiation and deal closure. Represent NIQ at trade fairs, client events, and industry forums, building strong networks and elevating brand visibility in the SMB ecosystem. Maintain a robust pipeline supporting the sales forecast while consistently exceeding revenue and growth targets. Maintain accurate opportunity management, pipeline hygiene, and sales reporting within CRM systems. Stay attuned to emerging market trends, client business dynamics, and the competitive landscape to tailor relevant commercial strategies. Qualifications: 5-7 years of sales experience in a research, analytics, or services business, preferably within a business development or account management role. Strong experience in managing SMB or Emerging clients and understanding their unique needs and buying behaviours. Proven hunter mindset with a passion for unlocking new accounts and nurturing long-term client relationships. Exceptional communication, storytelling, and negotiation skills fluent in English while fluence in Arabic will be considered a strong plus. Strong presence and comfort with client-facing roles across events, meetings, and networking environments. High emotional intelligence with strong internal and external stakeholder management skills. Analytical thinker with the ability to interpret data and convert insights into commercial impact. Self-starter with a strong sense of ownership, accountability, and resilience. Familiarity with NielsenIQ solutions, particularly Retail Measurement Services (RMS), is a distinct advantage.