Head of Business Development

About the Role

A prominent and fast-expanding international group operating in hospitality, food & beverage, and lifestyle sectors, headquartered in Doha, Qatar, is looking for a dynamic Business Development Director to spearhead its commercial growth, establish strategic partnerships, and drive international expansion.

The Group manages a varied portfolio of premium and lifestyle enterprises spanning F&B, hospitality, entertainment, leisure, nightlife, beach clubs, and lifestyle venues, with a well-established base in Qatar and growing international presence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the company’s business development and growth strategies across Qatar, the GCC region, and global markets.
• Secure and onboard high-potential international F&B, hospitality, entertainment, and lifestyle brands by building relationships with brand owners, CEOs, investors, and their teams.
• Drive franchise, licensing, management agreement, and partnership negotiations from initial engagement to signed contracts and operational transition.
• Identify and evaluate new markets to expand the Group’s portfolio; devise market entry and expansion strategies.
• Source appropriate local partners, investors, franchisees, and strategic collaborators to enhance regional and international growth.
• Forge strategic alliances and joint ventures by connecting with prominent hospitality groups, developers, and investors.
• Spot emerging F&B, hospitality, entertainment, and lifestyle concepts and assess potential acquisitions and investments.
• Develop and maintain relationships with real estate developers, landlords, mall operators, and destination managers to locate optimal sites for new outlets.
• Create detailed business cases, financial models, and investment proposals analyzing revenue, EBITDA, ROI, and payback periods.
• Manage commercial negotiations and oversee all stages from opportunity identification to signed agreements.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will possess 12-15+ years of proven experience in business development, strategy, or commercial roles within F&B, hospitality, retail, leisure, or related industries. They should have a demonstrated ability to originate and close impactful commercial deals and possess extensive experience with franchising, licensing, joint ventures, management agreements, or strategic partnerships.

A solid network of international and regional F&B and hospitality brands is essential. Deep understanding and experience working within the GCC region—especially Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia—is required. Additionally, the candidate must have experience engaging with C-suite executives, brand owners, investors, and key developers alongside strong commercial and financial skills, including P&L, EBITDA, ROI, and investment analysis.

Preferred Experience

• Working with international restaurant groups
• Luxury and premium F&B sectors
• Fine dining and casual dining environments
• Hospitality and lifestyle organizations
• Beach clubs and nightlife venues
• Entertainment and leisure segments
• International brand acquisitions and GCC market expansion
• Franchise and license development
• Joint ventures and investment transactions
• New concept development and launch