Regional Director, Middle East

Harvard Business Publishing (HBP) – the leading destination for innovative management thinking. We reach lifelong learners to improve the practice of management in a changing world. This mission inspires each of us to unlock the leader in everyone – including you!

The opportunity

About Organization:

At Harvard Business Impact, we are passionate about excellence in business education. We partner with Higher Education institutions, educators and students around the world to deliver best-in-class learning experiences that develop leaders who are ready for a changing world.  We provide cases, simulations, articles, online courses, and emerging AI-enabled learning tools to higher education institutions worldwide. We support faculty and program leads through pedagogical support, teaching advice, and curriculum guidance to help them create dynamic and powerful learning moments that students will remember long after they leave the classroom. 

Position Overview:

Harvard Business Impact is seeking a dynamic and experienced Regional Director to lead and expand our presence across the Middle East higher education sector. This role calls for an accomplished commercial and relationship leader who can act as a player-coach—personally driving strategic opportunities while leading and developing a small regional team.

The Regional Director will own the regional strategy and performance for the Middle East, building trusted relationships internally and externally, orchestrating complex multi-stakeholder engagements, and collaborating across global teams. As the senior representative of Harvard Business Impact in the region, the Regional Director will play a critical role in shaping regional strategy, strengthening partnerships with leading institutions, and ensuring strong execution aligned with global priorities.

The Regional Director must be comfortable engaging at the highest levels—including chancellors, vice-chancellors, presidents, deans, senior government officials, and board-level decision makers—to support our expansion across the Middle East.

This role requires an entrepreneurial mindset, strong consultative selling expertise, and a passion for education, including the ability to advise institutions navigating rapid change in teaching, learning, and educational leadership, particularly the growing role of artificial intelligence in higher education. This is an opportunity to lead Harvard Business Impact’s growth in the Middle East and shape the future of higher education in the region.

The Regional Director will work closely with the Senior Director EMEA & APAC to shape regional growth strategy, expand market presence, and achieve revenue targets within the higher education sector.

What you'll do 

Regional Leadership & Market Development

• Own and drive Harvard Business Impact’s growth across the Middle East region, identifying strategic opportunities and building long-term institutional partnerships

• Build and manage relationships with senior academic leaders and government stakeholders, including chancellors, presidents, deans, and ministry officials

• Develop and maintain a strong pipeline of partnerships and position HBI as a trusted long-term partner for universities navigating digital transformation and AI adoption

• Lead, mentor, and support a small regional team, fostering accountability, collaboration and alignment with global strategy

Sales Strategy & Strategic Engagement

• Develop and execute the regional sales strategy to achieve revenue targets and expand HBI’s institutional footprint

• Lead complex consultative engagements with universities and government institutions, aligning HBI’s solutions—including cases, simulations, articles, and digital learning offerings—to institutional needs

• Guide institutions through the full partnership journey, from initial engagement and solution design to negotiation and long-term collaboration

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Market Insight

• Partner with global teams across marketing, product, and customer success to ensure coordinated engagement and delivery of value to institutions

• Monitor market trends, institutional priorities, and competitive dynamics to inform strategy and provide insights to internal leadership

• Represent Harvard Business Impact at key regional conferences, academic forums, and industry events to strengthen relationships and generate new opportunities.

Reporting & Strategic Alignment

• Provide regular updates on regional performance, pipeline development, and market insights to senior leadership

• Ensure strong alignment between regional activities and HBI’s global strategy through transparent communication and collaboration

What you’ll bring 

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in business development, partnerships, or commercial leadership within education, publishing, professional services, or related sectors

• Proven track record managing complex institutional sales cycles and building long-term partnerships with universities or government stakeholders

• Experience developing and executing regional growth strategies

• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships with senior academic leaders, institutional executives, and government stakeholders

• Entrepreneurial mindset and ability to operate independently in a regional leadership role

• Experience working within complex, hierarchical environments and negotiating high-value partnerships

• Ability to operate as a player-coach, balancing hands-on engagement with leadership and development of a regional team

• Strong collaboration and stakeholder-management skills

• Growth mindset, adaptability, and intellectual curiosity

• Deep understanding of Middle Eastern business culture and engagement practices

• Familiarity with higher-education systems and the evolving landscape of digital and active learning solutions

• Interest in the impact of artificial intelligence and digital transformation in higher education

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

• Proficiency in Arabic or another regional language is highly desirable

• Willingness to travel within the Middle East region (approximately 50%)

What we offer

As a mission-driven global company, Harvard Business Publishing is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion, trust, and engagement where everyone is welcome, valued, respected, and feels they belong. In addition to a competitive compensation and benefits package, we offer meaningful programs focused on career development and employee wellness, such as education reimbursement and early-release Summer Fridays!

HBP is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.