Job description

An established international confectionery business is building dedicated commercial leadership closer to its MENA markets, and this Area Manager role sits right at the centre of that push. You will identify, evaluate, and appoint a new distributor partner in Saudi Arabia, while also managing and strengthening existing distributor relationships across the wider MENA region. Sales, distribution, and brand presence all need driving across priority markets, with new commercial opportunities and areas for regional growth identified along the way. Relationships with distributors, customers, and key market stakeholders need building and maintaining, since much of the growth here runs through those partnerships. Competitor, category, and market insights get fed back to the European leadership team on an ongoing basis, keeping decisions grounded in what's actually happening on the ground. Acting as the key commercial representative for the business across MENA comes with the role, so a comfort operating independently matters. FMCG experience, ideally in confectionery, snacks, or a related category, underpins the whole job, alongside a proven track record of developing markets through distributor partners. Working with international brands or strong regional businesses gives useful context for the pace and expectations of this role.