The Role
Develop and execute OIDI’s European university recognition and commercial partnership strategy. Build relationships with universities, government agencies, sector bodies, and senior academic stakeholders; secure recognition and adoption of English language and pathway programs; negotiate agreements; manage institutional approval processes; grow existing partnerships; and deliver revenue targets. The role also requires market intelligence, pipeline forecasting, conference representation, extensive European travel, and cross-functional collaboration.
Summary Generated by Built In
Job Purpose
This is a business development role primarily responsible for expanding Oxford International Digital Institute’s presence across Europe by securing institutional recognition and adoption of our English language and pathway portfolio, with a specific remit to drive income.
This position is responsible for shaping OIDI’s university recognition strategy across Europe. The successful candidate will develop long-term partnerships with higher education institutions, government agencies, sector bodies and strategic stakeholders to establish OIDI as a recognised and trusted education partner.
Working closely with the Commercial Director, Partnership, Recruitment and Academic teams and Product specialists, you will identify market opportunities, influence institutional decision-makers and secure recognition of OIDI qualifications that support international student recruitment and progression.
This is a business development role primarily responsible for expanding Oxford International Digital Institute’s presence across Europe by securing institutional recognition and adoption of our English language and pathway portfolio, with a specific remit to drive income.
This position is responsible for shaping OIDI’s university recognition strategy across Europe. The successful candidate will develop long-term partnerships with higher education institutions, government agencies, sector bodies and strategic stakeholders to establish OIDI as a recognised and trusted education partner.
Working closely with the Commercial Director, Partnership, Recruitment and Academic teams and Product specialists, you will identify market opportunities, influence institutional decision-makers and secure recognition of OIDI qualifications that support international student recruitment and progression.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Market Development
- Refine and execute OIDI’s European University Recognition Strategy.
- Identify priority universities and higher education systems for institutional recognition.
- Build long-term market development plans aligned to commercial objectives.
- Identify emerging opportunities resulting from changes in international recruitment, admissions policy and English language requirements.
- Develop country-specific strategies recognising differences in higher education systems across Europe.
University Partnerships
- Identify, engage and secure new university partnerships throughout Europe.
- Build trusted relationships with senior university stakeholders including: Pro Vice Chancellors (International), Directors of International, Admissions Directors, Registrars, Academic Deans and English Language Centre Directors
- Lead consultative discussions around English language recognition and international student preparedness.
- Negotiate commercial partnership agreements and institutional recognition arrangements.
- Develop tailored proposals aligned to institutional internationalisation strategies.
Recognition & Institutional Adoption
- Lead the recognition of OIDI’s portfolio across European universities including: Oxford ELLT, Online Pre-Sessional English, International Foundation Year, Pre-Masters Programme and International Year One
- Managing institutional approval processes.
- Supporting academic due diligence.
- Coordinating recognition documentation.
- Working alongside academic colleagues to address university quality assurance requirements.
- Ensuring successful implementation following approval.
Sector Engagement & Market Influence
- Represent Oxford International Digital Institute across the European higher education community.
- Building relationships with national higher education bodies.
- Engaging with university associations and sector networks.
- Developing relationships with ENIC-NARIC recognition organisations where appropriate.
- Attending and presenting at international education conferences.
- Building OIDI’s profile as a trusted education partner.
Partnership Growth
- Develop account plans for strategic university partners.
- Identify opportunities to expand product adoption across faculties and departments.
- Support universities in maximising student recruitment through OIDI products.
- Ensure high levels of partner satisfaction and retention.
- Work collaboratively within the Partnership team to support partner engagement.
Market Intelligence
- Monitor competitor activity across English language testing, pathways and digital learning.
- Analyse changes in European admissions requirements.
- Track government policy affecting international education.
- Share market intelligence to support future product development and commercial strategy.
- Identify opportunities for innovation and new market entry.
Revenue Generation & Commercial Performance
The Business Development Manager will carry a defined annual revenue target and will be expected to make a direct contribution to the growth of OIDI’s European income. While the primary focus of the role is developing university partnerships and securing recognition of the OIDI portfolio, the successful candidate will be expected to identify and convert commercial opportunities arising from these relationships.
Key expectations include:
- Owning an agreed annual revenue target for the European market, with responsibility for delivering against defined income objectives.
- Building and managing a commercial pipeline of university opportunities that can generate revenue across Oxford ELLT, Online Pre-Sessional English and pathway programmes (IFY, PMP and IY1).
- Identifying opportunities to expand existing university relationships through increased product adoption, student volumes and additional partnership opportunities.
- Converting university recognition and partnership discussions into commercially sustainable agreements and measurable revenue opportunities.
