Business Development Manager - GSM (Franchise)

The Business Development Manager is responsible for expanding a brand's footprint, managing franchisee relationships, and ensuring operational consistency across the network. This role blends corporate strategy, business development, and operations management to drive profitability and uphold brand standards.

The role will report directly to the CEO GSM with responsibility for bridging the gap between the corporate franchisor and individual school owners to scale operations and meet student enrolment targets.

Strategic Growth

• Define GEMS School Management’s Franchise growth strategy and framework.
• Develop long-term expansion plans, identify new markets, and recruit qualified franchisees.
• Monitor network performance, enforce brand standards, and implement strategies to boost franchisee profitability.
• Act as the primary liaison between corporate leadership and franchise owners.

 Market Intelligence and Pipeline Development

• Conduct market research to identify priority markets and potential opportunities.
• Lead outreach to potential schools and school groups who might be open to exploring GSM’s franchise model.
• Build and manage a qualified pipeline in Monday CRM, with clear stage definitions, probabilities, next actions and expected value.
• Produce monthly executive ready reports and board packs that highlight progress, risks and decisions required

 Brand, Events, and Thought Leadership

• Represent GSM at priority conferences and government roundtables; secure speaker slots and partner meetings.
• Work with marketing to develop targeted narratives, case studies and collateral aligned to the ASPIRE framework.
• Oversee the onboarding of new locations and deploy targeted marketing and training programs.

Governance, Risk, and Compliance

• Implement due diligence frameworks covering counterparties, environmental social and governance, safeguarding, sanctions and data privacy.
• Maintain risk registers for major pursuits with mitigations, decision gates and executive visibility.
• Ensure all franchise agreements and operations comply with regulatory requirements and corporate policies.

Job-Specific Knowledge & Skills:

Solid financial acumen, market forecasting, analytical skills, and ability to develop and articulate business case

Strategic thinking, analytical skills, and problem solving; ability to think-outside-the-box

Ability to negotiate large deals and cultivate executive-level relationships

Strong presentation, communication and stakeholder management skills

Collaborative mindset and approach

Qualifications and Expected Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Education, or related field.

8 to 10 years of progressive experience in partnerships or business development, ideally in education, public private partnerships, real estate development or impact sectors.

Track record of originating and closing complex multi stakeholder deals with governments and institutional partners.

Advanced financial literacy, including profit and loss modelling, scenario analysis and investment cases.

Fluency in English.

Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and negotiate agreements.

Proficiency in CRM and executive reporting.

*Desirable

Master’s degree (MBA, Public Policy, Education Leadership) or equivalent.

Fluency in Arabic

Experience across international markets.

Familiarity with school operations, regulatory approvals and procurement processes.

GEMS Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all of its students and staff. A UK-enhanced DBS or equivalent police check is a pre-requisite for all appointments.