Business Development & Client Relations Specialist

About the RoleThe Business Development Specialist will support KAUST Academy’s growth by identifying and engaging new customers across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, managing client relationships, and coordinating with the Academic team to develop tailored training solutions. This role is responsible for driving customer acquisition, managing the Etimad platform processes, producing go-to-market strategies, and ensuring that KAUST Academy’s offerings are effectively communicated to prospective clients in both government and private sectors. The Business Development Specialist will work closely with KAUST Academy’s academic and operations teams to articulate customer needs, develop program proposals, and present solutions that align with the Kingdom’s workforce development priorities under Vision 2030. The role also includes monitoring market trends and providing management with actionable insights to inform strategic planning.ResponsibilitiesCustomer Acquisition & Market Development Identify and prospect new customers across government entities, semi-government organizations, and private sector companies that can be served by KAUST Academy’s training and development programs.Develop and deliver professional pitch presentations to explain KAUST Academy’s program offerings and identify new business opportunities with prospective customers.Produce and maintain a go-to-market strategy for KAUST Academy’s services and develop yearly business development targets.Customer Relationship Management & Needs Analysis Manage customer relationship activities and serve as the primary point of contact through the Academy’s information email inbox, ensuring timely and professional responses to enquiries.Articulate customer training needs and work with the Academy’s Academic team to develop tailored training programs and solutions, then present the proposed program back to the customer for approval and buy-in.Build and maintain a customer relationship database to track interactions, pipeline status, and follow-up activities.Etimad & Procurement Platform Management Manage and oversee all Etimad platform processes on behalf of KAUST Academy, including supplier registration, tender submissions, and compliance with government procurement requirements.Monitor upcoming government tenders relevant to KAUST Academy’s service offerings and coordinate bid preparation activities.Market Intelligence & Reporting Research and inform management of market trends, industry developments, and competitor activities relevant to KAUST Academy’s positioning in the Saudi training and education market.Provide periodic reports to management on business development pipeline, customer engagement activities, and progress against yearly targets.QualificationsEducation: A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Commerce, or a related field is required.Experience: 4+ years of experience in business development, client relations, or sales roles, preferably within the education, training, or professional services sector. Experience with Saudi government procurement platforms (e.g., Etimad) is preferred. Fluency in Arabic and English is required.Required SkillsBusiness Development: Demonstrated ability to identify and pursue new business opportunities, build client pipelines, and establish relationships with stakeholders across both public and private sectors in Saudi Arabia.Communication & Presentation: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop compelling pitch presentations, articulate complex programme offerings clearly, and maintain professional client correspondence in both Arabic and English.Training Solutions Knowledge: Ability to understand customer training needs, collaborate with academic teams to shape program solutions, and communicate the value of learning offerings to clients.Target-Driven & Results-Oriented: Comfortable working towards defined yearly business development targets and reporting on pipeline progress, conversion rates, and customer engagement metrics.Market Awareness: Good understanding of the Saudi training and education market landscape, including familiarity with government procurement platforms, and awareness of Vision 2030 priorities related to workforce development.