Business Development Manager - GCC

Pearson Business Development Manager - GCC in United Arab Emirates

About the Role

Are you an Arabic-speaking sales professional with a passion for driving workforce transformation across the GCC? At Pearson, we’re on a mission to help governments and businesses prepare their people for the future. As our Business Development Manager – GCC, you’ll play a key role in expanding Pearson’s reach across the region, delivering solutions that support national priorities in employability, skilling, and digital transformation.

You’ll work with both corporate enterprises and government bodies in UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and beyond, aligning Pearson’s global solutions with local workforce development goals. This is a consultative, strategic role with plenty of opportunity to create impact.

Your Key Responsibilities

1. Own the regional sales target, with a focus on high-value opportunities across both corporate and public sectors.
2. Use a consultative selling approach to deliver tailored solutions in English proficiency, digital learning, upskilling, soft skills, and large-scale training initiatives.
3. Identify, engage, and nurture key stakeholders—HR leaders, L&D heads, CHROs, and digital transformation executives—across a range of sectors, including healthcare, finance, telecom, and energy.

Corporate & Government Engagement

1. Develop deep insight into workforce development, employability, and skilling priorities across GCC governments and large enterprises.
2. Engage with Ministries of Education, Labor, Human Resources, and Digital Transformation to position Pearson as a strategic partner.
3. Navigate complex procurement processes, tenders, and government funding mechanisms, ensuring Pearson is well-placed for inclusion in national initiatives.

Strategic Market Expansion

1. Support the MENAT leadership team in shaping a 3-year go-to-market strategy that aligns to GCC market trends and national agendas.
2. Work with internal teams to customise solutions for government-funded projects, RFPs, and enterprise-wide learning programmes.
3. Partner with product, marketing, and implementation teams to co-create and deliver relevant learning solutions that meet stakeholder needs.
4. Track pipeline and key account data accurately through CRM (Salesforce or similar) and provide regular reporting on performance and opportunities.

About You

You are a strategic thinker and relationship builder with a strong understanding of workforce and education priorities in the GCC. You speak fluent Arabic and English, and thrive in both corporate and government-facing environments.

What You’ll Bring:

1. A minimum of 7 years of experience in enterprise sales, ideally within L&D, workforce upskilling, digital learning, or HR tech.
2. Proven success working with government stakeholders and enterprise decision-makers across multiple GCC countries.
3. Strong knowledge of regional government procurement and funding mechanisms.
4. Excellent negotiation, consultative selling, and stakeholder engagement skills.
5. Fluent in Arabic and English (French is a plus).
6. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM platforms (Salesforce preferred).

Bonus Points for:

1. Background in HR tech, AI-based workforce planning, digital credentialing, or government-led education projects.
2. Experience responding to large-scale tenders or running strategic skilling initiatives.

Additional Information

This is a hybrid role based in Dubai, with a minimum of two days a week in our office. Regional travel will be required as per business needs.

We look forward to learning more about you!

Who we are:

At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. We are the world's lifelong learning company. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. To learn more: We are Pearson.

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. 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 actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

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.

Job: SALES