Business Development

About the Role

The short version

We're Cortex Search — a Dubai-headquartered executive search firm specialising in AI, Technology and Cybersecurity leadership. We headhunt the off-market 1%: the engineers, researchers and security leaders every serious organisation in the region is fighting over.

We're a team of five, growing to twenty — carefully. And the next seat is a big one: the person who opens doors across the GCC. Get it right and there is no ceiling — our commission structure is uncapped, and earnings in excess of £300,000 OTE are genuinely on the table for the right operator. Tax-free, in Dubai.

The role

This is a pure business development role for someone who already knows recruitment BD inside out. You won't be running desks or filling roles — your job is to put Cortex in front of the founders, CTOs, CISOs and HR leaders building AI and cyber capability across the Gulf, and turn those conversations into signed terms and retained mandates.

You'll be on the road a lot, wherever the opportunity is. GCC governments and enterprises are pouring billions into AI and national cyber defence. Someone is going to win that recruitment spend. We intend it to be us, and you're the tip of the spear.

What you'll actually do

• Map and target organisations investing in AI and cybersecurity across the GCC — scale-ups, enterprises, sovereign-backed ventures, and government innovation programmes
• Open doors: outbound outreach, events, conferences, referrals, and good old-fashioned relationship building
• Meet decision-makers face to face across the region and pitch the Cortex model
• Negotiate and close terms of business, retained agreements and exclusivity arrangements
• Hand qualified, signed clients to our delivery team — then keep the relationship warm and growing
• Feed market intelligence back to the founders and help shape which markets we attack next
• Represent the brand at industry events across the region

What you'll need

• Proven recruitment BD experience — you've sold recruitment or executive search services before and can show the numbers
• GCC market knowledge — you understand how business gets done in the region, and ideally you have a contact book to match
• Comfort operating at senior level — founders, C-suite, government stakeholders
• Willingness to travel across the GCC regularly (a valid driving licence and a passport with plenty of pages)
• Self-sufficiency — we're a team of five; you'll get full founder backing but nobody will hold your hand
• Tech or cyber sector exposure is a strong plus, but hunger and credibility matter more
• Relocation to Dubai if not already based in UAE

What you get

• Uncapped, tax-free earnings — £300,000 OTE + achievable for a proven BD operator. Competitive base + commission, or commission-only with bigger splits if you back yourself
• Business travel across the GCC, done properly
• Hybrid working: 2 days from home, 3 days across our Dubai locations (when you're not on the road)
• Digital Nomad Status once you're consistently on target: unlimited holiday, work from anywhere in the world
• A seat at the table while the business is still being built — direct access to both founders, and genuine influence on strategy
• Clear progression: this role is the foundation of our commercial function. Build it well and you'll lead it.

Who we are

We're not a CV pump. Cortex Search runs partner-led, intelligence-driven search for the hardest hires in technology. We're new and proud of it — five people, no politics, no hiding places, and a deliberate plan to grow to twenty of the right people.

If you want anonymity in a big machine, this isn't it. If you want to build the commercial engine of a search firm in the fastest-moving market on earth — and be paid like you built it — we should talk.

Apply now, or reach out directly for a confidential conversation