Business Development Lead - Education

edt; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A global education charity is seeking a Business Development Lead (Education) to drive high-value educational opportunities worldwide. The role involves leading multi-disciplinary teams to deliver bids, managing client relationships, and developing strategic growth initiatives. Ideal candidates will have strong communication skills and a proven track record in securing education contracts. This position offers hybrid working and a competitive salary, alongside generous benefits.

Benefits

30 days holiday plus bank holidays

2 days of paid volunteering per year

Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

Discounted gym memberships

Health care cash plan

Retail discounts

Cycle to work scheme

Wellbeing App

Access to training portal

Qualifications

• Proven success in securing high-value Education contracts through high-quality bids.
• Outstanding ability to design fit-for-purpose solutions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.

Responsibilities

• Lead the pursuit of global education opportunities.
• Implement a global growth strategy for Education.
• Develop and maintain client relationships globally.

Skills

Proven success in securing high-value Education contracts

Strategic and creative thinking

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Market analysis and stakeholder management

Leadership and people management skills

Education

Relevant postgraduate qualification

Job description

About the role

Job title: Business Development Lead (Education)

Location: Regional edt office with flexibility for hybrid working

Are you ready to lead the pursuit of global education opportunities and drive impactful change?

Edt is seeking a Business Development Lead (Education) to oversee and secure high-value, profitable, and strategically important education opportunities worldwide, with a particular focus on new opportunities in MENA and the UK. Collaborating with the Head of Business Development and cross-functional teams, you will lead the full opportunity lifecycle, from opportunity qualification and pre-positioning to successful transition to contract mobilisation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with senior colleagues across edt to develop and implement a global growth strategy for Education, supported by strategic market analysis.
• Decide which Education opportunities to pursue, in line with our strategy and in collaboration with senior colleagues.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams to deliver high-quality Education bids and proposals, including leading solution design, bid/proposal writing, commercial submissions, and client presentations.
• Develop and maintain key Education client and partner relationships globally.
• Support contract mobilisations.

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Proven success in securing high-value Education contracts through the development of high-quality bids and proposals.
• Outstanding ability to think strategically and creatively to design fit-for-purpose solutions that meet commercial and client expectations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, including specifically bid and proposal writing.
• Expertise in market analysis, strategy development, and stakeholder management.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.

Desirable:

• Experience working in a Business Development role for projects/programmes to be delivered in MENA and/or the UK.
• Knowledge of the Education funding landscapes in MENA and/or UK.
• Relevant postgraduate qualification.

Additional Information: This role may require travel, including in the UK, Middle East and Africa, and working outside standard hours during peak periods.

Please note that we are unable to offer sponsorship for this position.

Deadline for applications: Sunday 2 November 2025. Please note, we reserve the right to close our vacancies early if sufficient applications are received).

Interview details: Interviews to be held week commencing Monday 10 November 2025.

How to apply: To be considered for this vacancy, applicants are required to complete and submit a fully completed application form through our website.

Salary & Benefits

Salary: £64,000 per annum

Benefits include:

• 30 days holiday plus bank holidays (pro rota)
• 2 days of paid volunteering per year (pro rota)
• Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Discounted gym memberships
• Health care cash plan
• Retail discounts
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Wellbeing App
• Access to training portal to help support your own CPD

Edt is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults whom we work with and come into contact with around the world. All applicants are subject to thorough screening and successful candidates are subject to the relevant level of criminal record checks with national police authorities or the UK’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This will be at minimum a basic DBS check.

Edt is a proud Disability Confident Leader. We take practical steps to ensure that disability inclusion is not only part of our values but part of our everyday actions. We are committed to creating a working environment where disabled employees are supported, valued, and empowered to thrive in their role. If you are disabled or require specific adjustments during the application process, please do let us know how we can support you.

We understand that artificial intelligence (AI) tools (such as ChatGPT) can be helpful when applying for jobs – especially for those who require additional support during the recruitment process. However, while you may decide to use AI tools for ideas or pointers, we request that you do not rely heavily on them when answering questions. We are looking for responses that are personal to you, including details and examples of your abilities and work experience to date, and we consider copying and pasting AI-generated responses to be a misuse of AI tools. Likewise, we do not use AI-driven recruitment screening software, because we value authenticity and prefer to make personal connections with our candidates. If you have used AI to support your application – including in emails and responses to questions – please disclose this on your application form. If you would like clarification on how AI can be used in your application to edt, please contact the Recruitment team via the edt website.

About the organisation

Education Development Trust is an education charity that exists to transform lives by improving education around the world. We work collaboratively with national and local governments, schools and other partners to design and deliver sustainable solutions to improve education.

To find out more about our work in the UK please click here