Country Manager - Oil & Gas Lubricant Additives, Iraq

About the role

A leading lubricant additives manufacturer for the oil and gas industry is looking for a Country Manager to own the business in Iraq. The role reports to the International Business Head (Nigeria/India) and is full-time, senior and independent, with P&L ownership of the Iraq cost centre. The incumbent manages the existing business and expands it, from finding customers to collecting payment, and builds the country's team gradually.

Key responsibilities

• Manage and deepen relationships with existing customers, act as the main contact for queries and escalations, and track account performance and market changes.
• Acquire new oil and gas customers across upstream and downstream, build a pipeline of tenders, framework agreements and long-term contracts, extend the product range and map competitors and pricing trends.
• Build pricing proposals based on landed cost, logistics, duties and financing, recommend prices to headquarters, negotiate deals and protect margins while managing payment terms and credit exposure.
• Own the order-to-payment process: order receipt, confirmation, shipment coordination, delivery and collection, import documentation, customs clearance and port work, and follow up on invoices and letters of credit.
• Own the Iraq P&L (revenue, gross margin, logistics and operating costs, net contribution), prepare budgets and forecasts, and grow sales and margins year on year.
• Start as a stand-alone representative, then help recruit and lead support staff in logistics, documentation and sales support.
• Report regularly to the International Business Head in Nigeria on sales, pipeline, margins, receivables, risks and market intelligence.

Required profile

• Must have worked or be working in Iraq, with existing knowledge of the market, customers, business culture and regulations.
• At least 12 years of experience in sales, business development or country management in oil and gas, lubricants, additives or industrial chemicals (or closely related).
• Proven record of managing existing accounts and winning new ones, with measurable revenue and margin results.
• Hands-on understanding of import, customs, port clearance, documentation, shipping and landed-cost calculation.
• Experience owning or contributing to a P&L or cost centre, with a commercial approach to pricing.
• Comfortable working independently, with strong negotiation, communication and relationship-building skills.
• Preferred: engineering or chemistry background, working knowledge of Arabic, tender and vendor registration experience, and experience building a small team from scratch.

What we offer

• An attractive salary and perks package suited to the seniority of the role.
• A genuine ownership role as the first senior hire in Iraq, with the chance to build the country business and its team.
• Direct exposure to the International Business Head and the parent company's leadership.