Executive Director - Partnerships

Executive Director Partnerships – UK
Location: Flexible within the UK, based full time at a GEDU/GBS office (with travel as required)
Salary: Competitive, commensurate with experience

GEDU Global Education is a leader in delivering transformative educational partnerships, infrastructure projects and transnational education (TNE) initiatives. We are seeking a senior, results-driven leader to identify, secure and support the successful delivery of high-impact partnerships with UK universities and other relevant organisations. The remit spans partnership opportunities for GEDU brands, stand-alone infrastructure projects, TNE activities, university-branded managed campuses in the UK for home and/or international students and other strategic opportunities arising from the UK market.

Job Description

Role Purpose

Reporting to the Senior Vice-President the primary requirement of this role is to lead the identification, negotiation and delivery of strategic partnerships with UK universities and other relevant organisations, ensuring GEDU’s commercial and academic objectives are met through strong origination, project oversight and relationship management. As part of the Global Partnerships Division, the postholder will work collaboratively with other regional Executive Directors, the VP – Global Project Delivery and the wider project delivery team to ensure opportunities are developed coherently and transferred effectively from partnership development into implementation. The role is responsible for developing and securing a broad range of UK-originated opportunities, including partnerships for GEDU brands, stand-alone infrastructure projects, TNE initiatives and university-branded managed campuses in the UK serving home students, international students or mixed cohorts. The postholder will be accountable for agreed delivery targets and KPIs, acting on strategic direction from the Senior Vice-President and maintaining close involvement through delivery to support successful implementation and partner satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities

- Receive and act on direction from the Senior Vice-President regarding priority partnership types and strategic focus areas for GEDU and its brands.

- Identify, research and pursue partnership opportunities with universities and relevant organisations across the UK through proactive outreach, sector networking, market intelligence and independent analysis, across the full range of partnership types required by GEDU.

- Identify and secure university-branded managed-campus opportunities in the UK for home students, international students or both, alongside the wider requirement to develop partnerships for GEDU brands, stand-alone infrastructure projects and TNE activities.

- With support and guidance from the SVP, lead the negotiation and agreement of partnership arrangements, stand-alone infrastructure projects, TNE activities and managed-campus projects arising from the UK, with a clear focus on commercial viability, partner alignment and timely progression to delivery.

- Work closely with the VP – Global Project Delivery and the wider Global Project Delivery team, who lead the operational set-up and execution of agreed initiatives, to ensure a seamless transition from partnership development into implementation and that projects are delivered on time, within scope and to agreed quality expectations.

- Serve as the primary relationship manager for assigned UK partners, acting as the main point of contact for strategic discussions, issue resolution and the development of further collaboration.

- Remain closely involved once agreements move into delivery, working collaboratively with the Global Project Delivery team and relevant regional colleagues to maintain partner confidence, support issue resolution and identify opportunities for further growth.

- Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the UK and global higher education landscape, including regulatory frameworks, student funding, international recruitment, franchised and validated provision, managed-campus models and relevant partnership trends.

- Use data, market intelligence and competitor analysis to identify target institutions, assess opportunity potential, inform decision-making and support evidence-based partnership strategy.

- Prepare and deliver tailored proposals, business cases, reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders, including GEDU’s executive leadership and prospective university partners.

- Cultivate and maintain strategic relationships with university leaders, government officials, embassies, policy makers and other relevant stakeholders to support partnership origination, delivery and growth.

- Represent GEDU at senior-level meetings, conferences and events, acting as a credible ambassador for the organisation and actively generating new partnership opportunities.

Person Specification

Essential

- Significant experience within UK higher education, partnerships, business development or a closely related area, with the credibility to engage senior university stakeholders and progress opportunities effectively.

- Evidence of successfully developing relationships and progressing complex opportunities from initial engagement towards agreement and delivery; candidates do not need to have led every stage personally if they can demonstrate strong commercial judgement, ownership and the ability to learn quickly.

- A strong understanding of UK higher education partnership models, with sufficient knowledge of managed-campus, franchise, validation and related delivery approaches to identify credible opportunities and develop them with appropriate internal support.

- A proactive, self-starting approach to business development, with the resilience, pace and personal drive to identify targets, open doors, create opportunities and maintain momentum through sometimes lengthy university decision-making processes.

- Excellent relationship-building, negotiation and communication skills, including the ability to develop credibility quickly and communicate effectively with senior academic, professional and executive stakeholders.

- Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to use data, market intelligence and sector insight to identify and prioritise partnership opportunities.

- A well-developed and relevant network across UK higher education, with the ability and willingness to extend that network rapidly in support of GEDU's partnership objectives.

- Commercial awareness and an ability to understand the priorities of both universities and GEDU, balancing academic, reputational, operational and financial considerations when developing opportunities.

- Ability to work collaboratively within the Global Partnerships Division, including with other regional Executive Directors and the VP - Global Project Delivery and team, while taking personal ownership for the UK opportunity pipeline.

- Ability to engage, influence and negotiate with senior stakeholders, build trusted long-term relationships and represent GEDU credibly at the highest levels.

- A positive, adaptable and solutions-focused mindset, with the attitude and potential to grow into areas where the successful candidate may not yet have complete experience.

- Experience taking partnership opportunities through to signed commercial agreements and then working with delivery teams through implementation.

- Experience of TNE, international partnerships or education infrastructure projects beyond the UK.

- A good working understanding of the UK higher education regulatory, governance, funding and quality-assurance environment, with the ability to deepen specialist knowledge as required.

- Knowledge of UK home-student funding arrangements, international student recruitment, or both, particularly where relevant to new campus or delivery-centre models.

- Experience working in a private-sector education, commercial education or investor-backed environment, alongside or in partnership with universities.

- Direct experience of establishing or operating UK University delivery centres, managed campuses, franchise or validated provision.

- Existing relationships at Vice-Chancellor, Deputy/Pro-Vice-Chancellor, COO, CFO or equivalent senior levels across UK universities.