Manager - School Engagement & Partnerships

Sannam S4; New Delhi; On-site; INR 2,800,000 - 4,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Acumen, part of the Sannam S4 Group, seeks a Strategic Partnership Development lead to expand our international education collaborations with high schools and K12 partners in South Asia and beyond. You will drive partnerships, lead cross-functional teams, and shape outreach programs to broaden our network.

Based in Delhi, you will manage budgets, analyze outcomes, and report to senior leadership, enabling sustainable growth for our education ecosystem.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of work experience post-graduation.
• Preferred candidates will have 5+ years in international education, with knowledge of K12 and international student recruitment dynamics.
• Track record of leading a team and developing partnership strategies.
• Excellence in organisational management and building high-performing teams.
• Experience working with diverse communities and strategic partners.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, and collaborative approach to community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Identify, assess, and create access to high schools aligned with our mission and objectives.
• Develop and implement a strategic partnership roadmap to expand our presence in the education sector.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with high school leaders, counselors, and educators.
• Design, implement, and oversee outreach strategies engaging students, educators, counselors, and parents.
• Collaborate with marketing, territory teams, and PS teams to promote outreach initiatives.
• Guide in-country representatives and teams to achieve KPI targets.
• Manage the department budget, track expenses, and report financial performance.
• Collect and analyse data on outreach and partnership efforts to measure impact.

Skills

Strategic partnerships

Relationship management

Communication

Team leadership

Data-driven decisions

CRM experience

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

7 - 14 Years

Full-Time

Job Description

Reporting To: Senior Director - South Asia

About Us

Acumen, established in 2008 under the Sannam S4 Group umbrella, is a premier internationalisation partner for educational institutions worldwide. Originating in India, we have expanded our services across Asia, North America, and beyond, providing comprehensive support to universities and organisations embarking on their global journeys.

Our Mission and Approach

Driven by research and rich data insights, Acumen offers innovative solutions tailored to the unique needs of each partner. Our end-to-end services empower educational institutions to establish and enhance their international presence, ensuring they receive trusted guidance and expertise at every step.

Global Reach and Services

With a strong presence in India, South and Southeast Asia, and North America, Acumen delivers excellence in education consulting, advisory, and implementation. Our services include in-country representation, high school engagement, agent management, enrollment services, and strategic consulting, all designed to help institutions thrive in today's competitive international education landscape.

Our Team and Values

Our diverse team of over 300 professionals, with 70% female representation, embodies our core values: Collaboration, Agility, Impact, Empowerment, and Integrity. This commtment to diversity and inclusion fosters a dynamic and supportive environment, enabling us to deliver impactful solutions to our partners.

Why Choose Acumen

Our unique understanding of the education sector, combined with a people-first approach and student-focused insights, has made us an invaluable partner for educational institutions globally. We prioritise your needs, offering practitioner-led expertise and end-to-end support without taking commissions or selling services directly to students, ensuring our focus remains solely on enhancing your institution's success. Partner with Acumen to navigate the complexities of international education and achieve sustainable growth in the global arena.

Role Summary

Strategic Partnership Development

• Identify, assess, and create access to potential high schools aligned with our mission and objectives.
• Develop and implement a strategic partnership roadmap to expand and strengthen our organisation's presence within the education sector.

Relationship Management

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with high school leaders, counselors, and educators to foster collaboration and partnership growth.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for high school partners, addressing their needs and concerns promptly.

Outreach Strategy

• Design, implement, and oversee comprehensive outreach strategies aimed at engaging high schools including all stakeholders - students, educators, career counsellors, school leaders and parents.
• Develop innovative and impactful programs and initiatives to connect with schools and students effectively.
• Develop new products and services both offline and online to service K12 stakeholders to add value in our high school ecosystem

Collaboration and Cross-Functional Engagement

• Collaborate with other departments, clients and external resources to leverage resources and expertise for successful partnership outcomes.
• Work closely with marketing and communications, territory teams and PS teams to promote outreach initiatives effectively.

Leadership

• Guide and support in-country representatives and other teams to help them achieve their high school KPIs.

Resource Allocation and Budget Management

• Manage the department's budget effectively, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently to achieve outreach and partnership goals.
• Track expenses, monitor financial performance, and prepare regular reports for senior leadership.

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Collect and analyse data on outreach and partnership efforts to measure their impact and effectiveness.
• Prepare reports and presentations to communicate outcomes and insights to internal and external stakeholders.

Minimum required qualifications

• 7+ years of work experience post-graduation.
• Preferred candidates will have worked for 5+ years in the international education industry, with a detailed understanding of the dynamics of K12 sector and international student recruitment across key source markets. Ideally, they should also have some experience of international collaboration between international institutions and K12 schools.
• Track record of effectively leading a team; ability to point to specific examples of having developed and operationalised partnership strategies.
• Excellence in organisational management with the ability to build relationships and develop high-performing teams and set and achieve strategic objectives.
• Past success working with communities and strategic partners, with the ability to cultivate existing relationships.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, a persuasive and passionate communicator with excellent interpersonal and multidisciplinary project skills.
• Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, community-centred, and innovative approach to organising and community engagement.
• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people.

Desired/Preferred Skills

With a strong track record of professionalism and support for our clients, Sannam S4 has built its business on individuals who bring value and experience to the business and its clients and the accountability that a medium-sized business requires. Below are the desired and preferred skills and competencies for this position:

• Quality - Takes accountability for the absolute high standard of client/partner delivery
• Ownership - Takes overall accountability of the business, navigating matrix structures within Acumen and with clients/partners
• Develops top talent - Runs a tight ship based on meritocracy and performance
• Data Driven - Develops and depends on deep data-driven metrics and performance to drive business goals
• Tech Savvy - Has experience and exposure in extracting value from CRM systems
• Passion - idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed.

• Gain valuable industry exposure, enhance your professional network, and build skills that can boost future career opportunities
• Be part of a globally recognised organisation in international education