Position: Business Development Manager – Higher Education (South India)

Division: Higher Education

Location: Bangalore, Karnataka or Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Grade – C1

About the Division:

The Higher Education division focuses on delivering high-quality courseware and innovative digital learning solutions to support learners and educators in the tertiary sector.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive Higher Education (HED) sales revenue in South India through strategic partnerships with key accounts.

• Develop and implement business strategies and sales priorities to meet revenue goals.

• Manage a network of authorized distributors for sales, supply management, and payment collections.

• Organize exhibitions and book displays in colleges for library purchases.

• Conduct digital product demos on college campuses for faculty and students.

• Collaborate with product and marketing teams to run targeted campaigns at colleges and retailer hubs.

• Build and maintain relationships with key university stakeholders (e.g., Teaching & Learning, IT, Procurement, Educational Designers, Finance, and Library) to promote Pearson products and grow institutional sales.

• Present Pearson's products and technology solutions to groups and individuals.

• Work with instructors to align Pearson products with their programs and drive adoption sales.

• Develop new accounts and revenue streams through proactive prospecting, including cold calls and social media outreach.

• Meet or exceed KPIs and financial targets set by the company.

Other Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the operations team to provide efficient customer support.

• Stay informed about Pearson products, platforms, and industry trends impacting the educational market.

• Manage production forecasts, sales pipelines, and inventory for the Higher Education division.

• Maintain accurate sales records in OneCRM (Salesforce.com).

Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree required.

Experience: 5-8 years of proven success in working with channel partners, bookstores, sales, or customer-facing roles, preferably in higher education or a related field.

Executive Engagement: Ability to interface with executive management and conduct high-level sales meetings with Deans, Vice-Chancellors, and other senior leadership.

Negotiation Skills: Strong negotiation skills with a track record of closing deals and driving revenue growth.

Strategic Thinking: Ability to think creatively and strategically to develop innovative ideas that increase sales throughput.

Commercial Acumen: Demonstrates strong business insight and commercial judgment.

Solution Selling: High level of experience in solution selling, especially with digital products.

Passion for Education: A genuine passion for higher education and learner success, aligned with Pearson's mission.

Networking & Social Selling: Strong networking abilities, including familiarity with social media selling and prospecting techniques.

Field Sales: Willingness to spend a significant portion of time on field sales activities.

Language Skills: Fluent in the local language and intermediate-level English communication skills.

Tech Skills: Experience with Salesforce and Tableau would be a significant advantage.

What to expect from Pearson

Did you know Pearson is one of the 10 most innovative education companies of 2022?

At Pearson, we add life to a lifetime of learning so everyone can realize the life they imagine. We do this by creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are on a journey to be 100 percent digital to meet the changing needs of the global population by developing a new strategy with ambitious targets. To deliver on our strategic vision, we have five business divisions that are the foundation for the long-term growth of the company: Assessment & Qualifications, Virtual Learning, English Language Learning, Workforce Skills and Higher Education. Alongside these, we have our corporate divisions: Digital & Technology, Finance, Global Corporate Marketing & Communications, Human Resources, Legal, Strategy and Direct to Consumer. Learn more at We are Pearson.

We value the power of an inclusive culture and also a strong sense of belonging. We promote a culture where differences are embraced, opportunities are accessible, consideration and respect are the norm and all individuals are supported in reaching their full potential. Through our talent, we believe that diversity, equity and inclusion make us a more innovative and vibrant place to work. People are at the center, and we are committed to building a workplace where talent can learn, grow and thrive.

Pearson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. We want a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We strive for a workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities.

To learn more about Pearson’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce, navigate to: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Pearson.

If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing TalentExperienceGlobalTeam@grp.pearson.com.

Note that the information you provide will stay confidential and will be stored securely. It will not be seen by those involved in making decisions as part of the recruitment process.

Job: SALES

Organization: Higher Education

Schedule: FULL_TIME

Workplace Type: On-site

Req ID: 17304