Director, International Business Development & Government Relations (UAE)

Job description

Job Title: Director, International Business Development & Government Relations, UAE Job Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE Job Description: L3Harris Government and Customer Relations (Corporate) is seeking a Director, International Business Development & Government Relations – UAE to lead the company’s business development and government relations strategy in the region, with primary responsibility for the United Arab Emirates and supporting strategic priorities throughout the region. Based in Abu Dhabi, this leader will drive regional growth, strengthen strategic stakeholder engagement, and align market priorities with enterprise objectives. Working across L3Harris sectors, segments and corporate functions, this leader will help shape market strategy, advance international growth targets, and support coordinated execution across key customer and government relationships. This position reports directly to the Corporate Vice President, International Government & Customer Relations. Essential Functions: Lead business development and government relations activities across the UAE, while supporting strategic priorities in Morocco, Oman, and Qatar. Develop and execute country and regional strategies that drive growth, improve market positioning, and strengthen high-value stakeholder relationships. Partner with segment presidents and business leaders to shape and implement strategies that support international orders, pipeline development, and revenue objectives. Monitor political, economic, regulatory, budgetary, and geopolitical developments across assigned markets and translate insights into actionable business strategy. Identify emerging opportunities, inform pursuit priorities, and help position the enterprise for long-term success in the region. Align country leadership, segment teams, and corporate functions to improve market visibility, coordination, and progress against annual growth targets. Advise enterprise leadership on government policy, defense spending, procurement activity, and regional developments that affect strategic and business priorities. Build and maintain senior-level relationships with government officials, customers, industry leaders, trade associations, strategic partners, and other key stakeholders. Represent L3Harris in-country and across the region to support strategic objectives and ensure a unified approach to external engagement. Participate in relevant boards, councils, and leadership forums to advance enterprise strategy and regional growth priorities. Deliver clear, actionable updates and executive briefings on country-specific issues, market developments, and strategic risks. Serve as a central coordination point for regional customers, partners, and government stakeholders, ensuring L3Harris presents a consistent corporate identity. Collaborate with regional and global counterparts to improve processes, increase efficiency, and strengthen scalability across international business operations. Ensure all activities comply with applicable trade regulations, local laws, and corporate governance requirements. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience. 15+ years of experience in business development, government relations, public policy, technology policy, or related fields within multinational corporations, government institutions, think tanks, or relevant industry associations. Strong understanding of international and regional business development strategy, with deep knowledge of the UAE market. Demonstrated success developing and executing growth strategies through cross-functional collaboration and executive-level influence. Proven experience engaging senior government, customer, and industry stakeholders in the UAE and across the Middle East and North Africa region. Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment and manage complex issues with sound judgment. Preferred Additional Skills: Familiarity with capture management, pursuit strategy, and opportunity development within the Aerospace and Defense sector. Strong understanding of the UAE government landscape, procurement environment, and strategic national priorities; familiarity with political, regulatory, and customer environments throughout the AOR. Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work across multiple functions, markets, and cultures. Fluency in English required; Arabic fluency preferred. #DirectorInternationalBusinessDevelopment #LI-RT1