Business Development Executive
Location: Hybrid/London
Type of Contract: Permanent, Full-time or Part-Time
Start Date: ASAP
Salary: Competitive
Who we are: Oxford International
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 ©!
The Business Development team, led by the Chief Development Officer, plays a pivotal role in driving the growth of Oxford International Education Group. The BD team develops new university partnerships for diverse educational products and services, from recruitment, admissions, pathway colleges, to transnational education (TNE). Operating across all business functions, the team actively expands university partnerships, builds strategic relationships with sector bodies and organisations, and leads initiatives to raise the company’s profile within the HE sector.
Job Purpose
The Business Development Executive is a newly created and exciting position to support the Business Development (BD) team in reaching ambitious growth objectives. This role will provide essential project management support to ensure the successful delivery of a diverse and expanding portfolio of new partnerships, adhering to budget, scope, and timeline constraints. The Business Development Officer will engage with multiple stakeholders, including senior and executive-level individuals, to achieve targets and facilitate effective project management. Additionally, the role will involve conducting market research and data analysis to identify potential opportunities, assess risks, and generate comprehensive reports. The successful candidate will also assist in planning and managing events to enhance stakeholder engagement and promote the organisation's profile within the higher education sector.
This role is ideal for someone with prior experience in business development. However, we also welcome applications from recent graduates who have gained some relevant experience through internships, placements, or part-time roles. Additionally, individuals with an Executive Assistant background who are ready to transition into a more commercially focused position.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Business Development Process:
- Support the development of new and existing business opportunities from proposals to decision-making and implementation or exit.
- Generate leads for senior team members through LinkedIn, networking, and social media.
- Conduct initial outreach to potential clients to gauge interest and qualify leads for further engagement.
- Track and report on lead generation activities, ensuring data accuracy and providing insights for continuous improvement.
Administrative Support:
- Collaborate with the BD team and other business functions to manage project groups, including planning, preparation, and logistics for events and site visits.
- Coordinate with the project management team to prepare reports and supporting documentation.
- Monitor progress on defined areas of activity and follow up on actions.
Market Research and Analysis:
- Conduct market research to provide information and intelligence for potential development opportunities and assess risks or changes impacting the existing portfolio.
- Create reports, briefings, and presentations on market trends and insights for both internal and external stakeholders.
- Analyse quantitative and qualitative data from various sources to identify new business opportunities.
Process and System Enhancement:
- Ensure effective processes and systems are in place and continuously improved to enable the BD team and stakeholders to meet objectives.
- Research and implement tools, techniques, resources, and best practices that contribute to a culture of continuous improvement within the team.
Stakeholder Engagement:
- Respond promptly to queries and follow up on actions and requests from internal and external stakeholders.
- Facilitate internal communication within the BD team and support cross-functional engagement and initiatives.
Proposal Writing:
- Assist in developing client proposals and responses to procurement processes.
- Create BD materials and pitches to secure new business opportunities, including presentations, briefs, and marketing materials.
Person Specifications
Legal status
- Eligibility to live and work in the UK; ability to undergo an Enhanced DBS disclosure check or overseas equivalent.
Qualifications
- First degree or equivalent qualification (recent graduates preferred), ideally in Business, Social Sciences, Economics, or Politics.
- Business, Social Sciences, Economics and Politics courses preferred (Desirable)
- A Master’s degree (Desirable)
Experience and knowledge
- Understanding of project management principles and methodologies, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.
- Experience in drafting proposals, reports, and policy briefs.
- Strong communication skills and ability to engage effectively with multiple stakeholders and senior leadership.
- Experience of developing and managing sales tools such as RAGs, business cases
- Experience of building excellent networks with people of diverse cultures and backgrounds.
- Proven experience of succeeding in a fast-paced environment, dealing with multiple projects simultaneously
- Intercultural awareness, experience dealing with culturally sensitive issues, and the ability to adapt quickly to innovative and creative solutions.
- Experience of providing effective administrative support for teams working remotely
- Knowledge of current trends and challenges in the higher education sector. (Desirable)
- Experience in business development and managing sales tools. (Desirable)
- Proficiency in working on international/global projects. (Desirable)
- Experience in providing effective administrative support for remote teams. (Desirable)
Skills and abilities
- Excellent writing skills for analytical reports, market analysis, client proposals.
- Strong IT skills, particularly in MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Teams).
- Analytical skills, including quantitative data analysis.
- Ability to interpret complex data from multiple sources for strategic decision-making.
- Excellent time management and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively.
- Demonstrated problem-solving capabilities.
- Understanding of customer service/account management.
- Project management skills. (Desirable)
- Demonstrated problem-solving skills. (Desirable)
- Understanding of customer service/account management (Desirable)
- Knowledge of another language other than English. (Desirable)
Others
- Flexibility to work non-standard hours, including evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.
- Willingness to travel independently locally
- Budget management. (Desirable)
- Ability to work without supervision; with/without a team. (Desirable)
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.
