Regional Partnership Manager Defence Tech

Guildhall is running a confidential search for an established defence and aerospace company expanding its presence in the Gulf. The company is growing quickly and building its reputation within its industry. It is a rare seat: building market access from zero, for a company moving fast. The role • Open first conversations with government-linked entities and industrial partners in the Gulf. • Build toward long-term local partnership structures rather than direct sales. • Operate as an early entry point for a company building its presence in the region. • Work closely with a separate business development lead who owns the commercial sell. • Travel frequently across the Gulf to build and maintain senior relationships. What's on offer • Ground-floor role building a Gulf presence for a fast-scaling defence technology group. • Direct exposure to government and industrial stakeholders across the region. • Scope to shape how the company enters and grows in the Gulf market. Why apply through Guildhall • Boutique executive search firm in Dubai, established 2010. • 8x independent industry awards since 2020. • 4.9-star Google rating from over 250 reviews. • Direct access to the retained consultant running this search, with a confidential process. Hiring a Regional Partnership Manager in Dubai Defence and aerospace companies expanding into the Gulf increasingly hire a dedicated partnerships lead ahead of any formal local entity, tasked with opening relationships with government-linked bodies, system integrators and industrial partners. This role typically sits apart from sales: it builds the relationships and structures that later commercial activity depends on, often working toward localisation or joint-venture arrangements. Demand for this profile has grown as more defence and aerospace companies look to the Gulf for co-production and industrial partnerships. Candidates who have personally opened these conversations, rather than only managed existing accounts, are in short supply. Common questions • Experience opening partnership or market-access conversations in the Gulf region. • Comfort engaging senior government-linked stakeholders without a large local entity behind you. • A background in defence, aerospace or adjacent high-technology sectors. • Genuine interest in advanced defence and aerospace technologies. • Fluent English; Arabic is a strong advantage.