UK Director of Strategic Partnerships

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: UK Director of Strategic Partnerships

🔹 Company: ESM Prep

🔹 Location: London, City of, United Kingdom

🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid (Office 2-3 days per week, weekly travel)

🔹 Category: Education Administration Programs

🔹 Date Posted: 2025-04-22

🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years

🔹 Remote Status: On-site with remote flexibility

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Strategic partnership development and management with schools, American colleges, and other key stakeholders
• Representing the organization as a thought leader in education and college counseling
• Providing expert college counseling and guidance to students
• Contributing to strategic planning and program development
• Liaising with the Guidewell UK Director for future planning and budget allocation

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong blend of strategic vision, relationship development, educational expertise, sales acumen, and exceptional communication abilities.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Lead business development initiatives and serve as the primary representative to valued partners

✅ Cultivate and maintain strong, trusted relationships with partners

✅ Develop and implement strategies to enhance brand awareness and expand market reach

✅ Pursue new market opportunities to drive organizational growth

✅ Collaborate with internal teams to design and execute outreach strategies that generate high-quality leads

✅ Manage the partnerships budget, including allocation for travel, marketing, and events

✅ Create and manage annual conference plans to maximize organizational presence and impact

✅ Represent the organization as a public speaker at industry events and lead the planning and execution of educational conferences, roadshows, College Quest events, and webinars

✅ Meet and exceed personal and team revenue and lead generation goals

✅ Provide expert college counseling and guidance to students, supporting them in their pursuit of higher education

✅ Conduct counseling sessions using a variety of modalities, including video conferencing and in-person meetings

✅ Answer college counseling questions from partner institutions

✅ Contribute to the strategic planning and development of new and existing programs

✅ Liaise with the Guidewell UK Director to ensure effective future planning and budget allocation

✅ Attend team meetings and contribute to the overall well-being of the Guidewell Education team

ASSUMPTION: This role combines strategic vision with hands-on engagement, requiring a blend of relationship development, educational expertise, sales acumen, and exceptional communication abilities.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree

Experience: 5+ years of experience in education, counseling, sales, or business development, with a proven track record of success

Required Skills:

• Strong understanding of the college admissions process, particularly in the US, the educational landscape, and the role of Independent Educational Consultants and schools
• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Proficiency, or the ability to quickly learn and maintain proficiency, in CRM systems and Excel/Google Sheets
• Ability to spearhead new business development opportunities
• Ability to travel domestically for relationship management

Preferred Skills:

• Specific experience advising UK students on the US application process

ASSUMPTION: Given the hybrid nature of this role, candidates should be comfortable with a mix of in-office and remote work, as well as frequent travel.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £60,000 - £95,000 (Base salary: £48,000 - £56,000 annually, Commission for personal college counseling work with students, Annual bonus opportunities)

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance
• Annual bonus opportunities

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexible working hours and the ability to work remotely 2-3 days per week

ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles in the UK education sector. The final compensation package may vary based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Education Administration Programs

Company Size: 51-200 employees

Founded: 1999

Company Description:

• ESM Prep is an educational services firm that provides personalized strategic college counseling, one-on-one academic mentorship, and standardized test preparation to students throughout the world
• Their unique method of tailoring services based on students' goals, aspirations, and passions enables them to successfully guide students in academics and in life
• ESM Prep helps students gain admission to the most competitive universities in the world

Company Specialties:

• College counseling
• Tutoring
• Test preparation
• College planning
• College prep
• Academic counseling
• Academic advising

Company Website: https://www.esmprep.com/

ASSUMPTION: ESM Prep is a well-established educational services firm with a strong global presence and a reputation for excellence in college counseling and academic mentorship.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: Mid-level to senior-level role, with potential for career growth within the organization

Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Guidewell UK Director and works closely with the internal teams to design and execute outreach strategies

Work Arrangement: Hybrid working structure, requiring office attendance 2-3 days per week, with weekly travel around the UK/London

Growth Opportunities:

• Potential to expand the role's scope and responsibilities based on organizational growth and success
• Opportunities to develop expertise in strategic partnerships, business development, and college counseling
• Potential to progress to a senior leadership role within the organization

ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to expand the role's scope and responsibilities based on organizational success.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid (Office attendance 2-3 days per week, with weekly travel around the UK/London)

Office Location(s): London, City of, United Kingdom

Geographic Context:

• The role is based in London, with frequent travel required to maintain and develop strategic partnerships with schools, American colleges, and other key stakeholders
• London offers a vibrant, multicultural environment with excellent educational institutions and a thriving business ecosystem
• The role may require occasional international travel to attend industry events and conferences

Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week), with flexible working hours and the ability to work remotely 2-3 days per week

ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement and frequent travel requirements allow for a good work-life balance while enabling the candidate to build and maintain strong relationships with partners and clients.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission through the provided link
• Phone or video screening to assess cultural fit and basic qualifications
• In-depth interview with the Guidewell UK Director and other key stakeholders to discuss the role's responsibilities, required skills, and cultural fit
• Background check and reference check for the final candidate
• Job offer and onboarding for the successful candidate

Key Assessment Areas:

• Strategic thinking and business development acumen
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Strong relationship-building abilities
• Proven track record in college counseling or a related field
• Cultural fit with the organization's values and mission

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience in education, counseling, sales, or business development, as well as your understanding of the US college admissions process
• Prepare for interview questions that assess your strategic thinking, communication skills, and cultural fit with the organization
• Be ready to discuss your approach to building and maintaining strong relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Demonstrate your ability to work effectively in a hybrid work environment with frequent travel requirements

ATS Keywords: Strategic Partnerships, Business Development, College Counseling, Relationship Management, Sales Acumen, Communication Skills, Presentation Skills, Interpersonal Skills, CRM Proficiency, Excel Proficiency, Google Sheets Proficiency, Market Expansion, Public Speaking, Event Planning, Student Guidance, Team Collaboration

ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing the candidate's strategic thinking, communication skills, relationship-building abilities, and cultural fit with the organization.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• CRM system (specific CRM not mentioned)
• Excel/Google Sheets
• Video conferencing tools (specific tools not mentioned)
• Project management tools (specific tools not mentioned)

ASSUMPTION: The successful candidate should be comfortable using CRM systems, Excel/Google Sheets, and video conferencing tools, as well as other project management tools as needed.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Excellence in education and mentorship
• Personalized approach to student guidance
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Integrity and ethical conduct
• Continuous learning and improvement

Work Style:

• Strategic and forward-thinking
• Proactive and self-motivated
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Adaptable and comfortable with change
• Comfortable with a hybrid work arrangement and frequent travel

Self-Assessment Questions:

• How do you approach building and maintaining strong, trusted relationships with diverse stakeholders?
• How do you balance strategic vision with hands-on engagement in your work?
• How do you adapt to working in a hybrid environment with frequent travel requirements?
• How do you ensure the delivery of exceptional service and guidance to partners and students?
• How do you contribute to the overall well-being of a team and organization?

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should assess their alignment with ESM Prep's values and work style, as well as their comfort with the hybrid work arrangement and frequent travel requirements, to ensure a strong cultural fit with the organization.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• The role requires a strong blend of strategic vision, relationship development, educational expertise, sales acumen, and exceptional communication abilities, which may be challenging for some candidates
• The hybrid work arrangement and frequent travel requirements may not suit all candidates' preferences or lifestyles
• The role involves managing a small caseload of students, which may require additional time and effort beyond the primary responsibilities of strategic partnerships and business development
• The competitive nature of the US college admissions process may present challenges in providing college counseling and guidance to students

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should carefully consider the potential challenges associated with this role and assess their ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a mix of strategic and hands-on responsibilities.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• This role differs from other college counseling positions in its focus on strategic partnerships and business development, as well as the requirement to manage a small caseload of students
• Compared to other business development roles, this position requires a strong understanding of the US college admissions process and the ability to provide expert college counseling and guidance
• Career progression in this role may lead to senior leadership positions within the organization, with opportunities to expand the role's scope and responsibilities based on organizational growth and success

ASSUMPTION: Candidates should consider the unique aspects of this role and assess their fit with the required skills and responsibilities, as well as the potential for career growth and development.

📝 Sample Projects

• Developing and executing a strategic plan to expand the organization's reach within the UK, focusing on key schools and American colleges
• Planning and executing an educational conference or roadshow to attract new markets and engage prospective clients
• Creating and implementing a targeted marketing campaign to enhance brand awareness and generate high-quality leads
• Providing college counseling and guidance to a diverse caseload of students, supporting them in their pursuit of higher education

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic, hands-on, and student-focused aspects of the role, highlighting the need for a strong blend of skills and abilities.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• How does the organization support the professional development and growth of its employees?
• What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days?
• How does the organization measure the success of its strategic partnerships and business development efforts?
• What opportunities are there for collaboration and knowledge-sharing with other team members and departments?
• How does the organization ensure the delivery of exceptional service and guidance to both partners and students?

ASSUMPTION: These key questions help candidates assess the organization's commitment to employee growth, the role's priorities, and the overall work environment and culture.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through the provided link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience in education, counseling, sales, or business development, as well as your understanding of the US college admissions process
• Prepare for interview questions that assess your strategic thinking, communication skills, and cultural fit with the organization
• Be ready to discuss your approach to building and maintaining strong relationships with diverse stakeholders
• Demonstrate your ability to work effectively in a hybrid work environment with frequent travel requirements
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to inquire about the status of your application

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.