SONECT GCC — Partner & Network Development Manager

Company: SONECT Group Location: Magnum Opus Bay Tower, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE Workplace Type: On-site (100% office-based) Employment Type: Full-time Seniority Level: Mid-Senior / Manager Department: Business Development & Strategic Partnerships Territory: United Arab Emirates and GCC Travel Requirements: Regular international business travel across GCC markets About SONECT SONECT is a Swiss-founded financial technology company building an ecosystem that connects physical retail merchant networks with banks, fintechs, digital wallets and online financial platforms. Our technology enables participating financial service providers and digital platforms to connect their customers to a network of retail acceptance locations, supporting cash-related and other eligible financial service use cases. By connecting physical merchant infrastructure with digital financial services, SONECT aims to make financial services more accessible, convenient and scalable. As part of our international expansion, we are establishing and growing our presence across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with our regional operations based in Dubai. We are looking for a highly motivated, commercially driven Partner & Network Development Manager to develop SONECT's merchant acceptance network and establish strategic partnerships with banks, fintechs and digital platforms throughout the GCC. About the Role This is a hands-on, revenue-generating business development position with direct responsibility for building and expanding SONECT's regional commercial ecosystem. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing two interconnected business areas: 1. Merchant & Acceptance Network Development Build a scalable network of retail merchants, retail chains, supermarkets, convenience stores, fuel stations and other suitable acceptance locations that can participate in the SONECT network. 2. Banking, Fintech & Digital Platform Partnerships Identify, approach and acquire banks, neobanks, fintech companies, digital wallet providers, payment institutions and online platforms that want to integrate SONECT and provide their customers with access to its merchant network. The position requires a proactive business developer who can identify opportunities, approach decision-makers, present SONECT's commercial proposition, negotiate agreements and successfully bring new partners into the ecosystem. This is not an administrative partnership management role. We are looking for a commercially ambitious professional who actively acquires partners, negotiates agreements and delivers measurable business growth. Key Responsibilities1. Merchant & Acceptance Network Acquisition Develop and execute SONECT's merchant network expansion strategy across the UAE and GCC. Identify and actively approach potential merchant acceptance partners. Acquire retail chains, supermarkets, convenience stores, fuel station networks, franchise operators and independent merchant groups. Establish strategic relationships with large retail organizations, merchant aggregators and distribution networks. Present and sell SONECT's merchant acceptance proposition to prospective partners. Explain the commercial benefits, operational requirements and integration opportunities of joining the SONECT network. Conduct commercial negotiations and secure merchant participation agreements. Develop commercial models and partnership structures that support scalable network growth. Coordinate merchant onboarding, technical integration, testing and operational activation with the relevant internal teams. Monitor merchant acquisition, activation rates, geographic coverage and network performance. Identify opportunities to expand acceptance coverage within existing merchant partnerships. 2. Banking & Financial Institution Partnerships Identify and approach commercial banks, digital banks, neobanks and other relevant financial institutions across the GCC. Present SONECT's network access and integration capabilities to banking executives and decision-makers. Develop partnerships enabling eligible financial institutions to connect their customer-facing banking applications to the SONECT network. Lead commercial discussions with banking partners regarding integration models, service capabilities and commercial arrangements. Develop partnership proposals, business cases and commercial agreements. Coordinate technical discussions with SONECT's product and integration teams. Support prospective partners throughout the commercial and technical evaluation process. Negotiate and close strategic banking partnership agreements. Work toward successful partner onboarding and operational launch. 3. Fintech, Digital Wallet & Online Platform Acquisition Identify and acquire fintech companies, digital wallet providers, payment service providers and online platforms interested in integrating SONECT. Develop commercial relationships with digital financial service providers seeking access to physical merchant acceptance infrastructure. Present SONECT's API integration capabilities and relevant business use cases. Understand partner business models and identify opportunities where SONECT can enhance their customer proposition. Structure commercial partnerships and negotiate integration agreements. Collaborate with internal technical teams to support API integration discussions and implementation planning. Develop long-term relationships with integration partners and identify opportunities for increased network utilization. 4. Sales, Business Development & Revenue Generation Take direct ownership of partner acquisition and commercial sales activities. Build and maintain a structured pipeline of merchant, banking and fintech opportunities. Conduct outbound prospecting, business meetings, presentations and negotiations. Develop and execute account acquisition strategies for priority GCC markets. Personally negotiate and close commercial partnership agreements. Establish relationships with senior executives, commercial directors and business owners. Identify opportunities for recurring commercial revenue and network growth. Maintain accurate CRM records, pipeline forecasts and activity reporting. Achieve agreed individual sales, acquisition and partnership targets. Represent SONECT at relevant fintech, banking, payments and retail exhibitions throughout the GCC. 5. Market Expansion & Strategic Development Conduct market research and identify priority merchant categories, geographic markets and financial service partners. Develop market-entry and expansion plans for selected GCC countries. Monitor regional competitors, market trends and potential strategic partnerships. Identify opportunities to establish relationships with merchant aggregators and organizations offering access to large retail networks. Coordinate with internal legal, compliance, product and operational teams to assess the feasibility of new partnerships. Provide regular commercial and market intelligence reports to management. Contribute to SONECT's long-term GCC expansion strategy. Candidate RequirementsProfessional Experience Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in business development, merchant acquiring, payment networks, banking partnerships, fintech or financial services. Proven track record of personally acquiring and closing commercial partnerships. Demonstrated experience negotiating agreements with retail merchants, merchant groups, banks or fintech companies. Strong understanding of the UAE and wider GCC business environment. Experience developing B2B partnerships and managing complex commercial sales cycles. Familiarity with merchant acceptance infrastructure, payment systems, banking APIs or digital financial services. Experience working with merchant aggregators, acquirers, retail networks or financial institutions is highly desirable. Commercial Skills Strong prospecting, lead generation and business development capabilities. Excellent negotiation and contract-closing skills. Ab