Business Development Senior Manager - Higher Education

TN United Kingdom; Manchester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Business Development Senior Manager for Higher Education in Manchester. The role involves building client relationships, developing sales pipelines, and leading market strategies in the education sector. Ideal candidates will have extensive knowledge of the UK Higher Education landscape and strong sales experience.

Qualifications

• 6+ years in sales or client-facing roles.
• Strong relationship-building skills at senior levels.

Responsibilities

• Leading Go To Market strategy in Higher Education.
• Managing CRM and pipeline processes effectively.
• Coaching and promoting best sales practices.

Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Organizational Skills

Communication Skills

Relationship-Building

Education

UK Higher Education Sector Knowledge

Job description

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Business Development Senior Manager - Higher Education, Manchester

Client:

KPMG

Location:

Manchester, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

EU work permit required: Yes

Job Reference:

7e152273f28b

Job Views:

4

Posted:

12.05.2025

Expiry Date:

26.06.2025

Job Description:

KPMG operates on a multi-disciplinary basis, leveraging insights to provide solutions and services that meet clients' business objectives and address key challenges.

The Business Development Senior Manager (BDM) roles focus on building and maintaining client relationships, originating opportunities, and winning profitable work, with access to sales practices and guidance through the wider BD community.

This role is aligned with the Infrastructure, Government and Health (IGH) sector, specifically within the Education, Skills and Productivity (ESP) team, focusing on Higher Education.

The ESP team is part of KPMG’s Public Sector practice, covering all aspects of education from schools to higher education and government, aiming to grow advisory revenue in the sector.

We seek to recruit a senior manager dedicated to Higher Education to accelerate pipeline development and conversion, leveraging our established relationships and understanding in the sector.

Role and responsibilities

You will join a leadership team led by the Head of Education, Skills and Productivity, working alongside partners and directors to translate national strategies into regional growth plans, considering local client issues and policy impacts.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading our Go To Market strategy in Higher Education and pipeline development
• Targeting specific universities and expanding contacts with Client Partners
• Launching new advisory products and developing sales pipelines
• Enhancing profile through conferences, speaking opportunities, and relationship management
• Managing CRM and pipeline processes effectively
• Supporting regional and strategic planning activities
• Qualifying and pursuing opportunities, contributing to proposals
• Coaching and promoting best sales practices for profitable growth

The individual must proactively manage target areas, demonstrating strong leadership, management, and influencing skills, with high attention to detail and follow-through.

Performance metrics include revenue growth, brand enhancement, client relationships, and internal feedback.

Client relationships

• Developing a diverse portfolio of targets and relationships
• Spending 80% of time on sales activities
• Gathering client insights through meetings
• Expanding points of contact and developing new relationships
• Leading relationship development and client engagement activities
• Building relationships with regional influencers and attending events
• Managing sales pipelines and account strategies
• Acting as a role model for sales practices

Knowledge/communication/coaching

• Facilitating cross-functional involvement and communication
• Leveraging internal talent and sharing knowledge
• Mentoring partners and emerging leaders
• Sharing best practices and sector insights
• Providing sales forecasts and maintaining CRM data

Proposals

• Managing tenders and pitch processes, ensuring client perspective and quality responses

Key measures

Metrics include individual and team sales, pipeline, client relationships, and feedback.

Qualifications and skills

• In-depth UK Higher Education sector knowledge, either through experience or consultancy
• 6+ years in sales or client-facing roles, with professional services market understanding
• Strong relationship-building skills at senior levels
• Ability to develop networks quickly and drive market growth
• Proactive, organized, strategic thinker with resilience and flexibility

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills
• Confident speaker to large groups
• Understanding of services and cross-disciplinary approaches