Associate Director- International Sales

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced sales leader to head our International Sales vertical. This pivotal role involves driving business growth and increasing student recruitment numbers across our existing 10 territories (Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia) while strategically expanding into new global markets.

You will be responsible for leading and managing the regional sales team present across all territories, including Country Managers, Regional Managers, and Regional Officers based in their respective countries, and guiding the Partner Specialist team (Inside Sales team) based in India. The ideal candidate is a strategic leader with a proven track record in managing large, remote international teams and driving sales performance.

Role & responsibilities:

• Develop and implement sales strategies to increase student applications, build the top funnel, and improve conversion rates from channel partners.
• Acquire new partners and expand business share from existing ones through targeted engagement and growth plans.
• Build and lead a high-performing international sales team, including Country Managers, Regional Managers, and Regional Officers.
• Set clear targets, performance plans, and standards for teams and individuals; conduct weekly reviews and quarterly performance assessments to ensure SLAs and targets are achieved.
• Guide and support the Partner Specialist team (Inside Sales team) based in India, ensuring regular calling to channel partners and effective follow-up.
• Drive the conversion of offer letters to deposits through direct and strategic communication with channel partners.
• Monitor case-by-case applications in the region and ensure that business units process them on time.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key channel partners in each country and address/resolve escalations with the help of Business Unit heads.
• Conduct international trips and attend events to meet channel partners, promote our platform, assess market penetration, competitor activities, and partner feedback to identify new growth opportunities.
• Plan and execute quarterly partner review meetings with key partners to assess performance, discuss intakes, and address regional challenges.
• Support universities in organizing events and outreach activities and plan region-specific marketing and recruitment campaigns with Partners and Events Teams.
• Analyze regional market dynamics, competitor strategies, and commission structures to design effective B2B growth plans.
• Perform in-depth analysis of country-specific curriculum patterns and eligibility requirements for top universities.
• Keep the team updated on partner and university developments, ensuring alignment with BU Managers and SMEs.
• Drive a data-driven culture by maintaining and analyzing MIS reports on applications, deposits, and conversions to monitor performance.
• Conduct quarterly market reviews and present actionable insights and recommendations to senior management.
  

Preferred candidate profile

• 12-15 years of proven experience in B2B Sales, with a strong track record of driving international business growth.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a senior sales leadership role, managing large, remote international teams.
• Postgraduate degree in Business Management (MBA or equivalent) is preferred.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence key stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, with a focus on building long-term client relationships.
• Commercially astute with a strategic mindset and strong business acumen.
• Strong analytical skills and a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving ability, with a proactive and solution-oriented approach.

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