Business Development Manager Malaysia

Company Description At upSkillup, we partner with organizations to build cultures where people can thrive and perform at their best. Specializing in HR and leadership development, we help strengthen capability, shift mindsets, and align strategy with culture so that people growth drives business growth. Our work blends strategic people expertise with experiential learning to develop future-ready leaders and teams who can navigate complexity and lead change. We offer leadership development, HR capability building, culture and mindset shift, and advisory services to a wide range of clients, from multinationals to public agencies and homegrown firms. As a boutique consultancy, we focus on deep expertise, personalized service, and practical solutions that create lasting impact on the ground.

Role Description The Business Development Manager Malaysia is a full-time remote role responsible for expanding upSkillup’s presence and client base in the Malaysian market. This role involves identifying and qualifying new business opportunities, managing the sales pipeline, and nurturing relationships with HR and business leaders across industries. The manager will conduct market research, develop tailored proposals, and collaborate with delivery teams to design solutions that align with client needs in leadership, HR capability, and culture transformation. Day-to-day activities include prospecting, leading client meetings and presentations (virtual or in-person as needed), negotiating contracts, and tracking performance against revenue and growth targets. The role also requires close coordination with internal stakeholders to refine go-to-market strategies and ensure a high-quality client experience from first contact through engagement delivery.

Key responsibilities

Market development and client acquisition

· Develop and execute a practical plan to grow Upskillup’s Malaysian business, prioritising sectors, organisations, and opportunities aligned with our growth strategy.

· Generate qualified opportunities through targeted outreach, networking, referrals, partnerships, and follow-up on enquiries.

· Build relationships with HR, L&D, and business leaders to understand their organisational priorities and people challenges.

· Build relationships with Malaysian business networks, industry associations, and referral partners to expand market reach.

Consultative sales and proposals

· Own the sales process from discovery meetings and opportunity qualification through proposal development, presentations, negotiation, and contract confirmation.

· Work with our consultants and facilitators to translate client needs into relevant learning and consulting solutions, with clear scope, deliverables, and commercial terms.

· Develop commercially sound proposals within agreed pricing guidelines, balancing client needs with profitability and delivery capacity.

Sales performance and market insight

· Achieve agreed sales and revenue targets, maintaining a healthy pipeline and realistic forecasts.

· Maintain accurate CRM records covering client interactions, opportunities, next steps, expected close dates, and sales progress.

· Regularly report on performance and pipeline, and share client feedback, competitor insights, and market opportunities to inform our offerings and approach.

Client relationships and delivery coordination

· Maintain strong client relationships throughout the engagement and identify opportunities for repeat business and broader partnerships.

· Ensure a clear handover to operations and delivery teams, including confirmed scope, commitments, schedules, and commercial terms.

· Coordinate with relevant colleagues to address client concerns and support timely follow-up on outstanding payments.

· Coordinate with clients and the operations team on HRD Corp related documentation and processes, where applicable.

· Conduct all business development activities professionally and in line with company policies and ethical standards.

Requirements

· Typically 4–7 years of relevant B2B business development or consultative sales experience, preferably in corporate training, learning and development, HR consulting, or professional services.

· A proven track record of generating opportunities, winning corporate clients, and achieving sales targets. Demonstrated results will carry more weight than years of experience alone.

· Strong understanding of the Malaysian business environment and confidence engaging HR, L&D, and senior business decision-makers.

· Ability to understand client needs and position tailored services, supported by strong proposal writing, presentation, and negotiation skills.

· Comfort with digital tools and platforms for virtual meetings, CRM usage, and collaboration (e.g., Zoom, Teams, Salesforce or similar).

· Ability to work independently, take initiative, and collaborate effectively within a small team.

· Strong written and spoken English. Bahasa Malaysia proficiency would be advantageous.

Additional advantages

· Experience selling HRD Corp claimable training programmes, with a practical understanding of funding requirements, grant applications, and claims processes.

· An established network of HR, L&D, and business decision-makers in Malaysia.

· Experience developing a new market or growing a client portfolio for a small or expanding business.

How success will be measured

Success will be measured primarily through achievement of agreed sales targets for confirmed contracts and revenue targets, supported by qualified pipeline growth, conversion rates, profitable business, and the development of lasting client relationships in Malaysia. Targets and performance measures will be agreed with the successful candidate, taking account of the initial market development period.