Business Development Manager, Education Strategy

Location: Ba Dinh, Hanoi Team: B2B Revenue Report to: Business Development Director, SEA & Taiwan About ELSA: ELSA is a global leader in AI-powered English communication training, dedicated to transforming how people learn and speak English with confidence. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in San Francisco, we operate across the U.S., Vietnam, Portugal, Indonesia, Brazil and Japan. Powered by proprietary speech-recognition technology and generative AI, ELSA delivers real-time, hyper-personalized feedback to help learners improve pronunciation, fluency, and overall communication effectiveness. With over 50 million learners and 1 billion hours of anonymized speech data , ELSAs depth of language training intelligence is unmatched in the industry. Our B2B flagship platforms ELSA Enterprise and ELSA Schools empower organizations and educational institutions to elevate communication capabilities and unlock personal and professional opportunities for their people. We design engaging, bite-sized learning experiences that adapt to each learners goals and context, ensuring measurable improvement and lasting confidence. Our vision is to become the global standard for real-time English communication training, enabling 1.5 billion language learners worldwide to speak clearly, be understood, and share their stories with the world. Backed by world-class investors including Googles Gradient Ventures, Monks Hill Ventures, and SOSV , ELSA has been recognized among the top global AI innovators: Forbes Top 4 Companies Using AI to Transform the World Research Sniper Top 5 Best AI Apps ASU+GSV EdTech 150 CB Insights Top 100 AI Companies Join us in shaping the future of language learning and empowering millions to unlock opportunity through confident communication. About the Role We are seeking a passionate and strategic Business Development Manager Educational Strategy (Individual Contributor) to drive partnerships and adoption of ELSA solutions within the education sector, focusing on developing partnerships with schools, universities, training institutions, and education-focused organizations. The ideal candidate brings a proven track record in business development or B2B sales, with a strong interest in technology, AI and innovation. Prior experience in academic environments is a significant advantage. What You'll Be Doing Lead the development and execution of strategic partnerships with universities, academic institutions, and education-focused organizations Serve as a domain expert in education to inform ELSAs go-to-market strategy and solution development for the education segment Identify opportunities to integrate ELSAs technology into institutional learning environments (e.g., language centers, academic English programs, teacher training) Lead proposal development, pitch presentations, and contract negotiations for academic partnerships Collaborate closely with Product, Customer Success, and Marketing teams to tailor solutions for educational partners Monitor and analyze market trends in education and AI/EdTech to identify growth opportunities Maintain accurate reporting of pipeline, forecasts, and performance metrics What You'll Need Bachelors degree required; Masters degree in Education, TESOL, or related fields is a strong plus Minimum 4 years of experience in business development and partnerships, ideally in the EdTech, education or training industry Proven ability to build and manage relationships with institutional clients or partners Experience working with or within educational institutions (e.g., as a university lecturer, academic coordinator, or trainer) is a significant advantage Strong understanding of Vietnams education sector, especially higher education and training programs Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills Passion for education and interest in technology or AI-based learning solutions Proficiency in both English and Vietnamese (written and spoken) Why You'll Love Working Here Competitive package: base salary + performance incentives + allowances Flexible work setting: Hybrid working model (MondayFriday, 9 AM - 6 PM), with remote work every Friday 12 days annual leave, plus 1 birthday and 1 Christmas leave Premium health insurance and annual health check-up Full social insurance Free ELSA Premium subscription to improve your English skills Regular performance-based recognition and awards Collaborative, international team culture Opportunity to contribute to a fast-growing, well-funded Silicon Valley startup with global impact.