Regional Manager - New Business (Schools English) South India - Chennai - 6184

Job Title: Regional Manager – Acquisition – South India (Schools English)

Region: South Asia

Department: Schools English

Reports to: Head – Schools English, South Asia

Location: Chennai

Contract Type: Permanent

Role Type: Individual Contributor

Purpose of the Role

To lead new business development efforts for the Schools English portfolio in South Asia, with a focus on identifying, acquiring, and establishing Authorised Centres, Cambridge English Education Partners and Preparation Centres in partnership with new schools and school groups. This role will play a key part in expanding market presence and accelerating growth in priority geographies.

Key Responsibilities

New Business Development

• Identify and prioritise high-potential schools, school groups, and educational networks for business development opportunities.
• Develop and execute tailored outreach strategies to engage prospective partners and promote Schools English products and services.
• Deliver compelling presentations and proposals that align with customer needs and strategic objectives.
• Deliver on KPIs for new Authorised Centres, CEEPs and Preparation centres and manage the first delivery cycle before handing it to Key Accounts team.
• Deliver on the GTM strategy for ILA and A&A solutions.
  
  

Pipeline Generation & Conversion

• Build and maintain a strong and well-qualified sales pipeline through direct outreach, referrals, events, and marketing campaigns.
• Lead the end-to-end conversion process — from lead qualification to agreement finalisation — ensuring a smooth handover to account management teams post-completion of the first cycle.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure timely and high-quality responses to queries, and school requirements.
  
  

Market Engagement

• Act as the primary representative of Schools English for new business conversations with school leaders, education boards, and other influencers.
• Attend and speak at education forums, exhibitions, and networking events to raise awareness and visibility of Schools English offerings.
  
  

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Work closely with Marketing to co-develop lead generation campaigns and targeted promotional material.
• Liaise with Exams, Academic, and Operations teams to align on product delivery, timelines, and support structures for new schools.
• Partner with other regional teams to coordinate outreach and share market intelligence.
• Work closely with the K12 and CIE teams on ILA and A&A lead conversions and GTM
  
  

Data, Reporting & Insights

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of outreach, pipeline, and conversion data in the CRM system.
• Provide regular updates and performance reports to the Head of Schools English, including market insights and recommendations.
• Use data analytics to evaluate the effectiveness of outreach efforts and inform future strategy.
  
  

Qualifications & Experience

Essential:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Education, Marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in business development or sales, preferably in the education or B2B services sector.
• Demonstrated success in acquiring new clients or partners, especially in complex or high-value contexts.
• Strong understanding of the school education ecosystem in India, and ideally across South Asia.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
  
  

Desirable:

• Experience working with schools offering international curricula (e.g., Cambridge, IB).
• Knowledge of the English language learning and exams landscape.
• Familiarity with the Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh education markets.
• Proficiency in CRM tools like Salesforce or Dynamics.
• MBA or advanced degree is a plus.
  
  

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Sales & Prospecting
• Relationship Building & Influence
• Customer Engagement & Insight
• Proposal Development & Pitching
• Self-Management & Initiative
• Strong Presentation & Communication
• Collaboration & Cross-functional Alignment
• Commercial & Market Awareness
  
  

Travel Requirements

• Regular travel across India and priority markets