Head of Sales and Marketing

Position: Head of Sales and Marketing 

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Employment Type: Full-time

Eligibility: Any Nationality

Role Summary

The Head of Sales and Marketing will be a key leader driving the company’s revenue growth and market expansion. In this role, you will craft and execute robust sales strategies, lead a multidisciplinary team, and shape marketing campaigns to establish our brand as a trusted provider of Sharia Compliant trade credit solutions. This is a strategic leadership position at the intersection of fintech and Sharia Compliant finance, tasked with addressing the massive credit gap for SMEs in the region and capitalizing on Saudi Arabia’s booming fintech sector (projected to reach 525 fintech companies by 2030). The ideal candidate is a dynamic, results-driven leader who can blend deep market insight with creative marketing, all while upholding Sharia-compliant values.

Key Responsibilities

• Sales Strategy & Execution: Develop and implement a comprehensive sales strategy to drive adoption of the company’s trade credit solutions and meet ambitious revenue targets. Identify key customer segments (e.g., SMEs, large corporates, supply chain partners) and tailor go-to-market plans for the Saudi B2B market, continuously refining tactics based on market feedback and competitive landscape.

• Marketing Leadership: Plan and oversee multi-channel marketing campaigns to build brand awareness and generate a strong pipeline of leads. Ensure marketing messaging and content highlight the Sharia-compliant value proposition and resonate with local business culture. This includes digital marketing, content creation, events, and PR strategies aligned with the company’s growth goals.

• Team Management & Development: Recruit, train, and lead a high-performing sales and marketing team, fostering a results-oriented and collaborative culture. Mentor team members through regular coaching and performance feedback, and build capacity by establishing clear goals and professional development plans.

• Business Development & Partnerships: Identify and pursue new business opportunities and partnerships to expand market reach. This may involve forging alliances with banks, fintech platforms, or industry associations, as well as exploring channel partnerships (e.g., with B2B e-commerce platforms or payment providers) to embed our trade credit solutions.

• Customer Relationship Management: Act as an executive sponsor for key client accounts, ensuring high satisfaction and long-term relationships. Oversee the development of account management practices and personally engage with top-tier clients and prospects to understand their needs, tailor solutions, and secure large deals.

• Performance Tracking & Reporting: Establish clear KPIs for sales growth, marketing ROI, customer acquisition, and retention. Utilize CRM systems and analytics tools to track performance metrics, analyze the sales funnel, and derive insights for improvement. Provide regular reports and presentations to the CEO and board on progress against targets, market challenges, and upcoming plans.

• Budget Management: Manage the sales and marketing budget effectively. Allocate resources across various campaigns and regions, ensuring optimal ROI. Make data-driven decisions to increase or reallocate spend (e.g., between digital marketing, events, or incentives) based on performance data and strategic priorities.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Finance or a related field is required. An MBA or relevant master’s degree is a plus, especially with a focus on finance or marketing.

• Experience: 10+ years of progressive experience in sales and marketing, with at least 5 years in a leadership role in fintech, banking, or B2B financial services. A proven track record of driving B2B sales growth and achieving revenue targets is essential.

• Fintech/Industry Knowledge: Solid understanding of financial products and services – experience in trade finance, credit solutions, or B2B lending will be highly valued. Familiarity with the fintech sector and digital financial platforms is important, given the innovative nature of our solutions.

• Sharia Compliant Finance Acumen: Deep knowledge of Sharia Compliant finance principles and Sharia-compliant financial products. The candidate should understand concepts like profit-sharing, Murabaha, or Tawarruq as they relate to credit and lending, ensuring our offerings remain fully compliant. (Saudi Arabia’s Sharia Compliant fintech market is a huge untapped opportunity, so this expertise is crucial.)

• Market Expertise: In-depth knowledge of the Saudi Arabian market dynamics and business environment, including customer behaviors and key industries in the Kingdom. Experience working in or with the GCC region is strongly preferred to leverage regional networks and understand neighboring markets.

• Regulatory Familiarity: Familiarity with relevant financial regulations and licensing in Saudi/GCC. Experience dealing with regulators or operating within compliant frameworks like Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) regulations, fintech sandbox programs is a plus, ensuring that sales and marketing strategies align with legal requirements.

• Leadership Experience: Demonstrated ability to lead and scale teams. Prior experience building a team or department from the ground up (especially in a startup or high-growth company) is highly desirable. This includes workforce planning, hiring, and establishing processes for a sales or marketing organization.

• Analytical & Strategic Skills: Strong strategic thinking capabilities paired with analytical skills. The candidate should be comfortable with data analysis, market research, and using insights to drive decision-making. Ability to craft strategy while also attending to execution details is important in a startup environment.

• Communication: Excellent communication and presentation skills. Ability to articulate value propositions and complex financial concepts clearly to clients, stakeholders, and team members.

• Tech Savvy: Proficiency with CRM software and sales/marketing tools. Hands-on experience with platforms such as Salesforce, HubSpot, or equivalent, and familiarity with marketing automation, analytics dashboards, and MS Office suite. The ability to implement and leverage CRM and analytics for sales operations is expected.

Preferred Skills and Attributes

• Bilingual Communication: Native or highly proficient Arabic language skills alongside fluent English, enabling nuanced communication and relationship-building across Saudi and international partners.

• Regulatory & Compliance Awareness: Experience working within regulated financial environments or interacting with regulatory bodies. Knowledge of local Saudi banking/fintech regulations and compliance practices can significantly help in navigating marketing and sales campaigns like understanding what is permissible in financial product advertising per SAMA guidelines.

• CRM & Analytics Mastery: Advanced skills in using CRM and data analytics tools to monitor performance. Ability to segment customers, track lead generation metrics, and adjust strategies based on data insights. Experience with business intelligence tools or dashboards is a plus.

• Digital Marketing Savvy: Up-to-date with digital marketing techniques and social media strategies relevant to B2B fintech. Experience in SEO, content marketing, and online lead generation campaigns would be beneficial.

• Networking & Industry Presence: An established network in the financial services, banking, or SME community in Saudi/GCC is advantageous. This might include relationships with corporate finance managers, CFOs, industry influencers, or potential strategic partners.

• Adaptability: Comfortable working in a fast-paced, startup environment where priorities can shift quickly. Demonstrated ability to adapt strategies on-the-fly and remain agile and innovative in response to market changes or new opportunities.

• Passion for Fintech Innovation: A genuine interest in financial technology and innovation. Being informed about fintech trends like open banking, B2B BNPL, digital payment platforms will help in crafting forward-looking strategies that keep the company ahead of the curve.

Reporting Structure and Team

This position is a senior leadership role reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Head of Sales and Marketing will be a part of the executive management team, providing input into overall company strategy beyond their functional area. You will lead a team of sales and marketing professionals – initially a lean team that is expected to grow as the business expands. Direct reports include Sales Managers, Account Executives, Marketing Managers, and Business Development leads. You will also collaborate closely with other department heads like Head of Product, Head of Finance, Compliance Officer, to ensure alignment of sales and marketing with product development, credit risk management, and regulatory compliance.

Location & Travel Requirements

• Location: This role is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The company’s headquarters and primary market are in Riyadh, and being on-site is important for team leadership and market engagement. Office presence will be required, with some flexibility for remote work as needed, but the role is predominantly in-market.

• Travel: The role will involve travel within Saudi Arabia to meet with key clients and partners across the region and major cities like Jeddah, Dammam, etc.. Occasional travel to other GCC countries may be required for regional expansion efforts or conferences. International travel might occur for industry events or training (estimated travel requirement ~20%). A valid passport and willingness to travel on short notice are expected.