Strategy & Business Development Director

Client of Foreground

Job Description:
Foreground is partnering with a leading, diversified holding group headquartered in Saudi Arabia, operating across multiple sectors with a strong focus on Hajj, Umrah, and hospitality services in Makkah and Madinah. Our client is renowned for driving strategic growth and transformation across its portfolio of subsidiaries, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of the regions service landscape.
About the Role
The Director of Business Development & Strategy will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, reporting directly to the Group CEO. This role is responsible for defining, executing, and monitoring the overall strategic direction of the group and its subsidiaries. The successful candidate will combine a sharp strategic mindset with hands-on business development expertise, leading corporate transformation initiatives to ensure sustainable growth and operational alignment with the group vision.
Key Responsibilities
• Lead the development, implementation, and monitoring of the groups corporate strategy, in alignment with CEO and board directives.
• Translate the CEOs vision into actionable strategies and operational roadmaps for the holding group and subsidiaries.
• Oversee Balanced Scorecard (BSC) and KPI frameworks to track strategy execution and performance across the group.
• Identify strategic priorities, emerging market trends, and business risks, providing actionable insights and recommendations to the CEO.
• Identify, evaluate, and execute new business opportunities, partnerships, and investments to diversify revenue streams and enhance the groups portfolio.
• Lead market research, feasibility studies, and competitor analysis to support expansion initiatives across Saudi Arabia and the region.
• Drive negotiations for strategic partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions to strengthen the groups market position.
• Collaborate closely with subsidiary CEOs and leadership teams to align strategies and operational goals with the groups overarching objectives.
• Ensure subsidiaries have clear business plans, measurable KPIs, and strong governance frameworks.
• Act as the bridge between the CEO, executive leadership, and subsidiary boards, ensuring strategic alignment and transparent communication.
• Lead digital transformation initiatives across subsidiaries to improve efficiency and customer experience.
• Promote a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, ensuring the group remains competitive and future ready.
• Develop strategic dashboards and automated reporting systems to provide real-time performance tracking for the CEO and board.
Requirements
• Bachelors degree in business administration, Economics, Finance, or Strategy.
• Masters degree (MBA or related field) highly preferred.
• Minimum 10+ years experience in strategy, business development, or corporate planning, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Proven success in managing multi-subsidiary portfolios and driving large-scale strategic initiatives.
• Strong background in market expansion, partnerships, and investment analysis.
• Prior experience in a holding company or diversified conglomerate within Saudi Arabia or the GCC is an advantage.
• Experience in Hajj/Umrah and hospitality sectors is a strong plus.
• Advanced proficiency in strategic thinking, business acumen, decision-making, and change management.
• Expert-level capabilities in stakeholder management, M&A, financial modeling, BSC & KPI management, and market intelligence.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• Cultural agility and the ability to operate effectively in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
Required Skills:
Driving
Strategic Initiatives
Modeling
Strategic Partnerships
Intelligence
Acquisitions
Analysis
Strategic Thinking
Financial Modeling
Digital Transformation
New Business Opportunities
Investments
Customer Experience
Partnerships
Stakeholder Management
Decision-Making
BSC
Change Management
Continuous Improvement
Market Research
Economics
Strategy
Business Development
Negotiation
Administration
Research
Finance
Planning
Business
Leadership
Communication
Management