Head of Business DevelopmentDebrecen
Orchestrate the strategic expansion and brand positioning of Hungary's premier international IB school. The position involves balancing complex multi-channel lead acquisition with operational data integrity across a high-stakes admissions lifecycle. Secure a seat at the leadership table of a growing institution on an award-winning campus at a pivotal moment of institutional scaling.
The International School of Debrecen (ISD) is a growing IB continuum school offering the PYP, MYP, and DP and is the only school in Hungary accredited by NEASC ACE. Located in an award-winning campus at the edge of a forest in Debrecen, ISD is a dynamic, student-centered learning community committed to developing caring, curious, creative changemakers.
Position OverviewThe Head of Business Development is a senior leadership role responsible for leading the Business Development Team that drives the school's student enrollment growth, marketing performance, and end-to-end admissions lifecycle management. The role combines growth strategy, corporate partnership development, marketing leadership, and enrollment operations oversight, ensuring both pipeline expansion and operational excellence across the entire student journey. The primary objective is to grow student enrollment through data-driven acquisition strategies while maintaining a highly accurate, efficient, and compliant admissions process. The secondary objective is to develop feedback mechanisms, monitor parent feedback, and work in partnership with educational leaders to ensure that ISD fulfills its mission promises.
Marketing & Brand Positioning
Lead the school's positioning strategy in local and international markets
Oversee digital marketing, communications, and paid media performance
Manage external agencies and marketing partners to ensure conversion-focused output
Ensure consistent, high-quality brand messaging across all channels
Plan and execute recruitment events, open days, and outreach initiatives
Growth & Student Acquisition Strategy
Design and execute the overall student recruitment and growth strategy
Develop and optimize multi-channel lead generation strategies (digital, referrals, events, corporate)
Oversee conversion-focused marketing initiatives across the full funnel
Manage and optimize the full enrollment funnel (awareness → inquiry → application → enrollment)
Improve conversion rates through continuous data analysis and experimentation
Lead CRM-based growth strategy and pipeline development
Corporate & Strategic Partnerships
Develop and manage strategic partnerships with multinational companies and key stakeholders
Align CSR and talent development initiatives with student recruitment goals
Design and support scholarship programs funded through corporate partnerships
Build and maintain relationships with senior-level external stakeholders (C-level executives, institutions, organizations)
Enrollment Operations & Funnel Management
Oversee the full admissions and enrollment lifecycle from inquiry to onboarding
Ensure accuracy and integrity of student data within CRM systems (e.g., OpenApply or equivalent)
Standardize and optimize admissions workflows and processes
Ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulatory requirementsIdentify and resolve operational bottlenecks in the enrollment process
Coordinate closely with academic and administrative teams during student onboarding
Customer Experience & Parent Journey
Monitor and improve the overall parent experience throughout the enrollment journey
Manage feedback systems, including surveys and continuous feedback channels
Identify at-risk families and implement retention strategies
Develop community engagement and referral initiatives
Strengthen long-term parent engagement and advocacy
Data, Analytics & Reporting
Analyze full enrollment funnel performance and conversion metrics
Provide regular reporting to senior leadership on key growth KPIs
Identify drop-off points in the funnel and recommend improvements
Develop enrollment forecasts and pipeline projections
Drive data-informed decision-making across marketing and admissions
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Lead-to-enrollment conversion rate
Total student enrollment growth
Pipeline volume and quality
Corporate partnership revenue / scholarship funding secured
Parent satisfaction (NPS / feedback scores)
CRM data accuracy and process compliance
Qualifications
Bachelor's/Master's degree (economics, finance, marketing, or related field)
Experience in a similar leadership role
High level of English proficiency
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Hungarian
Strong administrative and organizational skills
Strong computer literacy (MS office, email, CRM systems)
Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
Ability to prioritize tasks effectively
Strong focus on data accuracy and database management
Strong managerial skills
Benefits
A modern workspace with parking and bike storage
Company laptop, phone, and necessary technology
Delicious lunches at our on-site canteen (provided by IKON Restaurant)
Friendly, collaborative colleagues
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