At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead new business strategies and drive growth for B2O clients in education and government sectors.
- Company: Join the British Council, a global leader in education and cultural connections.
- Benefits: Enjoy 32 days annual leave, volunteering days, and a competitive pension scheme.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by expanding our English and Examinations business portfolio.
- Qualifications: Proven sales experience and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40179 - 47410 £ per year.
The Head of New Business Development is responsible for defining and delivering the regional new business development strategy for Business to Organisation (B2O) clients across education, government and corporate sectors.
Working closely with the Regional Business Development Director and B2O geography directors, you will lead the development of the regional pipeline strategy, establish business development priorities and oversee the implementation of go-to-market plans that drive sustainable growth and achievement of new business targets.
As both a strategic leader and individual contributor, you will lead a team of Business Development Managers while actively pursuing high-value opportunities, building relationships with prospective clients, and supporting conversion of opportunities into sustainable partnerships.
The role plays a critical part in expanding the British Council's English and Examinations (E&E) business portfolio, strengthening market presence and delivering growth through strategic sales, lead generation and tender opportunities.
Role Accountabilities
You will define and oversee the implementation of regional business development strategies, ensuring alignment with commercial priorities and business growth objectives.
You will work closely with sales, account management and marketing teams to identify target markets, develop lead generation plans, manage sales pipelines and drive conversion of new opportunities.
The role is responsible for identifying and engaging prospective clients, qualifying opportunities, supporting tender responses and nurturing prospects through the sales cycle to successful conversion.
You will also ensure that marketing activity, sales campaigns and business development initiatives are aligned to agreed growth targets and deliver measurable results.
You will lead and develop a geographically dispersed team of Business Development Managers, setting performance expectations, monitoring KPIs, providing coaching and supporting professional development.
You will oversee CRM governance, reporting and business intelligence activities to ensure the effective use of customer and pipeline data, while maintaining strong relationships with internal stakeholders across regional, global and market teams.
The role also requires promoting compliance with agreed sales processes, supporting the implementation of the global sales operating model and driving continuous improvement in lead generation, prospect engagement and opportunity conversion.
Essential
- University degree or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline.
- Established and proven sales experience, including experience in outbound B2O sales.
- Experience leading and managing business development or sales teams.
- Experience managing geographically dispersed or remote teams.
- Strong business development, prospecting and negotiation skills.
- Experience developing and implementing sales or lead generation strategies.
- Familiarity with Salesforce or similar CRM and prospecting tools.
- Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
- Experience using sales and pipeline reporting to drive performance and business growth.
- Ability to analyse market and customer data to identify opportunities and improve conversion rates.
- Written and verbal proficiency in English at C1 level.
- Local language proficiency at C2 level, written and spoken.
Desirable
- Sales, Business Development qualification.
- B2O sales development experience within education and government sectors.
- Solution-selling experience within large sectors such as financial services, media, pharmaceuticals, tourism or government.
- B2O marketing experience.
- Experience managing tender-based business opportunities and procurement processes.
We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide.
For 90 years we have shaped brighter futures through education, arts, culture, language, and creativity.
Working with people in over 200 countries and territories, we are on the ground in more than 100 countries.
We connect.
We inspire., A connected and trusted UK in a more connected and trusted world.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community as we believe that a diverse workforce gives added depth to our work.
The British Council is a Disability Confident Employer.
The Disability Confident scheme helps challenge attitudes, increase understanding of disability and ensure staff are drawn from the widest possible pool of talent.
We guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum role requirements.
We welcome discussions about specific requirements or adjustments to enable participation and engagement in our work and activities.
Safeguarding Statement
The British Council is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults who we work with.
We believe that all children and adults everywhere in the world deserve to live in safe environments and have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment and exploitation as set out in article 19, UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child) 1989.
Appointment to positions where there is direct involvement with vulnerable groups will be dependent on thorough checks being completed in line with legal requirements and with the British Council's Safeguarding policies for Adults and Children.
- Contract Duration: Indefinite
- Location: UK (London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast)
- Pay band: 8/E, 40,179 - 47,410 (Plus an additional 3,300 per annum - London Market Allowance if you are based in the London area only)
Benefits for the UK include, but are not limited to
- 32 days annual leave, in addition to public holidays
- 3 days volunteering leave
- Career average defined benefit pension scheme
- An unrivalled opportunity for you to get to use all the experience you’ve built up working in and/or leading global organisations to support us in building trust across the world.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Head of New Business Development in City of London employer: The British Council
The British Council is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises collaboration and innovation in the heart of Stratford, London. With a strong commitment to employee development and a hybrid working model, staff enjoy a supportive environment that fosters growth and inclusivity, making it an ideal place for those passionate about making a meaningful impact through education and cultural exchange.
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of New Business Development in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In the business intelligence field, showcasing your analytical skills is a must. Make sure your CV includes relevant experience with data analysis tools, programming languages like SQL or Python, and any projects where you've interpreted complex data sets to drive business decisions.
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✨Portfolio of Projects
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