Senior Business Development Representative

Are you passionate about education, and want to help launch the next generation of data analysts and data engineers in their exciting careers?

About iO-Sphere

We train bright, ambitious individuals for careers in data engineering & data analytics at exceptional organisations. For individuals, we unlock high growth, rewarding careers in data, and for employers, we offer a new talent pool of diverse data analysts and data engineers that have been trained with our experience-driven training model. We exist to break down the financial barriers to aspirational careers and provide individuals with hands-on commercial experience through our Experience Accelerator training programs. To date, we've trained 600 individuals across the UK, and we're expanding our offerings in 2025.

About the role

iO-Sphere is hiring for a talented Senior Business Development Rep BDR / Senior Student Admissions Councillor to join our growing admissions team based in Cape Town. This is a sales role that will focus on increasing the conversion rate of our inbound applications. You will work directly with prospective students to explain our courses, our unique offering, answer questions qualify leads, identify opportunities for improvement, and ultimately drive enrolments into our flagship Experience Accelerator programs. This role requires strong communication skills and the ability to manage multiple channels of outreach, ensuring an exceptional candidate experience. We don't believe in the hard sell - we only want students that can benefit from our unique approach to training and will go on to achieve their desired outcome - and so this role will need to balance both sides.

Location - Cape Town, South Africa

iO-Sphere is headquartered in London with half our team in South Africa. South African positions are as contractors right now as we do not yet have a permanent entity. This role should be based in Cape Town as our sales team meet regularly in the office. You must have access to strong internet. You will primarily be selling into UK based students for now.

Salary Range: Rand 20,000 - 25,000 per month + great commission (100% on target)

At iO-Sphere we value diversity, and we know we get the best outcomes when we have people from all different backgrounds. If you are in doubt about your suitability, please apply so that we can review your application! Our ideal candidate is:

• Mission-led – our small but mighty team all share our passion to democratise access to opportunity for ambitious individuals
• Collaborative - assumes positive intent, able to work in and lead a team, ask for help when they need it, and give help to others when needed.
• Outcomes-driven – we deliver lasting results for our partners, we exceed our targets, we know that outcomes are what matter
• Scrappy – able to do more with less, overcome unexpected challenges, adapt to rapidly changing markets, thrives in ambiguous situations
• Own it - able to make decisions, display ownership over their areas, take responsibility, operate independently, and support a high-agency culture

Key Responsibilities:

Prospective Student Engagement:

• Interact directly with inbound applicants to 1) Qualify prospective students, 2) Schedule interviews, 3) Enroll students in the Experience Accelerator program
• Build an in-depth understanding of our unique training programs and financing options

Outbound and Inbound Communication:

• Manage outreach to prospective students through phone, email, chat. This role will involve spending significant time on the phone - 2-3 hours per day across 60-100 outbound call attempts
• Handle inbound communications across various channels (Email, WhatsApp, etc.).
• Hosting and interacting in monthly webinars

Collaboration & Optimization:

• Work closely with Operations, Marketing, and Recruitment teams to optimize the admissions funnel, ensuring the selection of top-quality candidates for our programs.
• Provide feedback and insights to help improve program offerings and candidate engagement strategies.

Sales & CRM Management:

• Use tools like Hubspot to manage the admissions pipeline, ensuring a seamless and scalable process.

Student Preparation & Support:

• Assist prospective students in preparing for interviews and succeeding in securing offers to join our program.
• Act as a trusted advisor for students, answering any questions about the admissions process.

Reporting & Feedback:

• Gather and report on applicant needs, offering insights that can help evolve our training programs.
• Provide continuous feedback to improve overall program quality and student experience.

Brand Representation:

• Serve as a brand ambassador for iO-Sphere, ensuring a positive and professional image in all interactions with prospective students.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Diploma or degree qualification (not essential)
• Experience in admissions, recruitment, or B2C sales roles - ideally in a telesales environment
• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience with CRM tools (e.g., Hubspot) is preferred
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with daily targets
• This role will include a shift rotation agreement to accommodate a UK market

Characteristics we are looking for:

• Strong Communication Skills – Ability to articulate ideas clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences
• Resilience – Ability to handle rejection and stay motivated
• Empathy – Understanding the needs and emotions of customers to build strong, trust-based relationships
• Goal-Oriented – Focused on achieving set targets, with a clear plan for hitting objectives
• Adaptability – Flexibility in responding to changing market conditions and customer needs
• Active Listening – Attentively listening to customer concerns and feedback to provide appropriate solutions
• Problem-Solving – Ability to think quickly and offer solutions that address customer pain points
• Confidence – Projecting confidence in your product or service to instill trust in customers.
• Time Management – Efficiently managing time to prioritize leads and sales activities, meeting deadlines and targets

We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and non-binary individuals, veterans, parents, and individuals with disabilities. We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome individuals from all backgrounds to participate in our program. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the application or interview process, please inform us.