Director of Commercialization & Licensing - AgriTech R&D Center

The Role

Reporting to the Group CEO, this role will build sustainable commercial income streams through scalable models such as licensing, service offerings, joint ventures, and venture equity, ensuring long-term financial sustainability beyond one-off projects or grants. You will be translatin...

The Role
Reporting to the Group CEO, this role will build sustainable commercial income streams through scalable models such as licensing, service offerings, joint ventures, and venture equity, ensuring long-term financial sustainability beyond one-off projects or grants. You will be translating Agritech/innovation pipelines into market-ready products, ventures, and partnerships across local and international markets. Client Details Our client is a large R&D center in the UAE, coming up with agriculture solutions to the harsh weather of the UAE. They work closely with Governments, Universities and global corporations on developing innovations that will change the future of Agriculture in the region. Description * Define and lead the commercialization strategy, transitioning R&D output into revenue-generating products, services, and ventures. * Develop and execute go-to-market strategies, including pricing, positioning, and customer segmentation. * Build and manage a commercial pipeline of opportunities across technologies, pilots, and ventures. * Design and implement business models including licensing, JV, venture building, and spinouts. * Identify and secure strategic partnerships with government entities, corporates, research institutions, and global innovation hubs. * Ensure partnerships are outcome-driven, delivering pilots, funding, commercialization, or scale. * Lead international expansion strategy, identifying priority markets and partners. * Represent the company at executive forums, positioning it as a leading platform for desert agriculture innovation * Define and deliver commercial KPIs including revenue growth, deal pipeline, and ROI on innovation. * Develop financial models for ventures, partnerships, and commercialization initiatives. * Secure funding through partnerships, grants, co-investment, and venture capital engagement. * Lead commercial due diligence and support investment and exit decisions. * Build and lead a high-performing business development and commercialization team * Drive a culture of commercial mindset, accountability, and performance across your teams. * Mentor teams on commercialization, partnerships, and market-driven innovation * Own P&L for the commercial department Job Offer This is an opportunity to join a company changing the agricultural landscape in the UAE and the region. Our client provides competitive salary and benefits for the successful candidate.

Requirements
* 10+ years in commercial R&D, business development, or innovation commercialization. * Proven track record of building revenue streams from innovation or technology platforms. * Experience in partnership structuring, venture development, or investment environments. * Strong exposure to global markets and cross-border partnerships. * Experience in AgriTech, food systems, biotech, or deeptech is highly desirable. * IP/Licensing experience required

About the company
Michael Page is one of the worlds leading professional recruitment consultancies, specializing in the placement of candidates in permanent, contract, temporary and interim positions with clients around the world. The Group has operations in the UK, Continental Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. In the Middle East we focus on the areas of: Finance & Accounting Banking & Financial Services Procurement Property & Construction Engineering & Supply Chain Oil & Gas Technical and Engineering Human Resources Sales Marketing Technology Secretarial Executive Search Legal The Group operates through 161 offices in 33 countries and employs over 5,000 employees worldwide.