Business Development Manager

Institute For Academic Excellence; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Institute For Academic Excellence seeks a senior B2B business development leader to grow our institutional client base across Consulting, Advisory, and Technology Solutions. The role drives end-to-end revenue, develops new higher education markets, and mentors the Marketing Executive team.

You will cultivate relationships with university leaders, manage large proposals, and partner with advisory teams to position services credibly in pitches. Extensive travel is expected.

Qualifications

• MBA preferred in Marketing, Business Administration, or related field.
• 5–8 years of B2B sales/business development experience with exposure to education/academic advisory or EdTech sales.
• Proven track record of exceeding revenue targets and managing enterprise accounts.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end B2B revenue targets across the assigned territory/portfolio.
• Identify and develop new market segments in higher education institutions.
• Build and manage senior-level relationships with VCs, Directors, Registrars, and Trust leadership.
• Lead high-value proposal development, negotiations, and closure for strategic accounts.
• Lead, coach, and review the Marketing Executive team's pipeline and performance.
• Report pipeline health, conversion metrics, and forecasts to leadership.

Skills

Enterprise selling

Negotiation

Strategic thinking

Executive presence

Travel readiness

Education

MBA preferred (Marketing/Business Admin)

Job description

Role Purpose

Own the strategic growth of institutional client base across its Consulting & Advisory and Technology Solutions portfolio. This is a senior B2B business development role responsible for high-value institutional relationships, leading and mentoring the Marketing Executive team, and closing strategic accounts, not just generating leads.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Business Development

• Own end-to-end B2B revenue targets across assigned territory/portfolio
• Identify and develop new market segments — university systems, autonomous colleges, engineering/professional institutions, and multi-campus trusts/societies
• Build and manage senior-level relationships with Vice Chancellors, Directors, Registrars, and Trust/Society leadership
• Lead high-value proposal development, commercial negotiation, and closure for Tier-1/strategic accounts

Team Leadership

• Lead, coach, and review the Marketing Executive team's pipeline, outreach cadence, and conversion performance
• Set territory/account targets and drive accountability against them
• Partner with the SME/advisory team to ensure accurate, credible positioning of services in every pitch

Strategy & Reporting

• Develop and execute a structured business development strategy by territory or institutional vertical
• Build referral and partnership channels with education associations, HEI networks, and industry bodies
• Report pipeline health, conversion metrics, and revenue forecasts to leadership
• Feed ground-level client insight back into marketing strategy and collateral

Required Qualification & Experience

• Graduate/Postgraduate (MBA preferred) in Marketing, Business Administration, or related field
• 5–8 years of B2B sales/business development experience, with a strong preference for candidates from either:
  • Higher Education / academic-consulting / accreditation-advisory background, or
  • EdTech sales & marketing background (e.g., BYJU'S, Aakash, Unacademy, or similar), with demonstrable enterprise/institutional-level exposure
• Proven track record of owning and exceeding B2B revenue targets
• Established network within the higher education ecosystem (VCs, Registrars, Trustees, Principals) strongly preferred
• Prior experience leading or mentoring a business development/marketing team

Desired Skills & Competencies

• Strong consultative/enterprise selling ability — comfortable leading regulatory- and compliance-anchored conversations with senior academic leadership
• Excellent negotiation and closing skills for high-value, long-sales-cycle B2B deals
• Strategic thinker with the ability to identify and open new market segments
• Strong executive presence and stakeholder management
• Willingness for extensive travel

Key Performance Indicators

• Team and individual revenue/contracts closed against target
• Number of strategic/Tier-1 accounts acquired
• Team pipeline health and conversion rate
• New territories/market segments opened