Overview:
We are seeking a strategic and results-driven Head Business Development - APAC to lead market expansion, drive sales growth, and shape the future of our industry-specific solutions across APAC. This role combines market analysis, strategic planning, sales enablement, key account management, and innovation leadership. You will work closely with country teams, sales company MDs, and global stakeholders to deliver differentiated value propositions and achieve ambitious growth targets.
Key Responsibilities:
Market Analysis
- Conduct in-depth market, competition, and business analysis for existing product offerings to identify gaps and opportunities for a differentiated value proposition.
- Identify and support the evaluation of potential acquisition candidates in the APAC region.
- Monitor market trends to determine high-potential target markets.
- Support the development and expansion of both new and existing markets.
Strategy & Guidance
- Identify and prioritize key markets in APAC for focused business development efforts.
- Develop a comprehensive regional business plan and country-specific business plans based on detailed market and application analyses, covering target applications, customers, channels, offerings, and messaging.
- Conduct ROI calculations and secure agreements for investments, resources, and actions required for plan execution.
- Collaborate with Sales Company MDs and other stakeholders to ensure alignment and buy-in for strategic business plans.
- Track competitor and customer trends, integrating relevant developments into ongoing business and operational strategies.
Pre-Sales, Sales & Marketing
- Define market solutions and offerings tailored to regional needs and communicate them effectively within the region and to global stakeholders.
- Provide technical and sales enablement support for pre-sales activities (e.g., pilot installations) and drive specification work with end-users, consultants, and engineers.
- Deliver seminars and presentations to customers on GF solutions.
- Identify priority projects in line with strategic direction and global team input (“top projects” vs. “no-go’s”).
- Lead by example in CRM usage, ensuring accurate and comprehensive information sharing.
- Define short-, medium-, and long-term sales targets for the region in collaboration with Sales Company MDs, BU APAC Head, Business Development APAC Head, and global teams.
- Actively drive sales performance together with local sales managers and industry specialists, owning the business growth targets.
Key Account Management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with identified regional accounts in alignment with KAM responsibilities to open doors for sales opportunities.
- Work closely with Key Account Managers to understand customer business requirements and market needs.
- Provide regional insights to APAC and global KAM teams for selecting future regional or global key accounts.
Coordination & Communication
- Promote GFPS products and solutions across all relevant communication channels (trade fairs, print & digital media, conferences, seminars) by highlighting the GF Value Proposition.
- Facilitate knowledge exchange by connecting global/regional GF experts and external specialists (“connecting the dots”).
- Foster best practice sharing within the BD team, across sales companies, and with the Global KAM team through focus group meetings.
- Collaborate with regional sales teams to coordinate training, build application know-how, and align strategic initiatives.
- Coordinate cross-country opportunities and share best practices regionally.
Center of Competence
- Monitor and report on market development activities to ensure alignment with company goals.
- Collaborate with other business developers to optimize market segment opportunities.
- Educate and train local and specialist sales teams on industry, application, and market developments.
- Serve as a point of escalation for project execution challenges, while not being involved in daily operations.
- Support the management of claims, challenges, and customer issues.
Innovation
- Identify customer-centric innovations to close portfolio gaps and address future customer needs.
- Partner with regional and global Product Management and Innovation teams to develop solutions derived from market and customer insights.
About You:
You are a commercially astute, market-savvy professional with proven experience in business development, strategic sales, and market expansion across APAC. You thrive in cross-cultural environments, excel at stakeholder engagement, and can balance strategic vision with hands-on execution
Qualifications & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, or related field) preferred.
- Proven track record in business development, technical sales, or account management, ideally within the Water Treatment industry.
- Professional training as a master craftsman, technician, or equivalent experience in maintaining complex machinery and systems.
- Strong understanding of process water and wastewater treatment, including chemical dosing, batching applications, and basic environmental science principles.
- Hands-on experience with instrumentation , valves , and actuators , with relevant market knowledge.
- Exposure to electrical systems and the ability to interpret wiring diagrams.
- Solid grasp of engineering concepts, instrumentation, and control products in water treatment applications.
Skills & Competencies:
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
- Strong relationship-building capabilities with key stakeholders.
- Strategic thinker with problem-solving abilities and a results-oriented mindset.
- Proficient in CRM systems, MS Office, and sales reporting tools.
- Willingness to travel regionally as required.