Business Development Manager APAC

Job purpose

OIDI Higher Education team design and oversee several international projects and programmes that are tailored to support international student Higher Education access. These programmes are offered in a range of modes and locations providing optimal affordability, accessibility, and flexibility while maintaining high standards of quality and student experience. Our core modes of delivery are through our online provision or through our Global Hub network which comprises a network of strategic partnerships and delivery centres around the world.
To enable sustainable growth in this area there is a need to grow the sales team.

The Business Development Manager (APAC) will be responsible for driving the commercial growth of OIDI's Higher Education portfolio across South Asia (SA), Southeast Asia (SEA) and wider APAC markets. The role has two equal areas of responsibility:

Partnership Development (50%)

Identify, develop and secure new institutional partnerships for OIDI's Higher Education programme portfolio including:

• International Foundation Programmes
• International Year One Programmes
• Pre-Master's Programmes
• Pre-PhD

The postholder will build and manage a pipeline of prospective franchise and delivery partners, leading commercial discussions through qualification, business case development, negotiations and contract completion before handing over to the Partnerships Manager and Academic Operations teams for implementation.

Student Recruitment & Revenue Generation (50%)

Drive student recruitment and revenue growth for OIDI's online Higher Education programmes through:

• Existing education agent networks
• New agency partnerships
• Institutional channels
• Recruitment partners
• Strategic business development initiatives

The postholder will be responsible for meeting student recruitment, enrolment and revenue targets across the region.

Target Markets

Including but not limited to: China; Taiwan; Hong Kong; India; Pakistan; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Vietnam; Malaysia; Indonesia; Philippines; Bangladesh; Nepal; Wider APAC opportunities 1. Partnership Development
Market Intelligence & Lead Generation

• Develop and execute an annual HE partnership growth strategy for APAC.
• Identify and prioritise target institutions, colleges, universities and education groups.
• Conduct market research and competitor analysis.
• Monitor regulatory developments and market opportunities across target countries.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of prospective institutional partners.
• Conduct discovery meetings and needs assessments.
• Present OIDI pathway and franchise models to prospective partners.
• Develop commercial proposals and business cases.
• Lead negotiations on partnership structures and commercial terms.
• Coordinate due diligence and partner qualification processes.
• Support legal and contractual negotiations through to signature.
• Ensure smooth handover to operational and academic teams following contract execution.

External Stakeholder Engagement

Develop relationships with senior decision makers including:

• University Presidents
• Vice Chancellors
• CEOs
• Managing Directors
• Academic Directors
• International Office Teams
• Represent OIDI at conferences, exhibitions and sector events.

2. Student Recruitment & Revenue Generation
Agency Network Development

• Expand and strengthen OIDI's education agent network across APAC.
• Recruit, train and onboard new agency partners.
• Maintain strong relationships with key recruitment agents.
• Conduct regular performance reviews with agency partners.

Sales & Recruitment

• Deliver annual student recruitment targets.
• Develop regional sales and recruitment plans.
• Promote OIDI online Higher Education programmes.
• Execute recruitment campaigns and conversion activities.
• Support virtual and in-person recruitment events.
• Deliver presentations, webinars and agent training sessions.

Account Management

• Drive recruitment growth from existing partners.
• Identify upselling and cross-selling opportunities.
• Ensure high levels of partner engagement and satisfaction.
• Monitor enrolment conversion rates and partner performance.

Pipeline & Performance Management

• Maintain accurate CRM records.
• Produce monthly forecasts and performance reports.
• Analyse recruitment data and market trends.
• Provide recommendations to improve recruitment performance.

Commercial Responsibilities

• Deliver annual revenue targets.
• Manage partnership development opportunities from lead generation through to contract execution.
• Support pricing and commercial discussions.
• Develop business cases and return-on-investment analyses.
• Forecast partnership and recruitment revenue.
• Contribute to strategic growth planning for the HE division.

Collaboration

• Work closely with the Director of HE and Partnerships Manager to deliver on new partnership projects e.g. setting up new global centres.
• Collaborate with the Business Development Manager EU & MENA and ensure unity and parity in the approaches to sales and partnerships
• Actively collaborate across the OIDI division and keep informed of developments in pre-sessional and English language testing departments
• Engage across the wider OIEG network keeping informed and engaging with company-wide initiatives
• Travel as required within the APC region and potentially to the UK from time to time to support in training events, university partnership, centre quality assurance exercises and events

Legal status

• Appropriate DBS disclosure or Equivalent
• Eligibility to work in and travel freely across APAC

Qualifications

• A relevant bachelor’s degree or master’s degree
• Sales, CRM or other commercial training (Desirable)

Experience and knowledge

• Significant experience in international education business development, partnerships or student recruitment.
• Proven experience developing institutional partnerships.
• Proven track record of meeting revenue and growth targets.
• Experience working within Higher Education, pathway education, transnational education (TNE), international recruitment or education franchising.
• Experience managing education agents and recruitment channels.
• Experience negotiating commercial agreements and contracts.
• International Foundation programmes.
• International Year One pathways.
• Pre-Master's programmes.
• International student recruitment markets.
• Education agency networks.
• Transnational Education (TNE) models.
• Franchise and partnership structures.
• APAC education sector landscape.
• Existing network across APAC higher education markets. (Desirable)
• Experience working with pathway providers. (Desirable)
• Experience developing franchise or articulation partnerships. (Desirable)
• Knowledge of Chinese and/or Southeast Asian education sectors. (Desirable)
• Additional regional language skills.(Desirable)

Skills and Abilities/Personal qualities

• Understanding of the higher education environment
• Positive / can-do approach
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Excellent communication skills, oral & written
• Results Driven
• Commercial Acumen
• Relationship Building
• Strategic Thinking
• Negotiation & Influencing
• Customer Focus
• Entrepreneurial Mindset
• Cultural Awareness
• Resilience
• Accountability