Business Development Manager
A Business Development Manager drives growth and strategic partnerships for a higher education holding company, identifying new opportunities, expanding market presence, and building relationships across the education sector. This is a sample job description from Excelon Associates that you can adapt as a template for your own hire.
What does a Business Development Manager in higher education do?
The Business Development Manager plays a critical role in driving growth and strategic partnerships for a higher education-focused holding company. The role identifies new business opportunities, expands market presence, and fosters relationships with key stakeholders across the education sector, leveraging market insights and industry trends to develop and execute strategies aligned with the company’s mission and growth objectives.
It is a growth-focused commercial role within the higher education sector, working at the intersection of partnerships, acquisitions, and program development.
A higher education holding company owns or operates a group of educational institutions or related businesses. Business development here means identifying and closing partnerships, acquisitions, and program expansions across that portfolio, structured to comply with accreditation standards that protect institutional standing.
What does the Business Development Manager own?
Key responsibilities of a Business Development Manager
- Identify and cultivate new business opportunities within the higher education sector, including partnerships, acquisitions, and strategic initiatives.
- Conduct market research to assess trends, competitor activity, and emerging opportunities aligned with company goals.
- Drive revenue growth through innovative initiatives, program expansion, and partnership development.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with universities, colleges, accreditation bodies, and other relevant institutions.
- Lead the negotiation and structuring of agreements, ensuring favorable terms and long-term sustainability.
- Represent the company at industry conferences, networking events, and strategic meetings to enhance brand presence and opportunities.
- Collaborate with internal teams to align business development strategies with operational capabilities and corporate objectives, and work with marketing and sales on outreach.
- Monitor key performance indicators and provide regular reports to leadership on business development efforts and outcomes.
- Stay informed on regulatory changes, technological advancements, and evolving best practices in higher education.
What qualifications does the role require?
- Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, education administration, or a related field; master’s preferred.
- Five or more years of experience in business development, partnerships, or sales, preferably within higher education or a related industry, with a proven track record of identifying and closing new business.
- Strong understanding of the higher education landscape, including accreditation standards, institutional operations, and emerging trends.
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to analyze data, market trends, and financial reports.
- Self-motivated and results-driven, with proficiency in CRM software and other business development tools.
Why is the Business Development Manager role important?
Growth in higher education increasingly comes through partnerships and new programs rather than organic enrollment alone. The Business Development Manager identifies and closes the opportunities that drive an institution’s expansion, often opening markets the institution could not reach on its own.
Because the role blends commercial instinct with sector knowledge, the strongest managers can spot a viable deal and also judge whether it fits accreditation and academic standards. A partnership that grows revenue but compromises standing is no win, which is what separates this from generic sales.
A hiring note from Excelon
Higher education business development is a specialized blend: commercial drive plus genuine fluency in how institutions and accreditors actually work. Through our higher education practice, we look for closers who understand accreditation and academic operations, since a strong salesperson without sector knowledge tends to structure partnerships that create compliance problems later.
A partnership that grows revenue but compromises standing is no win.
Related sample job descriptions
Business Development Manager: frequently asked questions
What does a Business Development Manager in higher education do?
A Business Development Manager at a higher education holding company identifies new business opportunities, expands market presence, and builds relationships with institutions and partners. The role drives revenue growth through partnerships, acquisitions, and strategic initiatives.
What qualifications does the role require?
This sample role requires a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, education administration, or a related field (master’s preferred) and five or more years of experience in business development, partnerships, or sales, preferably within higher education.
What is a higher education holding company?
A higher education holding company owns or operates a group of educational institutions or related businesses. Business development at this level focuses on partnerships, acquisitions, and program expansion across the portfolio.
Why is accreditation knowledge important for this role?
Partnerships and program expansion in higher education must comply with accreditation standards. A Business Development Manager needs to understand these standards to structure agreements that protect the institution’s standing.
Why is this role important?
Growth in higher education increasingly comes through partnerships and new programs rather than organic enrollment alone. The Business Development Manager identifies and closes the opportunities that drive an institution’s expansion.
Hiring a Business Development Manager?
Excelon Associates recruits business development managers, partnership leaders, and growth professionals for higher education institutions and holding companies across the United States through our higher education recruitment practice. Retained executive search since 2007, headquartered in Asheville, NC, with offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, FL.
More Sample Job Descriptions
Templates you can adapt for your own roles.