Role:
The Head of Business Development will lead GITAM's strategic partnership and alliance initiatives, driving institutional relationships that support student recruitment, brand visibility, and healthcare growth. Reporting directly to the Chief Marketing Officer, this role is pivotal to GITAM's expansion across education, healthcare, and corporate sectors both nationally and internationally.
The role spans three principal domains:
• Building and sustaining relationships with Platinum Schools to create robust admissions pipelines
• Developing and managing corporate partnerships for GITAM Hospital
• Establishing strategic alliances in India and internationally to enhance admissions, research, marketing reach, funding and academic collaboration
Key Responsibilities:
1. Platinum School Engagement
Develop and maintain long-term relationships with top-tier Platinum Schools across India and internationally, establishing GITAM as a preferred higher education destination among leading institutions.
• Design and implement structured engagement programmes, including:
School outreach visits and student counselling sessions
University immersion programmes and campus familiarisation visits
Joint academic initiatives, competitions, and scholarship programmes
• Build a sustained pipeline of high-calibre applicants from partner institutions
• Track and report on school engagement outcomes and admissions conversion
2. Corporate Partnerships for GITAM Hospital
Build and manage relationships with corporates, insurance providers, and healthcare networks to drive patient referrals, corporate health programmes, and institutional healthcare partnerships.
• Develop tailored corporate health packages, executive wellness programmes, and group insurance arrangements
• Establish and grow partnerships across:
Corporations and large employers in Visakhapatnam and beyond
Insurance providers and Third-Party Administrators (TPAs)
International healthcare networks and medical tourism facilitators
• Monitor partnership performance against patient referral and revenue targets
• Lead an account management team that focuses on engagement and revenue with relevant corporates
3. Strategic Partnerships & Alliances
Identify, develop, and manage strategic alliances with institutions, organisations, and agencies in India and overseas that support student recruitment, academic collaboration, and institutional growth.
• Negotiate and implement MoUs, joint academic programmes, and co-marketing collaborations
• Build relationships with international universities, education agencies, and accreditation bodies
• Develop a structured partnership framework with clear governance and review mechanisms
4. Market Expansion & Opportunity Identification
Proactively identify emerging opportunities across sectors and geographies to expand GITAM's institutional footprint.
• Develop strategic expansion plans for new geographic markets and industry sectors, including:
Healthcare partnerships and hospital networks
School chains and education group tie-ups
International student recruitment corridors
Academic, research, and faculty exchange collaborations
Corporate learning, executive education, and upskilling programmes
6. Stakeholder Engagement & Representation
Represent GITAM at education fairs, healthcare conferences, corporate forums, and international events, building GITAM's profile as a premier institution and healthcare destination.
• Cultivate and maintain productive relationships with:
School leaders, principals, and career counsellors
Corporate HR, CSR, and L&D teams
Research funding instituions
Healthcare institutions, networks, and referral partners
International universities, education partners, and government bodies
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
KPI Description
Platinum School Partnerships - Number of formal partnerships established annually
Corporate Healthcare Deals - Signed corporate health packages for GITAM Hospital
Admissions Pipeline Growth - Enrollment growth attributable to partner networks
International MoUs - New MoUs and academic collaborations signed
Revenue Attribution - Revenue or enrollment growth from business development
Brand & Engagement - Metrics Institutional visibility and stakeholder engagement
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Essential
• Master's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Healthcare Management, or a related discipline
• 10-15+ years of progressive experience in business development, institutional partnerships, or strategic alliances
• Demonstrated track record in higher education, healthcare, or corporate partnership environments
Strong national and international networking capability with established relationships in relevant sectors
• Familiarity with the corporate and institutional landscape in Visakhapatnam and the broader Andhra Pradesh
region
• Prior experience negotiating and managing MoUs and institutional agreements
Preferred
• Experience working across both education and healthcare sectors
• Established relationships with school chains, international education agencies, or corporate HR networks
• Exposure to international student recruitment markets
CORE COMPETENCIES
• Strategic Relationship Management - ability to build, sustain, and leverage high-value institutional relationships
• Commercial Acumen - strong understanding of revenue drivers, partnership economics, and deal structuring
• Cross-functional Collaboration - effective working relationships with admissions, marketing, academic, and clinical teams
• Negotiation & Influence - skilled in negotiating complex agreements with diverse institutional partners
• Market Intelligence - ability to identify emerging opportunities and translate them into actionable plans
• Executive Presence - confident representation of GITAM at senior forums and external events
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