Job Title: Deputy Director / Senior Manager, Executive Education (Southeast Asia)
Overview
The University of Manchester, SE Asia centre is seeking a dynamic and results-driven professional to lead the development and expansion of its Executive Education portfolio across Southeast Asia. The successful candidate will be instrumental in strengthening the University's regional presence through innovative, high-impact learning programmes for corporate, government, and professional audiences. This role demands a strategic business developer (hunter profile) who combines strong sales acumen with a deep understanding of executive education, corporate learning, and lifelong learning ecosystems. The ideal candidate will have a proven record of cultivating partnerships, structuring deals, and driving revenue growth while upholding the University's standards of academic excellence and thought leadership.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic and Business Development
- Lead regional business development initiatives to position the University as a preferred executive education partner across Southeast Asia.
- Proactively identify, pursue, and secure new corporate clients, government collaborations, and institutional partnerships.
- Drive growth in customised programmes, open-enrolment courses, and micro-credential pathways through market intelligence and strategic engagement.
- Develop and maintain a robust pipeline of business opportunities and achieve agreed revenue and performance targets.
- Provide market insights and recommendations to guide strategic planning and portfolio development.
Programme Design and Delivery
- Oversee the design, delivery, and evaluation of executive education and micro-credential programmes that are academically rigorous and industry-relevant.
- Collaborate closely with faculty and learning designers to develop programmes addressing leadership, digital transformation, and future skills needs.
- Ensure operational excellence and high levels of client satisfaction from proposal to post-programme review.
- Champion innovation in delivery models, including blended learning, digital platforms, and experiential approaches.
Corporate Outreach and Partnership Engagement
- Build and sustain strong relationships with senior corporate executives, government agencies, and regional industry associations.
- Conduct needs analyses with clients to co-create tailored learning solutions that address organisational and leadership challenges.
- Represent the University at regional events, conferences, and forums to promote its Executive Education offerings and thought leadership.
Micro-Credentials and Lifelong Learning
- Lead initiatives to integrate micro-credentials and stackable learning pathways into the Executive Education portfolio.
- Align programmes with SkillsFuture and other regional workforce development frameworks to support career mobility and continuous upskilling.
- Explore innovative credentialing and digital learning strategies to enhance accessibility and regional impact.
Leadership and Team Development
- Provide strategic direction and mentorship to the Executive Education team, fostering a high-performance, client-centric, and collaborative culture.
- Partner with faculty, marketing, and administrative units to ensure alignment with institutional goals and priorities.
- Uphold the University's commitment to excellence, integrity, and impactful lifelong learning.
Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor's degree required Master's degree in Business, Education, or a related discipline preferred.
- 8-10 years of progressive experience in executive education, corporate training, or business development - ideally within a university, business school, or professional learning environment.
- Proven track record in hunting and securing new business opportunities, including prospecting, pitching, and closing mid-large-scale corporate partnerships and custom programme deals.
- Demonstrated success in building and expanding a client base, achieving revenue growth targets, and managing strategic relationships with senior corporate decision-makers.
- Strong understanding of lifelong learning, adult education, and micro-credential frameworks in Singapore and the wider Southeast Asia region.
- Commercially astute, with experience in sales forecasting, proposal development, pricing strategy, and contract negotiation.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage senior leaders and faculty alike.
- Entrepreneurial and self-driven, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, target-driven environment.
- Regional exposure and ability to operate effectively across different cultures and markets in Southeast Asia.
Key Competencies
- Business Development and Client Acquisition - Proactive in identifying, pursuing, and converting new corporate and institutional opportunities across Southeast Asia.
- Strategic Partnership Management - Skilled in building and maintaining long-term relationships with senior corporate leaders, government agencies, and industry associations.
- Negotiation and Deal Structuring - Strong ability to design, price, and structure customised executive education solutions that meet both client and institutional objectives.
- Commercial and Strategic Mindset - Balances academic integrity with market-driven strategies to achieve sustainable growth and brand visibility.
- Programme Innovation - Collaborates with faculty and learning designers to create impactful, future-oriented programmes, including micro-credentials and stackable learning pathways.
- Entrepreneurial Drive - Demonstrates initiative, resilience, and ownership in achieving ambitious growth targets and expanding regional market presence.
- Cross-Cultural and Regional Collaboration - Adept at working with diverse partners and clients across Southeast Asia, with cultural sensitivity and strong interpersonal skills.
- Leadership and Team Development - Inspires and mentors team members to perform at a high level and fosters a collaborative, client-centric culture.
- Project and Financial Management - Ensures excellence in execution, profitability, and operational delivery across multiple concurrent programmes.
