Director of Business Development and Client Success
We are delighted to be recruiting for a Director of Business Development and Client Success at The Oxford Group (part of City & Guilds).
The Director of Business Development and Client Success will be a pivotal member of The Oxford Group’s Senior Leadership Team, accountable for shaping the sales strategy and leading the team to deliver sustainable revenue growth through new client acquisition, as well as the retention and growth of existing clients.
The Oxford Group is a leading global provider of leadership, management development, and executive coaching solutions to large international organisations.
At The Oxford Group, we’re committed to leadership that not only meets today’s challenges but also drives meaningful, lasting impact for tomorrow.
As part of the City & Guilds portfolio of trusted skills development brands, and supported by a global network of over 200 multilingual consultants and coaches, we bring the insight, experience, and partnership needed to shape a future defined by purposeful, high-impact leadership.
For this role, we offer hybrid working arrangements. Ideally, we would like the candidate to be based in the London area to allow for regular visits to our Head Office. However, we are happy to consider candidates based in other parts of the UK, provided they offer the flexibility and willingness to travel when required.
This appointment will be made on merit.
We believe that diversity and inclusion strengthen and enriches us, and that it is the responsibility of everyone at City & Guilds to drive this value. As ethnic minority groups and disabled people are currently under-represented, we particularly encourage and welcome applications from these communities.
City & Guilds are a Disability confident employer. Please let us know if you require any support/adjustments at your interview and if successful any adjustments needed to support you in your role. If this is required, please email; careers@cityandguilds.com
About the role
As Director of Business Development and Client Success at The Oxford Group, you’ll lead our commercial growth strategy, identifying new business opportunities and building strong relationships with corporate clients and strategic partners. You’ll oversee the development of tailored proposals and lead pitches that reflect our leadership development expertise and values.
You’ll act as a senior point of contact for key accounts, ensuring client satisfaction, long-term engagement, and high-quality delivery of programmes in collaboration with our delivery teams. With full ownership of sales and revenue targets, you’ll contribute to pricing, forecasting, and contract negotiations, while working with finance to ensure accurate reporting and strong margins.
Leading a high-performing team across business development, bids, and account management, you’ll foster collaboration across marketing, client delivery, and client solutions teams, within The Oxford Group and work collaboratively with teams and colleagues within City & Guilds. You'll also represent the business externally at events and contribute to thought leadership and marketing initiatives.
Finally, you’ll drive improvements in the sales process, manage the pipeline through our CRM, and provide regular insight and reporting to facilitate business decisions.
About you
Attributes we are looking for:
Essential Experience & Knowledge
- Proven track record leading business development, sales, or client relationship management within professional services, consulting, or learning & development sectors.
- Experience managing the full sales cycle, including pipeline management, proposal development, and contract negotiation.
- Demonstrated success in growing client accounts and securing new business in a B2B environment.
- Familiarity with CRM systems and data-driven sales processes.
- Hands-on experience as a leadership development practitioner, e.g., designing, facilitating, or delivering leadership programmes, coaching, or organisational development interventions.
Desirable Experience
- Experience working in Leadership Development in global organisations or consultancies.
- Exposure to international clients and global leadership development programmes.
Skills & Competencies
- Commercial acumen – able to balance client needs with business profitability and strategic goals.
- Consultative selling – skilled at uncovering client needs and co-creating tailored solutions.
- Relationship builder – credible and empathetic communicator who builds trust with senior stakeholders.
- Strategic thinker – able to see the bigger picture and translate it into actionable plans.
- Delivery mindset – committed to high standards of execution and client satisfaction.
- Collaborative leader – works effectively across functions and inspires others to deliver shared goals.
- Analytical and organised – comfortable with data, metrics, and process improvement.
What We Offer
We offer the opportunity to work in an innovative, engaging and market-leading organisation with opportunities to develop your existing skills and explore new ones. You’ll receive an excellent benefits package which typically includes a great base salary, incentives, generous annual leave and much more.
What else is included…
- Competitive Salary, depending on experience
- Company Bonus Scheme; discretionary scheme, dependant on organisational performance and individual performance
- Challenging and engaging work across a variety of organisations and industries
- A customer centric and professional working environment
- 25 days annual leave plus Christmas shutdown plus Holiday Buy/ sell scheme
- Income Protection, Life Assurance, Private Medical Insurance
- Employee Assistance Programme (EPA), Enhanced Pension Contributions, Retail Discounts, Eye Care Vouchers, Mortgage Broker Advice, Flu jab Voucher, Mental Health Support Programmes
- Inhouse Coaching Programmes and other Support Programmes
- Access to other benefits that can be purchased at discounted rates: critical illness cover, cancer screening and other health assessments, dental insurance, Gymflex, Tastecard and Travel Insurance.
Next Steps and How To Apply
If you think this is the role and organisation for you then we would love to hear from you. Please submit your CV and complete our short application form using the apply button.
We shortlist for our vacancies on an ongoing basis, and we may close a vacancy earlier than the advertised date. Please can you submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
We are aiming to start interviewing w/c 3rd November.
If this role sounds interesting, we would love you to apply.