Associate Manager/Manager-Business Development and Partnerships

Position: Manager - Business Development and Partnerships

About Athena Education:

Athena is India's largest institution in the "premium undergraduate study abroad" space. Founded 10 years ago by two Princeton graduates, Poshak Agrawal and Rahul Subramaniam, Athena is headquartered in Gurgaon, with offices in Mumbai and Bangalore, and caters to students from 21 countries.

Athena’s vision is to help students become the best version of themselves. Our transformative, holistic life coaching program embraces both depth and breadth, sciences and the humanities. Athena encourages students to deepen their theoretical knowledge and apply it to address practical issues confronting society, both locally and globally.

Through our flagship program, our students have gained admission to universities such as Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, Stanford University, University of Cambridge, MIT, Brown, Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Chicago, among others.

Role Overview:

As the Manager - Business Development and Partnerships, your primary responsibility will be to drive Athena's business growth by converting leads into actual customers and establishing strategic partnerships. This role involves a mix of sales and partnership-building, requiring you to identify new business opportunities, cultivate relationships with prospective clients, and close sales deals. You will collaborate with various teams to ensure that partnership strategies align with Athena's long-term objectives.

This role demands a sales-driven mindset, excellent relationship-building skills, and a keen understanding of the education sector, particularly in the premium study abroad space.

Key Skills:

• Strong sales acumen and lead conversion
• Business development and relationship management
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a focus on results
• Market research and competitive analysis
• Project management and execution

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s/Master’s degree from a top college in India or abroad
• Preferred experience: 4-6+ years in business development, sales, or partnerships

Key Responsibilities:

Convert Leads into Customers: Engage with prospective clients, guide them through Athena’s offerings, and convert leads into paying customers through persuasive sales techniques.Sales Strategy: Develop and implement sales strategies to meet targets, leveraging both inbound and outbound leads.Business Development: Identify and pursue new business opportunities, including partnerships with schools, universities, and other organizations.

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including academic institutions, educational platforms, and industry leaders.
• Lead negotiations and manage contracts with new and existing partners, ensuring mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Conduct market research to identify trends, customer needs, and competitive landscapes, and leverage this data to inform sales and business development strategies.
• Collaborate with the marketing, operations, and consulting teams to ensure alignment in achieving sales targets and business objectives.
• Represent Athena at industry events, conferences, and networking opportunities to build brand visibility and strengthen partnerships.
• Manage key partnerships, ensuring long-term engagement, collaboration, and success for both Athena and its partners.
• Prepare reports and presentations for senior management, providing updates on business development activities, sales performance, and market opportunities.

Why Should You Be Interested?

• Sales Impact: Directly contribute to Athena’s growth by converting high-value leads into customers and building strategic partnerships that drive long-term business success.
• Growth Opportunities: Be a key player in Athena’s expansion efforts and play a critical role in shaping the future of the company.
• Dynamic Culture: Join a team of passionate, goal-driven individuals who are committed to innovation and excellence in education.
• Professional Development: At Athena, you’ll have opportunities to collaborate across departments and with external partners, enhancing your professional growth and learning.

Location & Work Environment:

Gurugram: Vatika Triangle, 1st Floor, Mehrauli-Gurgaon Rd, A Block, Sushant Lok Phase I, Gurugram, Haryana 122002

At Athena, we encourage independent thinking, innovation, and collaboration. If you are passionate about driving sales, building strategic partnerships, and working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, we’d love to hear from you!