Business Development Manager at the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust.

We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Business Development Manager

Job ID: 46300
Location: Abuja, Nigeria
Pay Band: 6G
SBU: English and Examinations 
Contract type: Fixed term contract 2 years

Job Description

• We are seeking a dynamic and results-driven Business Development Manager to lead and grow our operations across the North, Abuja, South-South, and South East regions of Nigeria.
• Based in Abuja, this role is central to driving business development across a range of products and services.
• You will be responsible for building strong relationships, identifying client needs, and enhancing opportunities with key accounts to meet strategic business targets.
• Working closely with account relationship management colleagues, you will execute the country’s key account strategy and ensure delivery on expectations.
• In this role, you will oversee commercial planning, conduct regular quality checks, and implement plans aligned with market needs.
• You will be responsible for financial monitoring, reporting, and reforecasting, ensuring the delivery of income and margin targets.
• Your work will support annual planning in collaboration with the Director of Exams and align with regional and global objectives.
• You will also gather and analyze customer and market intelligence to identify new opportunities and prioritize lead generation.
• Your ability to understand client needs and tailor value propositions will be key to winning new business.
• You will support the commercial team in pursuing sales and account management activities, while also advising on overcoming challenges. Regular quality reviews and recommendations for operational improvements will help enhance team performance and service delivery.
• You will manage key account relationships and stakeholder engagement, ensuring accurate records and coordinated account management. This includes organizing meetings, sharing marketing materials, and overseeing strategic partnerships.
• You will also contribute to business development reporting and maintain a strong pipeline to drive current and future demand.
• As a leader, you will motivate your team, prioritize operational activities, and support their development to ensure effective service delivery. Your insights and collaboration with the Cluster Lead will help shape strategy and drive continuous improvement.
• If you are passionate about business growth, relationship management, and delivering results, we invite you to apply and be part of a team that makes a meaningful impact.

About You
Essential Requirements for the Role:

• The British Council systems and global processes operate in English. C2 level of written and verbal proficiency in English is must.
• Relevant work experience in a BD Manager role
• Demonstrable experience to sustain and/or grow a product/service in line with strategic priorities for income and impact
• Experience collecting and analyzing client/stakeholder feedback
• Takes a pro-active approach to identifying ways in which service can be improved, and takes these forward
• Demonstrated analytical ability and commercial acumen

Desirable requirements for the role:

• Business development experience in the E&E sector Experience working with exams (or services related setting)

Annual Gross Salary
NGN18,437,079.08

Application Closing Date
31st July 2025 (23:59 Gulf Standard Time)

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• All applications should be submitted only in English.
• It is advisable to apply in advance to avoid any technical issues at the last moment
• This role is open to candidates who have the legal right to work and are located/based in Nigeria. 
• Local travels may be required