Business Development and Relations Senior Manager

About GESS

As one of the leading international schools in Singapore, GESS is home to students from over 70 nations worldwide. We are for many families the home away from home and we are very happy that they are part of our school community which is based on mutual support and solidarity. With our language programme, we support our students to nurture this part of their identity and want to preserve the opportunity that they can grow up with multiple languages to be best prepared for an international environment. With the German International Abitur or the IB Programme they are perfectly prepared for their career after school. Our students enjoy lifelong learning and we take pride in our GESS values of respect, openness and diversity which our students will nurture in their life after school.

We were awarded with the “Deutsche Schulpreis” (German school prize) 2022, which was given to us for our extraordinary concept according to their motto “Make teaching better”. We stand out as the only German school abroad nominated for this award.

Business Development and Relations Senior Manager

GESS is creating a high-visibility, commercially focused role to drive enrolment growth across both the German Curriculum and the English IB Programme. The Senior Manager will be 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 GESS’s existing Admissions and Marketing teams, not in place of them. This role builds relationships and generates qualified demand. Events and campaigns are co-planned and co-delivered alongside Admissions and Marketing.

Key Accountabilities

Business Development and Pipeline

Lead outbound business development to generate enquiries, enrolments and tuition revenue from priority segments, against targets agreed.

Run a structured outreach programme to relocation agencies, global mobility leaders and HR decision makers at German Centre-based and other European multinationals, and negotiate corporate partnerships, preferred-school and relocation-package arrangements (subject to school leadership approval).

Track leads from diplomatic, corporate, chamber and club channels, alongside the Admissions team through an agreed process, and report conversion against enrolment KPIs to the school leadership.

Diplomatic and Institutional Relations

At times, represent GESS at embassy briefings, national day celebrations, trade delegations and diplomatic functions.

Chambers, Corporates, Clubs and Events

Build partnerships with Corporates, HR and with relevant chambers and clubs, securing visibility through sponsorships, publications, newsletters and member offers, coordinated with Marketing on brand and budget.

Co-plan and co-host open houses, executive receptions, newcomer briefings and information evenings together with Admissions and Marketing team. This role brings the audiences and senior hosting; Admissions leads, admissions content and follow-up; Marketing leads, promotion and production.

Represent GESS at community fairs, welcome events and newcomer briefings run by clubs and relocation providers.

Communications and Storytelling

Work with Marketing and within GESS brand guidelines, to develop bilingual collateral, briefings and presentations tailored to relevant audiences as needed.

Knowledge and Experience

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, reputation-driven sector (luxury, consumer or membership brands), with a record of building partner networks, achieving targets and pipelines and managing budgets.

Measurable growth in enquiries and enrolments sourced 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.

New business development track record.

Technical and Soft Skills

Executive presence, consultative selling and negotiation skills for C-suite executives, and prospective parents, plus a flair for storytelling to turn institutional priorities into compelling narratives.

A collaborative approach: comfortable co-delivering with Admissions and Marketing colleagues and knowing when to lead and when to hand over. Able to partner cross functionally, internally.

Experience using CRM systems (HubSpot), to manage relationships, maintain accurate records and support engagement and reporting.