Senior Vice President Higher Education

Studyportals; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 60,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational platform is seeking a Senior VP Sales for the MENA region to enhance connections with top universities and grow their international student body. The role requires at least 8 years of experience in the higher education industry, proven business development skills, and fluency in Arabic. The ideal candidate will have a strong network within senior university contacts and a track record of surpassing targets. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and bonus structure within a fun and dynamic work environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus schemes

Home working options

Qualifications

• At least 8 years of proven records in Higher Education.
• Strong network of senior contacts within universities in MENA.
• Experience in project delivery within the higher education.

Responsibilities

• Connect with universities to help diversify their international student body.
• Develop new clients via referrals and networking.
• Optimize the commercial cycle from lead generation to contract negotiations.

Skills

Business development

Client relationship management

Persuasive communication

Networking

Fluency in Arabic

Job description

Overview

Studyportals has disrupted the way universities all around the world recruit international students. In 2025, our websites received c. 50 million unique users. Students around the world use our platform, searching for their best matching education. At the same time, we help educators diversify their (international) student population. This makes us the most popular study choice platform worldwide.

As a Senior VP Sales in the MENA region, you will be the link between our millions of users and Higher Education providers. You see opportunities when they arise and do not give up until you reach your goals. You feel comfortable speaking with prominent university representatives (e.g., Deans, Rectors) and are excited about helping our clients to reach their ambitious goals. If this sounds like you, then this is your opportunity to utilize your business development skills to the full and engage the network you have developed throughout your career.

Studyportals\' mission is to bring transparency to the wealth of study opportunities in the World’s Higher Education Market.

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What you will be doing

• Connecting with top universities to help them diversify and grow their international student body, as well as providing them challenging insights on international student mobility and ways to grow quality and retention of their international cohort.
• Multi-level business development with a focus on connecting and building trust with the board and decision-making units of top institutions resulting in multi-year partnerships.
• Proactively developing new clients, by using referrals and networking as well as reaching out directly.
• Optimizing the complete commercial cycle: from lead generation, attending and scheduling (face-to-face & virtual) meetings up to contract negotiations and evaluation.
• Reporting directly to the UKI/EMEA Business Unit Director and indirectly to the Global Commercial Director.
• Being a key driver in a fast-growing company that delivers sustainable added value in the world’s Higher Education market.
• Working full-time in a role that offers a competitive salary and a competitive bonus scheme.
• Enjoying a company environment that is serious about having fun with everything we do, with home working and regular engagement with a high-performance team.

Qualifications

• At least 8 years of proven commercial record of accomplishments within the Higher Education industry, eager to quickly capture the market (Higher Education experience is required).
• A strong and sustained track record of delivering on and surpassing targets.
• Strong network of senior contacts within universities within the MENA region.
• Fluency in Arabic.
• Positive and self-disciplined high achiever with a sense of urgency and organization.
• Experience working for a management consultancy or strategic advisory firm in the MENA region with university and government clients.
• Experience in project delivery, business development and client relationship management within the higher education or consultancy sector.
• Strong understanding of the MENA higher education markets and competitive landscape, including government higher education strategy.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly across the MENA region.
• Result driven with persuasive communication and listening skills; assertive and optimistic.
• Energetic and persistent, with an entrepreneurial attitude dedicated to results and success.
• Open team player – independent yet supportive – thriving in an entrepreneurial atmosphere.
• Eagerness to learn, grow and share experience alongside a young and dynamic company, with ambition to quickly grow in role and responsibilities.