Business Development Manager

Job description / Role

Objectives:
• The Divisional Head - Business Development will be responsible for developing the revenue and growth of Arc Skills products and ultimately improving Arc Skills’ market position and brand.
• It includes identifying business opportunities, building key customer relationships, negotiation and closure of business deals. Maintaining an extensive knowledge of current market conditions, both in the public and private sector will be essential. Being able to identify large opportunities, network with key stakeholders and partners to build robust solutions, acquiring the business and developing it further will be the primary deliverables of the role.
• Skills 21 is an exciting, engaging new soft skills programme designed to nurture and draw out key soft skill competencies in students alongside the more traditional ‘hard skill’ focused school curriculum. This exciting new role is well suited to someone who has both a proven flair for sales with solid business acumen and a keen, genuine interest in (and preferably experience of) impacting the lives of young people through education.
• A major part of this role involves consistently building, nurturing and coordinating excellent new long-term relationships with key stakeholders across the UAE and all countries.
• A person who has had both sales/business and teaching/mentoring experience in an educational setting would be ideal for holding such conversations and building such relationships.


Main responsibilities:
• Develop a business development strategy for the UAE that addresses the significant needs in the market
• Set aggressive growth driven revenue and order-book targets for the region
• Build and maintain successful client relationships with educational institutions and corporates within the UAE and internationally
• Serve as the main point of contact for new business initiatives, working in close coordination with existing project leads across the region and internationally
• Deliver excellent product presentations to key stakeholders of businesses and schools
• Advise schools on an appropriate way to run Skills 21 based on their unique needs and schedules
• Monitor, evaluate and gather feedback and responses to the Skills 21 product – with both potential and existing customers. Effectively share this feedback with relevant product development team members in a timely and professional way
• Leverage existing client relationships to understand new needs and challenges and position Arc Skills to help solve them
• Actively sourcing and converting new business opportunities
• Follow the sales process and be able to regularly report on your pipeline and ensure all information is up to date
• Identify the potential client’s needs, identify solutions, build proposals, and present it at the various decision making levels
• Attendance and networking at industry-related events and conferences
• Strategic planning both internally and with our partner schools / international schools
• Actively participate in team meetings and discussions. Regular communication with CEO’s and colleagues are vital
• Work with internal teams to build the financials for the project
• Negotiate the terms and conditions of the proposals with relevant stakeholders and achieve closure

Reporting to: CEO - Dubai
Subordinates: None
Other interactions: Country CEO, Head of Content Development, Project Managers, other Functional Heads, Peers, Educational bodies, school principals, teachers, students, parents, Company CEO’s (Local and International)
Number required: 1
Duration: Permanent Position
Desired start date: 1 July 2017
Probation: 6 months
Working Hours: Sun-Thurs 8:00 - 17:00
Travel requirements: Occasional international travel. Frequent travel in GCC

Requirements

• University Qualifications: B.Com Honour’s degree or equivalent (UK or US based University qualification preferred)
• Nature and length of previous experience: 5+ years’ experience in a business development / sales role within the educational sector
• 5+ years’ experience in selling educational products
• Specialist knowledge: Strong MS Office skills especially Excel, Word and PP skills
• Strong research acumen
• Strong sales and business development
• Strong commercial mindset
• Strong education and/or training background

Soft Skills and Personality traits:
• Leadership
• Communication: written and verbal
• Attention to detail
• Team player
• Energetic and enthusiastic
• Creative problem solving
• Adaptable
• Soft customer satisfaction
• Strong persuasion/negotiation skills
• Age Range: 25 - 40
• Gender Preference: Male
• Language Fluency: English
• Current Location: Dubai

About the Company

At Arc Skills, we bridge the gap between beginner and expert because your success is our motivation. We have developed skills solutions that are relevant, tested, and proven to make a real impact to your business and society.

Arc Skills serves businesses, schools, and communities in Dubai, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Malaysia. We have a large network of trainers who are certified by international curriculum providers to deliver world-recognised qualifications.