Sales & Growth Lead

Sales & Growth Lead

About the role

About CATALYST by Winchester College ✨

The education landscape is dominated by exam prep and tutoring - yet everyone knows good grades aren’t the only indicator for future success.

Rooted in 600+ years' academic excellence, CATALYST by Winchester College is on a mission to make skills-based learning an essential part of every student’s education. This means helping students learn how to think - and we mean really think - giving them the confidence to find creative solutions to some of life’s biggest challenges. As an early-age start-up we are pioneering online skills-based learning, proving that academic excellence and exceptional student experience co-exist in both in-person and digital classrooms

The Sales & Growth Lead is a crucial strategic hire responsible for identifying and landing new business opportunities across the education and ed tech sectors, fostering relationships with key stakeholders, and working effectively with the marketing and educational teams to achieve business objectives. This role will report to the Commercial Director.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll develop and execute a comprehensive business development strategy: You’ll know your way around a sales funnel and understand how to grow pipeline and hit conversion and revenue targets. You’ll ensure key business development metrics are accurate, insightful, optimised, and available promptly. You’ll also oversee enrolment and reporting across multiple course offerings, working alongside the Partnerships Manager and Course Manager.

You’ll know how to land a pitch: You’ll live and breathe the CATALYST ethos and are determined to share the value of skills-based learning with a network of education consultancies and schools, knowing how to tailor your pitch to every stakeholder across the sales funnel.

You’ll help us to identify and pursue a variety of new business opportunities: You’re excited about seeking out the contours of a deal, even if it isn’t an obvious sell. We value calculated risk-taking and want to hear from you why you believe an opportunity is worth pursuing.

You’ll be a confident negotiator: You understand the value of the give/get in any relationship, and are able to find creative ways to get a good deal done.

You’ll be an out-of-the box thinker: You want to jump in and try new things, get a bit scrappy and forge out new growth areas, always with a market-first approach.

You’ll have deep knowledge of the entire marketing mix (both digital and traditional): You have proven expertise working alongside Marketing across multiple channels to reach customers and drive growth. You know how to partner well, using data to refine messaging and optimise platforms and channels.

You’ll help us to develop our niche as a pioneer of skills-based academic excellence: You’ll leverage sector knowledge, attending conferences and networking events to promote the strong heritage of CATALYST by Winchester College scholastic pedigree. Some travel may be required.

You’ll develop and execute a comprehensive business development strategy: You’ll know your way around a sales funnel and understand how to grow pipeline and hit conversion and revenue targets within the education sector. You’ll ensure key business development metrics are accurate, insightful, optimised, and available promptly. You’ll also oversee enrolment and reporting across multiple course offerings.

Requirements

Sound like you?

• You must have extensive experience in a Growth leadership role, ideally within a start-up. An understanding of the UK independent education sector is a plus.
• As part of a small team you know that accountability is everything. You can run solo but are committed to doing your bit to support the team across wider strategic initiatives.
• You possess a growth mindset, always striving for continuous improvement, with a near-fanatical desire to experiment.
• You have an entrepreneurial streak, relishing the opportunity to hunt down new business opportunities, and the know how to find the win-win.
• You have a collaborative spirit and can effectively run with other departments, aligning efforts to drive successful outcomes.
• You understand the value of data and know how to monitor market trends, campaign outcomes, and competitor activities to inform strategic decisions.
• You understand why the details matter and are meticulously organised across your ways of working.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years’ experience in a sales & growth role with deep knowledge of the UK independent education sector.
• Proven experience in business development or partnership management.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Strong attention to detail, strategic thinking, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external partners.
• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field.

Valued behaviours ‍

Innate integrity: We are self-aware, accountable, and act with humility and respect.

Courageous spirit: We are bold with a purpose, we learn through failure, and challenge directly.

Excellence: We are relentless in the pursuit of the exceptional and inspire others to raise the bar.

Curious beyond measure: We ask questions, constantly seeking uncharted paths to explore.

Why us?

• The ability to lead and shape the department, making your mark on a growing sector.
• Private medical insurance.
• 25 days + bank holidays allowance, with the flexibility to set your schedule.
• Remote working, with monthly team days and the option to work more fluidly in London or Winchester.
• An opportunity to build from the ground up a mission-driven company empowering students to develop the skills that matter.

Join our team and make a difference

Please send a CV to ab@wincoll.ac.uk. I'll be in touch to chat about the role and find out more about how you can help us to make a difference in every student's life.