Business and Portfolio Development Manager

Reference
1100683

Branch
University of Warwick

Start date
13/10/2025

Duration
3 Months

Hours and days
Monday to Friday, 36.5 hours 9:00am – 5:00pm with 30 minutes lunch break

Dress code
Smart Casual

Rate of pay
£24.97

Holiday rate
£3.01

Role

The Business and Portfolio Development Manager is responsible for driving and delivering participant numbers for Open and DBA programme portfolios, and also managing the review and development of Open and Warwick Leadership Programmes (WLP) portfolios for the Executive Education department in WBS.

The postholder works closely with the Warwick University and WBS departments to understand and leverage wider business development opportunities for the Executive Education Open portfolio.  They regularly report on numbers achieved to ensure that the Director and the wider team are kept fully informed of progress towards the achievement of the department’s objectives. 

Flexible approach to work and duties - there are core hours, however some events are scheduled outside of the business day, and some will require work away from Warwick.

Duties and responsibilities

The key components of this role include:

Programme portfolio review and development

• Work with the Director of Executive Education (EE) to review and refine the WLP portfolio and explore and grow our Open programme portfolio.
• Work with the Director of EE and Faculty to implement features and a learning design that will elevate us in the FT rankings, working closely with the Client Relationship Manager and the Executive Programmes Manager to monitor progress.
• Work with the EE Teaching and Learning Consultant to ensure that overall design and flow of programmes in our open and WLP portfolio are tight and relevantly aligned with FT criteria.

Business Development management

• Ensure programme participation meets the targets set for the open and DBA programme portfolios, taking proactive measures to prevent cancellations or under-participation.
• Work with the WBS Marketing team to:

1. ensure a clearly developed marketing and sales plan for the open programmes and assist with implementing campaigns.
2. devise ideas to ensure programmes are well represented on the WBS web pages as distinct, compelling and informative.
3. develop a good bank of texts/collateral to help promote the programmes, taking responsibility for participant targets.

• Proactively approach converting high potential, high value leads into concrete sales opportunities.
• Travel locally and abroad to speak to potential customers about our programmes, attending events and actively targeting companies of interest.
• Be capable of articulating our USP to a senior audience and providing knowledgeable answers to complex questions.
• Collaborate with the EE Custom team to identify opportunities to sell our executive education offer to businesses through open and WLP programmes.
• Collaborate with both the WBS Marketing team and the Business Development (BD) teams to identify business development opportunities, with a strong understanding the competitor market.
• Keep up to date with industry events, sectoral changes, and key players in relevant markets and regions, understanding the challenges faced by target client organisations and the wider geopolitics which may influence programme decision-making.
• Maintain close working relationships and collaborate with the Programme team who deliver the Open, DBA and WLP programmes.
• Work with the WBS Finance team and Legal and Compliance Services to ensure smooth processes and to serve our participants in the best manner possible.

CRM and Business Engagement working groups

• Be a member of the CRM and Business Engagement Working groups, ensuring the needs of the EE are addressed and any of your actions are completed.

Financials, contracts and staff management

• Support the Operations Director and WBS Head of Finance in setting up Flywire for non-accredited programme fee payments.
• Review resources for the effective management of business development for the open and WLP portfolios, in alignment with EE strategy.
• Responsible for setting and maintaining work priorities with longer-tier perspective, advised by the Director of EE as their line manager, who will provide advisory support and management on issues as they arise with minimum supervision of day-to-day work.

• This role leads on the executive education open and DBA income stream.
• The above duties are not exhaustive and may be subject to change. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties within the scope and grading of the post as delegated or requested by the Director of EE.

Skills and experience

• An undergraduate honours degree in business or marketing discipline (or other relevant discipline), or equivalent relevant experience (E)
• Proven experience in business development roles and a track record of achievement in programme development, including direct experience of interfacing with customers in consultative selling and working with human resources representatives at a senior level (E)
• Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment, with cultural sensitivities and awareness. (E)
• Excellent staff management skills in a team environment. (E)
• Experience of managing budgets; experience of building cost elements on projects and tracking actual expenditure against a budget (E)
• Broad understanding of business planning and selling skills, programme development and presentation competencies; (E)
• Excellent customer focus and strong networker with an ability to develop contacts quickly with both national and international prospective candidates, in-progress candidates, alumni and internal stakeholders. (E)
• Excellent writing, presentation, and project management skills, excellent attention to detail and accuracy.   The confidence and professionalism to present to senior executives/audiences. (E)
• Demonstrated understanding of challenges faced at executive levels of an organisation and demonstrated evidence of business awareness. (E)
• Ability to work under pressure, be decisive during difficult situations/ negotiations, and pay attention to detail while still keeping track of larger strategic perspective. (E)
• The ability to work across different business disciplines and establish credibility with senior executives, faculty and participants is essential. (E)
• Highly motivated, articulate, flexible, organised and team-oriented. (E)
• Proven ability to adapt and be flexible to changing situations, time zones and candidate needs (E) 
• Experience of Executive Education programme development and business development (D)

The post holder is required to have excellent oral and written communication skills to ensure that effective relationships are established and developed with faculty, other administrators from across the School and University, and — crucially – with clients, and potential, current and past participants. Regular dialogue and development of effective relationships with staff in professional services within the University and some external organisations.

Location
Hybrid

Additional information

• Start and end date: 13th October 2025 to 31st December 2025
• Deadline to apply: Midnight on 14th September
• Please provide a CV and cover letter with your application.

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