Job Description

Senior Trade and BD Manager

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Are you ready to lead transformative commercial partnerships that bring innovative therapies to millions of patients. In KSA's dynamic pharmacy landscape, you will shape our channel strategy, drive strategic alliances, and create new business opportunities that truly matter. This is your opportunity to build something remarkable where your business acumen directly impacts patient access and market growth.

Your new role

You will be the architect of our pharmacy channel strategy in KSA, identifying gaps, building partnerships, and driving commercial growth across chain pharmacies. Further, you will be responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities. Your strategic thinking and negotiation expertise will shape how patients access our life-changing treatments. As a leader, you will inspire cross-functional teams, foster collaboration among stakeholders, and mentor others to achieve ambitious commercial goals, ensuring that your vision drives both market growth and improved patient outcomes.

• Develop and execute comprehensive chain pharmacy collaboration strategies, including landscape mapping, partner identification, and long-term channel roadmaps that drive sustained business growth.

• Identify and develop opportunities for e-health and on-ground business opportunities outside chain pharmacies.

• Proven management experience leading and inspiring teams to deliver exceptional results. 

• Own and monitor KPI progression and executing counterstrategies to maximize outcomes for channel and Business Development initiatives.

• Build and nurture strategic relationships with key partners, utilizing influencing skills to establish greater cross-team collaboration.

• Lead best-practice sharing across regional BD teams, continuously testing and adopting cutting-edge marketing initiatives for online and offline channels, including innovative direct-to-patient business models.

• Act as Key Account Manager for local strategic partners, managing relationships and identifying opportunities to expand partnerships across countries.

Your new department

You will join the Diabetes Business Unit, reporting directly to the Cardiometabolic Marketing Associate Director. The department is committed to enhancing the lives of patients by ensuring seamless treatment pathways through innovation, collaboration, and strategic marketing initiatives. Working closely with cross-functional teams and regional stakeholders, the department plays a vital role in shaping patient outcomes across KSA and beyond.

Your skills & qualifications

You will be the architect of our pharmacy channel strategy in KSA, identifying gaps, building partnerships, and driving commercial growth across chain pharmacies. Further you will be responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities. We're seeking a strategic, commercially minded leader with proven expertise in trade marketing and channel development. You will bring:

• Minimum 7 years of experience in Trade Marketing, Business Development, Category Management, or Channel Development within pharmacy chains for FMCG, Beauty, Cosmetics, or Consumer Health brands.

• Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy, Business Administration, or related field (Master's degree preferred).

• Proven track record in identifying and negotiating strategic partnerships, with demonstrated success in driving revenue growth through modern trade partnerships.

• Direct-to-patient or direct-to-consumer business model experience.

• Strong expertise in retail negotiation, category management, shopper insights, and P&L ownership with trade spend management.

• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with capability to inspire collaboration and drive successful execution of commercial initiatives.

• Fluency in English (written and spoken); Arabic language skills are a plus.

Working at Novo Nordisk

Every day we seek the solutions that defeat serious chronic diseases. To do this, we approach our work with determination, constant curiosity and a commitment to finding better ways forward. For over 100 years, this dedication has driven us to build a company focused on lasting change for long-term health. One where diverse thinking, shared purpose and mutual respect come together to create extraordinary results. When you join us, you're not just starting a job – you're becoming part of a story that spans generations. In this role, you willhave the autonomy to innovate, the support of a collaborative cross-functional team, and the satisfaction of knowing your commercial strategies directly improve patient access to life-changing treatments.

What we offer

Being part of a global healthcare leader means opportunities to develop your expertise in a rapidly expanding market. You will work in a warm, inclusive culture where your strategic contributions are valued and your professional growth is supported. We offer competitive benefits designed with your career and life stage in mind, coupled with the unique fulfillment that comes from driving change in serious chronic diseases.

Deadline: March 14, 2026 (Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis)

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants.

At Novo Nordisk, we're not chasing quick fixes – we're creating lasting change for long-term health. For over 100 years, we've been driven by a single purpose: to defeat serious chronic diseases and help millions of people live healthier lives. This dedication fuels our constant curiosity and inspires us to push the boundaries of what's possible in healthcare. We embrace diverse perspectives, seek out bold ideas, and build partnerships rooted in shared purpose. Together, we're making healthcare more accessible, treating and preventing diseases, and pioneering solutions that create change spanning generations. When you join us, you become part of something bigger – a legacy of impact that reaches far beyond today.