Head of Referral Partners Full Time

About the company

At StudyIn, we believe that the right guidance has the power to change lives. As the world’s most trusted higher education specialist, we’ve helped over 1.3 million students access study opportunities since 2006, placing them at top universities across the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and Dubai. Our global team of 500+ professionals spans 40+ countries worldwide, offering expert counselling, admissions support, visa guidance, and university partnerships.

Main Duties & Scope of the role

Responsible for leading the strategic development of the expansion of StudyIn’s global referral partner network and management of the sales team responsible for driving growth in international student recruitment across existing and new markets through this channel. Frequent travel to existing and potential new markets will be integral to the role.

Main Duties & Scope of the role

• Strategy Formulation & Execution: Develop and implement comprehensive business development strategies to expand the partner base and explore untapped markets.
• Market Trend Analysis: Continuously track emerging market trends and competitor movements to suggest innovative approaches that improve market positioning.
• Team Target Management: Drive and support Regional Managers (RMs) to achieve their sales and partnership targets through regular performance reviews and corrective planning.
• Performance Monitoring Systems: Design and maintain structured tracking systems for Partner and BDM (Business Development Manager) performance to ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Partnership Optimization: Identify and act on opportunities within current partnerships to enhance partner satisfaction, increase retention, and grow revenue.
• Data-Driven Strategic Inputs: Use market and performance data to recommend changes in commission structures, incentives, and promotions to the senior leadership team.
• Partner Enablement & Training: Ensure partners have access to relevant training and resources to improve conversion rates and sales effectiveness.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with operations and service teams to ensure smooth execution and fulfilment of partner needs and commitments.
• Performance Insights & Reporting: Collaborate with Business Analysts to define key performance indicators (KPIs) and share actionable insights regularly with RMs and BDMs.
• Business Requirement Evaluation: Assess and respond to proposals from Regional Managers concerning market-specific business needs, ensuring timely and practical resolutions.

About the Candidate (including required competencies)

• Strategic Thinker: Able to develop and execute long-term strategies aligned with business growth objectives.
• Strong Leadership & People Management: Experienced in managing and motivating cross-regional teams (e.g., RMs, BDMs) to meet and exceed targets.
• Data-Driven Decision-Maker: Comfortable interpreting performance metrics and market data to guide business decisions.
• Excellent Communication & Stakeholder Management: Skilled in interacting with internal teams, senior management, and external partners, ensuring alignment and engagement.
• Customer-Centric Mindset: Understands partner needs deeply and drives initiatives to enhance partner satisfaction and retention.
• Agility & Problem-Solving: Proactive in identifying challenges and implementing solutions in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Requirements & Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Marketing, or a related field (MBA preferred).
• Minimum 6–8 years of experience in business development, partnership management, or sales leadership roles.
• Experience in the education, edtech, or services sector with a strong understanding of partner/channel ecosystems.
• Proficiency in CRM tools, Excel/Google Sheets, and analytics platforms for tracking KPIs and performance dashboards.
• Prior exposure to working across multiple regions/markets with an understanding of regional nuances.