Business Development Manager - Franchise Growth

Gems Education UAE; Dubai; On-site; AED 312,480 - 502,200; Full time

Job summary

Gems Education UAE is looking for a Business Development Manager - Franchise Growth in Dubai, responsible for expanding their franchise footprint. This strategic role involves building partnerships, managing franchisee relationships, and supporting student enrolment across markets.

The ideal candidate has a bachelor’s degree along with 8-10 years of relevant experience in business development and education management. A Master’s degree is a plus. The role offers a full-time position with a competitive salary range of 28,000 – 45,000 AED.

Qualifications

• 8 to 10 years of progressive experience in partnerships, business development, or franchise growth.
• Proven track record of managing complex multi-stakeholder deals.
• Fluency in English; Arabic fluency is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Define and support the franchise growth strategy for GEMS School Management.
• Develop long-term market expansion plans and recruit qualified franchisees.
• Monitor franchise network performance and recommend strategies for improvement.

Skills

Business development

Franchise growth

Education Management

Strategic partnerships

Market expansion

Deal negotiation

Market research

Financial modelling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Education, or a related field

Master's degree such as MBA or equivalent (desirable)

Tools

Monday CRM

Job description

About the Role

Business Development Manager - Franchise Growth in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a senior Education Management role for a commercially strong business development professional who can expand GEMS School Management's franchise footprint, build strategic partnerships, manage franchisee relationships, and support student enrolment growth across new and existing markets.

Job Details

Country: United Arab Emirates

City: Dubai

Industry: Education Management

Function: Business Development

Salary: 28,000 – 45,000 AED (estimated range; final offer to be confirmed with the employer)

Job Type: Full‑time

Role Context

The Business Development Manager - Franchise Growth reports directly to the CEO GSM and works closely with corporate leadership, franchise owners, school groups, government stakeholders, and institutional partners. The role combines franchise expansion strategy, market intelligence, partnership development, pipeline management, operational consistency, governance, and brand representation.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and support the franchise growth strategy and expansion framework for GEMS School Management.
• Develop long‑term market expansion plans and identify priority regions, school groups, investors, and franchise opportunities.
• Recruit qualified franchisees and partners who align with GEMS Education standards, values, commercial goals, and operating expectations.
• Act as the primary liaison between corporate leadership and franchise owners to support communication, performance, and strategic alignment.
• Monitor franchise network performance and recommend strategies to improve profitability, student enrolment, operational consistency, and brand strength.
• Conduct market research to identify education demand, competitor activity, regulatory conditions, partnership potential, and market entry opportunities.
• Lead outreach to schools, school groups, government entities, institutional partners, and potential franchise operators.
• Build and manage a qualified business development pipeline in Monday CRM with clear stages, probabilities, next actions, decision timelines, and expected value.
• Prepare monthly executive‑ready reports, board packs, market updates, risk summaries, and decision papers for senior leadership.
• Represent GEMS School Management at priority conferences, government roundtables, partner meetings, and industry events.
• Secure speaker slots, strategic meetings, and partnership discussions that increase GSM visibility and commercial opportunity.
• Work with marketing teams to develop targeted narratives, case studies, commercial collateral, and partner materials aligned with the ASPIRE framework.
• Oversee onboarding of new franchise locations through coordinated marketing, training, communications, and operational readiness programmes.
• Implement due diligence frameworks covering counterparties, ESG, safeguarding, sanctions, data privacy, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain risk registers for major pursuits with clear mitigations, decision gates, accountability, and executive visibility.
• Support negotiation of franchise agreements, partnership terms, operating expectations, and commercial structures.
• Ensure franchise agreements, market development activities, and operating models comply with corporate policies and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with internal leadership, finance, legal, marketing, operations, school management, and governance teams to progress strategic opportunities.
• Build strong executive‑level relationships and maintain a professional, collaborative approach across all stakeholder groups.
• Follow GEMS Education safeguarding expectations, governance procedures, professional standards, and corporate policies at all times.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Education, or a related field.
• 8 to 10 years of progressive experience in partnerships, business development, franchise growth, market expansion, or strategic growth roles.
• Experience in education, public‑private partnerships, real estate development, school operations, government partnerships, or impact sectors is highly valuable.
• Proven track record of originating and closing complex multi‑stakeholder deals with governments, institutional partners, investors, or large operators.
• Advanced financial literacy, including profit and loss modelling, scenario analysis, investment cases, market forecasting, and business case development.
• Strong commercial judgement with the ability to assess opportunities, risks, returns, market readiness, and long‑term strategic value.
• Excellent negotiation skills with the confidence to manage large deals and executive‑level relationships.
• Strong presentation, communication, stakeholder management, and board reporting capability.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical ability, problem‑solving skills, and the confidence to challenge assumptions.
• Proficiency in CRM systems, executive reporting, pipeline tracking, and commercial performance monitoring.
• Fluency in English required.
• Master's degree such as MBA, Public Policy, Education Leadership, or equivalent desirable.
• Fluency in Arabic desirable.
• Experience across international markets desirable.
• Familiarity with school operations, regulatory approvals, procurement processes, franchise governance, and education compliance an advantage.
• A UK‑enhanced DBS or equivalent police clearance required for appointment.

Skills Set

• Business development
• Franchise growth
• Education Management
• Strategic partnerships
• Market expansion
• Franchise strategy
• Corporate franchising
• School management
• Partnership acquisition
• Executive stakeholder management
• Government partnerships
• Institutional partnerships
• Public‑private partnerships
• Deal origination
• Deal negotiation
• Market research
• Market forecasting
• Financial modelling
• Profit and loss modelling
• Scenario analysis
• Investment cases
• Business case development
• Pipeline management
• Monday CRM
• Executive reporting
• Board packs
• Risk registers
• Due diligence
• ESG awareness
• Safeguarding compliance
• Data privacy
• Regulatory compliance
• Franchise agreements
• Brand standards
• Conference representation
• Thought leadership
• Partner onboarding
• Strategic communication

Why Join Us

This opportunity gives a Business Development Manager - Franchise Growth the chance to influence high‑value expansion within Dubai's Education Management sector while working with one of the region's most recognised education groups. The role offers direct exposure to executive leadership, international market development, franchise strategy, complex partnerships, government engagement, and commercial growth across the GEMS School Management network. It is a strong opportunity for a strategic business development leader who wants to scale education brands, build meaningful partnerships, and contribute to long‑term student enrolment growth.

About the Company

GEMS Education is a leading education provider in the UAE with a broad network of schools and education services across Dubai and the wider region. Through its school management, franchise, and partnership models, GEMS Education supports high‑quality learning environments, operational excellence, safeguarding standards, and scalable education solutions. The organisation works with school communities, partners, and stakeholders to expand access to trusted education while maintaining strong brand standards, student outcomes, and professional governance.