Senior Business Development Manager

Faculty of Business

Grade 8: - £42,149 - £50,296 per annum
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 23-Jun-2022, 6:59:00 AM

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.

The Department and role purpose

Durham University Business School, one of the longest established business schools in the UK, is a multi-disciplinary School characterised by academic excellence, internationally rated research and superb student support services. The School's diversity and international standing is reflected in the student intake (with over 110 nationalities); accreditation by AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS; and high positions in the UK and European Business School rankings. Further information on the School can be found at http://www.dur.ac.uk/business/ .

The Faculty of Business has recently created a new Centre for Executive Education and seek a Senior Business Development Manager to work in collaboration with a new team dedicated to support the development, launch, implementation, and sustainable growth of Executive Education and wider external engagement initiatives within the Business School.

The Senior Business Development Manager will be instrumental in setting up the Centre for Executive Education and driving and delivering external engagement projects for the School. The post holder will be responsible for initiating and managing business development opportunities and successfully managing client relationships. Understanding specific needs and tailoring solutions to achieve client satisfaction and the development of long-term business partnerships.

The Senior Business Development Manager will work in partnership with Faculty and colleagues within Executive Education, Business School and the wider University to design a portfolio of executive education programmes in response to client and market needs.

Core responsibilities:

• Develop and manage existing client relationships, identify business opportunities, and collaborate with the Executive Education team and Faculty to propose and develop client solutions.
• Manage a portfolio of accounts and develop key client relationships to build long term business.
• Responsible for client satisfaction, resolving issues and providing prompt and valuable guidance.
• Manage the commercial relationship with clients and our internal processes including finance and legal departments to ensure a professional and seamless client experience.
• Provide Executive Education and external engagement expertise and problem-solving skills.
• Act as recognised practitioner within own specialist area or discipline, shaping activities, processes and systems.
• Responsible for operational activity across Executive Education and external engagement.
• Oversight of short term or temporary project teams/strands, taking responsibility for decision making as appropriate.
• Engage with key stakeholders and internal and external stakeholders to influence opinion, delivery and reputation of services.
• Act as specialist point of contact, gathering and presenting complex data and information sources, interpretation and analysis with respect to knowledge exchange.
• Promote and develop a deep understanding of Durham University’s engagement with business and industry sectors and external developments.
• Significant input into the scoping and resource planning across a range of activities at operational and possibly strategic level.
• Carry out project scoping, initiation, planning and implementation for large scale/University wide initiatives.
• Lead the organisation and delivery of key external engagement events and projects.
• Produce communications for promotion and reporting purposes, designing, and structuring information and fact, applying creative and innovative principles to influence and engage.
• Responsible for shaping the development and learning of others outside of team, through the design and delivery of training sessions.
• Lead on the design, implementation and monitoring of policy and quality standards, procedures, and systems to ensure effective working and continuous improvement.
• Promote and develop a deep understanding of organisational policy and external developments.
• Promote the improvement and efficiency of departmental services by implementing and managing review and improvement procedures.
• Ensure all activities, processes and transactions are accounted for accurately and promptly to meet regulatory and professional service and policy standards.
• Implement processes to manage the integrity and security of all commercially and professionally sensitive and personal data.
• Lead internal business meetings, working groups and sub-committees at operational service level to influence governance, organisational policy and standards for the service.
• Responsible for allocating and monitoring financial budgets and resources.

Role responsibilities:

• Lead and contribute to strategic projects and initiatives, working with colleagues to inform planning and developments in line with the Executive Education and External Engagement strategy and aims.
• Lead projects to develop and enhance client services and the portfolio of programmes within Executive Education and external engagement for the School.
• Be a recognised source of expertise, providing advice to stakeholders in relation to University, School and Executive Education policy, procedures, and regulations.
• Develop and manage a strong pipeline of opportunities of prospecting, relationship building, developing opportunities, securing new business and acquiring new clients for Executive Education programmes and School-wide external engagement initiatives.
• Build and sustain an influential network of contacts both internally and externally to promote Executive Education and external engagement activities and achieve agreed targets.
• Contribute to operational leadership teams and decision making to shape the nature and level of support services.
• Manage specific quality and regulatory audit process for Executive Education, including Senior Leadership Apprenticeships.
• Analyse stakeholder feedback, implementing and reviewing service provision. 
• Record and monitor external engagement activity, providing reports for the leadership team and contributing to accreditations.
• Contribute to the definition, development and implementation of service standards and service level agreements.
• Deliver a specialist service using creativity and innovation for communication and promotion purposes, to engage and influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide professional guidance and advice to service users with complaints and referrals.
• Represent Executive Education, external engagement opportunities and University at promotional events and contribute to the delivery of presentations at conferences.  
• Deliver activities and participate with others to generate external income.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Specific role requirements

Ability and willingness to work outside normal hours, on an occasional basis. Ability and willingness to travel regionally, nationally and internationally.

Working Arrangements 

At Durham we recognise that our staff and students are our greatest asset, and we want to support the health and wellbeing of all.  Hybrid working supports this ethos and provides many benefits to our colleagues, including empowering people, where their role allows, to work in a manner which is more suitable for them, whilst encouraging our commitment to environmental sustainability. 

Depending on the needs of the business and the job role, Durham University is piloting hybrid working for all Professional Services colleagues in the academic year 2021/2022, which may include the opportunity to work both on and off campus and to flex working hours. If appointed to the post, your line-manager will discuss the specific arrangements with you. Any hybrid arrangements are non-contractual and may change within the pilot and when the pilot ends.

Reward and Benefits

To support the delivery of the University's People Strategy to attract, retain and reward the very best, we offer a fantastic range of rewards and benefits to our staff, including: 

• 27 days annual leave, plus 4 customary days and 8 bank holidays (pro-rata for part time) and the option to purchase additional leave; 
• Automatic enrolment into a pension scheme; 
• Corporate and local discounts; 
• Wellbeing resources and discounted health benefits; 
• Health discounts on sports and activities at Maiden Castle Health and Activity Centre; 
• Reward and Recognition Schemes; 
• Personal and career development; 
• And SO much more! 

Recruiting to this post

In order to be considered for interview, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above (including those listed in the section ‘Realising Your Potential Approach’).

Please note that some criteria will only be considered at interview stage.

How to apply

We prefer to receive applications online.

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement https://www.dur.ac.uk/ig/dp/privacy/pnjobapplicants/  which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

What you are required to submit 

Please ensure that you submit all documentation listed above or your application cannot proceed to the next stage.

Contact details

For further information please contact; Christos Tsinopoulos on [email protected]

At Durham University, our aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.  We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

We will notify you on the status of your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails.

Person specification - skills, knowledge, qualifications and experience required 

The essential criteria for this role are:

Realising Your Potential Approach

Essential behavioural attribute - providing excellent student and professional support

Realising Your Potential Approach - e.g. engage positively with students, customers and stakeholders

DBS Requirement: Not Applicable.