Business Development Director

Business Development Director

Reference number: JR257038

Location: London / Remote

Working pattern: Full time 37.5 Hours

Contract Type: Permanent

Number of roles: 2

Grade: K7

Salary: 80 - 90k per annum

We are looking for a Business Development Director to join our team.

We are seeking a senior entrepreneurial commercial leader to act as the primary owner of our most critical corporate client relationships. As a key commercial leader within Kaplan Professional Education you will drive revenue growth and expand our strategic footprint within Kaplans largest existing and target corporate accounts. Moving beyond transactional sales you will act as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders embedding Kaplans full suite of learning solutionsencompassing both apprenticeships and commercial trainingto solve complex skills challenges. You will serve as the champion for our commercial engagements setting the tone for professionalism trust and deep sustainable partnership in our most high-value client verticals.

What youll bring to the role

Essential

• Senior Commercial Leadership: Demonstrable success in senior sales or business development roles with a track record of managing high-value enterprise accounts (FTSE 250 preferred) in the UK skills/training market.

• Consultative Sales Approach: Deep experience in solution selling and skills-led conversations. You are comfortable discussing C-suite priorities (digital transformation skills gaps ROI) rather than just product features.

• Strategic Stakeholder Management: Ability to engage and influence at the C-suite and director levels establishing technical trust with internal account teams and external client stakeholders.

• Commercial Acumen: Extensive experience in developing complex revenue models navigating tender processes and leading large-scale bids.

• Full-Portfolio Fluency: Ability to articulate the value of diverse learning products (apprenticeships vs. commercial training) and align them to a clients long-term digital/tech roadmap.

• Communication: Exceptional written and presentation skills; comfortable presenting to large audiences and drafting high-stakes proposals.

Desirable

• Sector Specialism: Experience in specific verticals (e.g. Technology Financial Services or Public Sector).

• Leadership Experience: Prior experience in formally leading or managing high-performing sales teams.

• Technical/AI Literacy: Demonstrable knowledge of AI and digital transformation trends and how these affect the future of work and corporate learning requirements.
  

A detailed job description can be viewed here. If the link does not work for you please copy and paste the following URL into your web browser: we do

Kaplan Professional is a leading provider of apprenticeships accountancy / tax / finance & banking courses and professional assessments. For almost 80 years weve helped shape the development and careers of finance professionals.

We are part of the Kaplan group one of the worlds largest and most diverse education and assessment providers. We operate in over 30 countries and maintain relationships and partnerships with more than 1000 school districts colleges and universities professional bodies and over 10000 businesses. Our vast breadth and scope in terms of both capabilities and assets sets us apart.

What we believe in

Our goal is for Kaplan to be a great place to work where everybody can succeed so we truly live and breathe our values: act with integrity grow knowledge empower & support create opportunity drive results together.

Kaplan is a global organisation whose mission is rooted in providing equal access to education and opportunities for advancement to people of all backgrounds. We believe diversity equity and inclusion - of culture experiences perspectives - are paramount to creating success and opportunity in an ever-changing world. As an educator partner and employer Kaplan is committed to promoting an equitable world in which diverse talent can develop advance and thrive.

To view our candidate privacy notice click here.

Our Values

We live breathe and celebrate our values - they drive what we believe in how we behave and guide us in creating a culture of success.

Act with integrity

Empower and support

Create opportunity

Grow knowledge

Drive results together

What we offer

As well as a competitive salary transparent pay structures hybrid/home working where possible and paths for career progression we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

28 days annual leave option to purchase more

Season ticket loan and cycle to work scheme

Big discounts on Kaplan courses for you and your family

Private medical income protection and life insurance

24/7 confidential helpline providing counselling and other support services

Company pension contributions

Maternity Adoption Shared Parental and Paternity/Partner pay which is well above statutory levels

How to apply

To apply for this role please submit a CV along with a Cover Letter detailing how you meet the requirements of the role no later than 11pm on Monday 27th July 2026. Note we recommend that you apply at the earliest as we reserve the right to close the role before the closing date if we have gathered a suitable shortlist.

Additional Application Information

Kaplan is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

This role involves working with learners who are under 18 years old and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Recruitment checks are undertaken in accordance with our background checking policy. Successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure (including childrens barred list) via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to confirm their suitability to work with children and young addition to the DBS check for roles that include teaching or coaching a Prohibition from Teaching Check will be completed through the Teaching Regulation Agency.

Our Suitability of Ex-offenders Policy is available on the careers page of our website .

Please be aware that it is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

Disability Confident Scheme

As a Disability Confident employer we are committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role as per the job description and any screening or testing stages. Details of how to request your application be considered under the Disability Confident scheme will be shared with all applicants upon submission of an application.

Furthermore all applicants invited to attend interview will be given information on how to request reasonable adjustments to attend.

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