Job Purpose:
To lead the commercial strategy and revenue growth of the Port by developing customer relationships, promoting port services, and securing new business opportunities. The role also manages the commercial and operational relationship with third-party terminal operators, ensuring contract compliance, optimal service delivery, issue resolution, and long-term value creation.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute the commercial strategy and customer acquisition plan to drive revenue growth and port competitiveness.
- Identify, engage, and manage relationships with shipping lines, logistics providers, industrial customers, investors, and trade partners.
- Manage the commercial interface and operational relationship with terminal operators, ensuring adherence to concession or operating agreements.
- Monitor terminal operator performance against contractual, service, and financial obligations, escalating and resolving disputes when required.
- Lead tariff, pricing, and commercial policy development in coordination with senior leadership.
- Develop and implement marketing and promotional activities to position the port as a strategic regional gateway.
- Conduct market intelligence, competitor analysis, and demand forecasting.
- Support negotiation and execution of commercial agreements, customer contracts, and memoranda of understanding.
- Prepare business cases, commercial feasibility assessments, and revenue proposals.
- Ensure strong stakeholder engagement with government bodies, regulators, industry partners, and investors.
- Prepare commercial performance dashboards and reports for Executive Leadership and Board stakeholders.
- Contribute to the development of customer service and relationship-management frameworks.
People Management Responsibilities:
- Lead, mentor, and develop Commercial team members.
- Drive a performance-oriented and customer-centric culture.
- Ensure clear objectives, accountability, and alignment with Port Authority strategy.
Strategic Responsibilities:
- Act as a strategic partner to the Executive Director in shaping the port’s market positioning and revenue roadmap.
- Support long-term business planning and investment strategies.
- Promote cross-functional collaboration to integrate commercial planning with operations, finance, legal, and HSSE.
- Represent the Port Authority in commercial forums, investor engagements, industry events, and high-level negotiations.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, Maritime/Logistics Management, or related field.
- Master’s degree is preferred but not essential.
- Professional certification in commercial management, logistics, or strategy is an advantage.
Languages:
- English: Fluent (written and spoken).
- Arabic: Preferred due to project location (Iraq).
Years of Experience:
- 12–15 years of commercial, business development, or port/logistics commercial management experience.
- Minimum 5 years in a managerial role.
Nature of Experience:
- Experience in ports, shipping, logistics, maritime, infrastructure, or industrial project environments preferred.
- Proven track record in:
- Revenue growth & business development
- Customer Relations management
- Commercial contract oversight
- Negotiations and partnership development
- Experience working with terminal operators or concession-based environments is highly desirable.
- Exposure to greenfield or emerging-market projects is an advantage.
*Due to the high volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.*
At AD Ports Group, we guarantee equal opportunities and nondiscrimination based on sex, gender, race, religion, disability, or age in our selection processes. Our goal is to maximize people’s talents in all their diversity while eliminating any form of discrimination.
