Director of Global Business Development

The University of London

The University of London is a leading UK provider of distance and digital education internationally, offering programmes to 45,000 students in 190 countries around the world. Although proudly rooted in London, our community and impact are global.

We are a national leader in the humanities, and we promote their value to society and the economy through knowledge creation and exchange.

We are also a federation of 17 world class higher education institutions, with collaboration at the heart of our ethos. The University of London federation is a collective community of more than 240,000 learners and 50,000 staff, delivering world-leading research across all disciplines.

Our passion for increasing access to education and mobilising the collective power and expertise of the federation is central to our ability to transform lives around the world and address the global challenges of the future.

The Role

Director of Global Business Development

The Director of Global Business Development leads the University of London’s activities to drive global business, develop the University’s teaching centre network, drive enrolment growth, and support student success across the organisation.

This role works closely with leaders across the University of London to drive the business development and outreach plans in support of enrolment and financial targets and to ensure satisfaction across the teaching centre and Federation Members across Worldwide activities. This pivotal role focuses on using data to drive outreach decisions related to regional expansion and support for the University of London’s partners to build capacity, expand global access and support student success.

The primary objectives are to identify new markets using market insights; to build existing markets; to forge new B2B relationships, drive growth, build an account management function and to establish new regional approaches in collaboration with other stakeholders.

Overseeing new business, teaching centre support and account management, the role will involve establishing new models and guiding partner support to ensure mutual success of global partnerships.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with the Head of Market Insights and Director of Marketing to conduct an evaluation of current markets and growth opportunities and develop a strategy for new business development.
• Work with internal groups and key stakeholders to agree enrolment targets across the distance portfolio.
• Coordinate and ensure a high level of quality across relationships assuring adherence to internal and external regulatory standards of practice.
• Establish a new business development outreach strategy to support strategic regional growth working collaboratively with colleagues.
• Regularly update stakeholders on competitor strategies, programme offerings, and marketing approaches and makes recommendations for next steps.
• Stay current on evolving global consumer behaviours and trends in education, technology, and online learning and make recommendations related to impact on trends to the University of London.
• Forge new B2B relationships to create a new recruitment funnel for key programmes.
• Collaborate with marketing, finance, and external partners to develop an account management function with the goal of ensuring a concierge approach to communication with responsibility for performance, collaboration and satisfaction coordinated across the service. Oversee team of business development and account management professionals. Complete an environmental scan highlighting areas of opportunity, working collaboratively with marketing, online education, development, governance and partnership, research and business intelligence units. Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including academic departments, admissions, and technology teams, aligning outreach with University objectives.
• Collaborate with external partners as agreed, including with Federation Member planning and insight teams, Programme Directors and marketing teams.
• Participate in global opportunities for speaking, outreach and publications to help extend the brand of the University of London.
• Prepare and deliver insightful reports and presentations for University leadership and federation member partners, spotlighting key market trends, competitive analysis, and identifying opportunities for growth and improvement.

This role works closely with the Director of Online Education, Director of Strategic Communications, Marketing and Recruitment, Directors of Student Services, Director of Student Operations, Business Intelligence and Planning functions, Development, as well as Governance and Partnerships.

The role requires extensive global travel. 

Further information

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit your cover letter and CV (by clicking ‘apply for job’ at the bottom of this page) before the closing date at midnight on 25 March 2024.

Questions about the opportunity can be directed to holly.shiflett@london.ac.uk, Interim Director, University of London Worldwide.

The University reserves the right to close the vacancy earlier than the published end date should it receive sufficient applications to warrant earlier shortlisting.

The University currently operates a Hybrid Working framework involving a mix of working remotely and in the office. Typically, the majority of employees will be able to agree to work remotely for up to 60% of their working week, role dependent, however will be required to attend on specific days for training or team meetings.

The University of London is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive working environment where we can all be ourselves and succeed. We particularly encourage applications from members of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities as this group is currently under-represented at all levels within the University. All appointments will be made on merit, based on the criteria identified in the job description. 

Pursuing excellence in education and equal opportunities.

www.london.ac.uk