Regional Partnership Manager
At a glance
Mid-level Channel & Partnerships role at Destinus. Dubai · full-time.
Pay not stated
Growth Roles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Shape the Middle East partnership plan around market access, localisation, sovereign alignment, and growth
- Build connections with defence bodies, government-linked groups, integrators, capability providers, and industrial organisations
- Create co-production, manufacturing, joint venture, and technology cooperation structures for regional opportunities
- Lead partnership agreement development and commercial negotiations toward durable, mutually beneficial terms
- Assess defence priorities, procurement systems, industrial policies, competition, and localisation needs, then build business cases
What you bring
- An advanced degree in business, international relations, engineering, or a related discipline
- Substantial partnerships, business development, alliances, or international commercial experience in defence, aerospace, or high technology
- A strong grasp of Middle Eastern defence stakeholders, procurement arrangements, industrial participants, and localisation programmes
- A record of senior relationship building plus negotiation of partnerships, joint ventures, or industrial cooperation
- Fluent English and readiness for regular travel throughout the Middle East
Who this fits
You suit a strategic yet hands-on manager who can work autonomously, build trust across cultures, and engage senior stakeholders. The role is based onsite in Dubai and involves frequent regional travel. Arabic would strengthen your fit, while defence systems, UAVs, export controls, and international trade experience are advantages.
From the employer
About the Role
Imagine this. You are building the partnerships that will define how Destinus grows across the Middle East. As Regional Partnership Manager, you will identify, develop, and manage strategic relationships with defence organizations, industrial partners, system integrators, and key stakeholders across the region. Your work will unlock market access, support local industrialisation, and turn strategic opportunities into long-term partnerships.
This is a highly international and outward-facing role requiring strong commercial judgement, cultural awareness, and the ability to navigate complex defence ecosystems. Significant travel across the Middle East will be an important part of the position.
At Destinus, we are revolutionizing the defense industry with cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Our innovative technologies are designed to meet the unique demands of modern defense operations, delivering unparalleled speed, precision, and cost effectiveness. Destinus partners with government agencies and defense organizations worldwide to provide advanced solutions for mission-critical operations, enabling a new era of efficiency and technological superiority. Join us in shaping the future of defense with groundbreaking aerospace innovations.
What You’ll Do
- Develop and execute Destinus' partnership strategy across the Middle East, supporting market access, sovereign alignment, localisation, and long-term commercial growth.
- Identify and build relationships with strategic defence partners, government-linked entities, system integrators, capability providers, and industrial organizations across the region.
- Develop industrial partnerships, localisation models, co-production opportunities, and manufacturing alliances aligned with customer and country requirements.
- Lead the development and commercial negotiation of strategic partnership agreements, working towards sustainable and mutually valuable structures.
- Evaluate opportunities for joint ventures, technology partnerships, local industrialisation, and other long-term cooperation models.
- Build strong relationships with senior decision-makers and become a trusted commercial interface between Destinus and key regional partners.
- Analyse regional defence priorities, procurement frameworks, industrial policies, competitive dynamics, and localisation requirements to identify new opportunities.
- Develop business cases and partnership strategies for priority countries and opportunities across the region.
- Work closely with Business Development, Legal, Finance, Engineering, Production, and other internal teams to ensure partnerships are commercially attractive, technically feasible, and executable.
- Represent Destinus in partner meetings, industry events, and strategic discussions across the Middle East.
Requirements
What You’ll Need
- Advanced degree in Business, International Relations, Engineering, or another relevant discipline. An MBA is a plus.
- Significant experience in partnerships, business development, strategic alliances, or international commercial roles within defence, aerospace, or adjacent high-technology industries.
- Strong understanding of the Middle Eastern defence ecosystem, including government stakeholders, defence organizations, industrial players, procurement structures, and localisation initiatives.
- Proven ability to build trusted senior-level relationships and navigate complex, multicultural stakeholder environments.
- Experience structuring and negotiating strategic partnerships, industrial cooperation agreements, joint ventures, localisation, or co-production arrangements.
- Strong commercial judgement and the ability to translate regional opportunities into clear partnership strategies and business cases.
- Familiarity with advanced defence systems, UAVs, missile systems, autonomous technologies, or other complex defence programmes is a strong advantage.
- Understanding of relevant export control and international trade requirements is an advantage.
- Fluent English is required. Arabic is a strong advantage.
- Willingness and ability to travel frequently across the Middle East
Who You Are
You are strategic but highly hands-on. You know how to build trust across cultures, navigate complex stakeholder environments, and turn relationships into meaningful partnerships. You are comfortable operating with autonomy, opening doors, negotiating at senior level, and moving quickly when opportunities emerge. You thrive in an ambitious international environment and want to play a direct role in expanding Destinus' presence across the Middle East.
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