Business Development and Relations Senior Manager

About the role

GESS, one of Singapore's leading international schools with students from over 70 nations, is creating a high-visibility, commercially focused role to drive enrolment growth across its German Curriculum and English IB Programme. The Senior Manager acts as an external ambassador, building relationships with European embassies, chambers of commerce, corporate HR and mobility teams, and with the social clubs of Singapore's community, turning them into applications and enrolments. The role works alongside the existing Admissions and Marketing teams, not in place of them, and events and campaigns are co-planned and co-delivered.

Key responsibilities

• Lead outbound business development to generate enquiries, enrolments and tuition revenue from priority segments against agreed targets.
• Run a structured outreach programme to relocation agencies, global mobility leaders and HR decision makers at German Centre-based and other European multinationals, negotiating corporate partnerships, preferred-school and relocation-package arrangements (subject to school leadership approval).
• Track leads from diplomatic, corporate, chamber and club channels with the Admissions team and report conversion against enrolment KPIs.
• Represent GESS at embassy briefings, national day celebrations, trade delegations and diplomatic functions.
• Build partnerships with corporates, HR, chambers and clubs, securing visibility through sponsorships, publications, newsletters and member offers coordinated with Marketing.
• Co-plan and co-host open houses, executive receptions, newcomer briefings and information evenings with Admissions and Marketing, bringing the audience and senior hosting.
• Develop bilingual collateral, briefings and presentations with Marketing within GESS brand guidelines.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, Marketing, International Relations or Journalism preferred.
• 8+ years in business development, strategic communications, stakeholder engagement or high-value sales, ideally in education or another relationship-led sector such as luxury, consumer or membership brands.
• Proven record of building partner networks, achieving targets and pipelines, and managing budgets.
• Measurable growth in enquiries and enrolments from embassy, corporate, chamber and club relationships across both curricula.
• Preferred-partner agreements in place or demonstrated ability to develop with priority employers and relocation providers, supported by a documented network map and contact programme.

Required skills

• Executive presence, consultative selling and negotiation with C-suite executives and prospective parents, plus storytelling.
• Collaborative approach, able to co-deliver with Admissions and Marketing and partner cross-functionally.
• CRM experience (HubSpot) to manage relationships, keep accurate records and support reporting.