- Maintaining accurate pipeline, forecasting and revenue reporting, providing regular visibility of opportunities, expected income and conversion rates.
- Balancing longer-term strategic university development with a clear focus on generating near- and medium-term income.
- The revenue target will be appropriately sized for a market-development role, recognising the longer sales cycles associated with university partnerships. Performance will therefore be assessed against both revenue generated and the quality and progression of the commercial pipeline, new partnerships secured and longer-term revenue potential created.
Person Specifications
Legal status
- Appropriate DBS disclosure or Equivalent
- Eligibility to work in and travel freely across APAC
Qualifications
- To degree level
Experience and knowledge
- Significant experience developing commercial partnerships within higher education, international education or EdTech.
- Demonstrable success selling or developing partnerships with universities.
- Strong understanding of European higher education systems.
- Experience managing complex consultative sales cycles involving multiple stakeholders.
- Excellent relationship-building and influencing skills at senior executive level.
- Strong commercial negotiation skills.
- Experience creating regional business development strategies.
- Ability to manage a large geographical territory independently.
- Excellent presentation, communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Willingness to travel extensively throughout Europe.
- Experience with English language testing or assessment. (Desirable)
- Experience with university admissions or international recruitment. (Desirable)
- Experience selling pathway programmes or transnational education. (Desirable)
- Existing network of European university contacts. (Desirable)
- Knowledge of institutional recognition processes. (Desirable)
- Experience working with ministries, quality assurance agencies or sector organisations. (Desirable)
- Fluency in one or more European languages. (Desirable)
Skills and Abilities
The Business Development Manager will be measured against:
Strategic
The Business Development Manager will be measured against:
Strategic
- Number of universities recognising Oxford ELLT.
- Number of universities adopting Pre-Sessional English.
- Growth in recognition of IFY, PMP and IY1.
- Number of strategic university partnerships secured.
- Development of priority markets.
Commercial
- Revenue opportunities generated from new partnerships.
- Contract renewal and partner retention.
- Expansion of existing institutional relationships.
Market Development
- Growth of OIDI’s institutional footprint across Europe.
- Engagement with key sector bodies.
- Speaking opportunities and conference participation.
- Quality of market intelligence delivered to the business.
Personal qualities
- Entrepreneurial and commercially minded.
- Strategic and transactional transactional.
- Credible with senior university leaders.
- Curious about higher education policy and market developments.
- Comfortable operating in a consultative sales environment.
- Highly organised and self-motivated.
- Resilient, adaptable and driven by long-term relationship building.
- Collaborative and able to work across multiple internal teams.
- Multilingual, with fluency in at least two languages.
- Willing to travel extensively across Europe.
Disclaimer
This job description is provided as a guide to the role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive description of duties and responsibilities and may be subject to periodic revision.
Oxford International is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Recruitment checks, including checks with past employees, are undertaken in accordance with our Recruitment and Selection policy.
Oxford International is an equal opportunity employer. Every applicant and employee has the same opportunities regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date should we receive a high volume of suitable applications. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised closing date should we receive a high volume of suitable applications. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible.
About
Oxford International Education Group is a renowned institution dedicated to providing exceptional educational experiences to international students. With a global presence and a commitment to academic excellence, we strive to empower students to achieve their full potential and thrive in a dynamic, interconnected world. We are proud of our culture and have recently been officially certified as a Great Place to Work ©!
Skills Required
- Degree-level qualification
- Appropriate DBS disclosure or equivalent
- Eligibility to work in and travel freely across APAC
- Significant experience developing commercial partnerships within higher education, international education, or EdTech
- Demonstrable success selling or developing partnerships with universities
- Strong understanding of European higher education systems
- Experience managing complex consultative sales cycles involving multiple stakeholders
- Excellent senior-level relationship-building and influencing skills
- Strong commercial negotiation skills
- Experience creating regional business development strategies
- Ability to manage a large geographical territory independently
- Excellent presentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- Willingness to travel extensively throughout Europe
- Experience with English language testing or assessment
- Experience with university admissions or international recruitment
- Experience selling pathway programmes or transnational education
- Existing network of European university contacts
- Knowledge of institutional recognition processes
- Experience working with ministries, quality assurance agencies, or sector organisations
- Fluency in one or more European languages
- Fluency in at least two languages
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The Company
What We Do
Oxford International Education Group is a global education platform founded in 1991. It provides academic pathway programs, English language training, and higher education services. The company operates independent boarding schools and international colleges, helping students from over 100 countries access education opportunities through partnerships with universities and institutions worldwide. They focus on delivering quality educational experiences and supporting student progression into higher education and careers.
