Higher Education MENA Sales Manager

We are seeking a results-driven Higher Education Sales Manager to lead textbook and learning solutions revenue growth across Gulf higher education markets. In this role, you will build strategic relationships with institutions and deliver tailored educational solutions that address their evolving needs. This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished sales professional seeking a new challenge that combines effective account management with new business development. Success requires consultative sales expertise, an entrepreneurial mindset, and the ability to position our offerings as essential resources for academic excellence.

You will need a deep understanding of the regional higher education landscape, including cultural nuances and institutional buying behaviours, to navigate complex purchasing processes effectively. Working closely with the Head of Higher Education Sales, Higher Education Sales colleagues, MENA Sales teams, Channel Partners, and cross-functional teams in Marketing and Editorial, you will develop and execute comprehensive sales strategies that align institutional needs with company objectives. This position demands strategic thinking, cultural intelligence, and commercial rigor to drive success across the MENA region.

This role will require frequent travel across the Middle East territory. When you are not travelling for business, you will also be required to attend our office in Dubai 3 days per week for collaboration in person with colleagues.

Closing date for applications: 12th October 2026. Please note we will be shortlisting applications during this window.

Key responsibilities and Accountability 

• Planning, scheduling and carrying out regular sales visits to customers to achieve financial targets within your sales region, customising sales documentation and tools to maximize sales opportunities.
• Cultivating strong, holistic relationships with your customer base, working to ensure that trading with each account is sustainable, profitable and delivering a high level of customer satisfaction
• Reporting periodically to the Head of Sales on sales progress and the business environment, thus ensuring responsiveness to both the micro and macro trading conditions.
• Collecting and disseminating market, competitor, and customer feedback, including passing on leads
• Establishing a strategic approach to the short-, medium- and long-term business on territory, to ensure that activity is both relevant and flexible to the evolving trading environment over time
• Preparing for and contributing to sales meetings and events to build strategic awareness and to gather market relevant intelligence.
• Actively liaising with stakeholder departments or groups within the business to enhance T&F’s coverage of the territory Increasing T&F Influence in the library market and beyond by cultivating a network of contacts across the region, extensive interaction with our consortia in collaboration with the Higher Education Textbooks.
• Acting as liaison with Product Development in support of solution-specific sales that respond to customer needs as well as other departments (Editorial, OA, Marketing etc) to design and lead specific strategic initiatives in cooperation with key stakeholders.
• Representing the company externally, where necessary, i.e. on working party groups or through networks, maintaining a presence and information gathering role on the trading environment

Experience & Knowledge 

• Excellent knowledge of and experience selling to the higher education market
• Proven track record of formulating and implementing successful sales strategies
• Experience of working in a sales environment, primarily with established B2B partnerships
• The ability to influence, drive for results and establish clear agenda for key stakeholders in your territory
• Target driven approach and the skills to manage sales plans and delivery
• Ability to create and maintain positive and effective relationships with the sales team and other internal colleagues
• Additional language skills - particularly Arabic - would be a distinct advantage

Skills and Behaviours  

• A professional manner; the ability to approach others in a tactful manner while reacting well under pressure
• A proactive, solutions-oriented approach with a focus on driving progress and achieving results
• Strong consultative sales skills and the ability to deliver tailored solutions that meet customer needs
• The ability to analyse and synthesize complex or diverse information; proven experience collecting and researching data
• Ability to problem solve such as identifying and resolving problems in a timely manner; additionally, developing alternative solutions while working alone or in a group and using reason even when dealing with emotional topics
• A clear oral communicator who can speak clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situation while simultaneously being a strong listener to better clarify
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels
• A team player who can balance both team and individual responsibilities and build positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• A leader who can exhibit confidence in self and others by inspiring and motivating others to perform well
• Demonstrated business acumen by understanding business implications of decisions; displaying orientation to profitability; demonstrates knowledge of market and competition
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to make data-driven decisions
• A results-oriented mindset with a strong focus on achieving and exceeding sales targets

Closing Date: Applications will close on 12 Oct 2026.

Applications are shortlisted on a rolling basis, and we will be interviewing alongside advertising. We therefore encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity.

Location:

• Candidates must have the right to live and work in UAE. This role is based 3 days per week in our office in Dubai and will involve frequent travel across the Middle East for key client meetings and industry events.

• We believe that great things happen when people connect face-to-face. That's why we work in-person with each other, or with customers and partners, three days a week or more. When you’re not spending time together in one of our offices or other workplaces – like at conference – you get the flexibility and support to work from home or remotely.

• We ask that candidates live within a commutable distance of our Dubai office to ensure that as a balanced worker they can make it to our office location to collaborate as required.

We want all our candidates to shine in our recruitment process. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to ensure you are able to show us your best self. This could include having the application form in a different format, more time for questions, or anything else – please ask us, we are happy to be flexible! Please contact [email protected]

Being Yourself at Taylor & Francis 

If you’re excited about working with Taylor & Francis to foster human progress through knowledge, we invite you to apply even if your existing skills and experience don’t fit every item listed above. At Taylor & Francis, we are at our best and most successful when colleagues can be themselves and contribute regardless of their identity or background. As a colleague, you will have the opportunity to further innovate and develop in areas that you are passionate about. Our goal is to empower you with the resources, incentives, and flexibility you need to enjoy success at work and to live a healthy, balanced life.

Taylor & Francis is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe in and value diversity of people and thought, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where all colleagues can learn and succeed as their true selves. Taylor & Francis recruits, develops, and retains colleagues without regard to any protected personal characteristics or other non-merit-based factor.

If you have a disability, or face another barrier, and would like to request an adjustment to assist your participation in the hiring process and/or in the advertised position, please contact [email protected]. Your request will be reviewed and considered in the strictest confidence.

We genuinely care about our colleagues, promoting work-life balance, wellbeing, and flexible working. We believe that the skills and experience you bring to Taylor & Francis are invaluable. We want you to have the opportunity to develop your abilities, and to innovate and develop in areas which you are passionate about. To find out more about our business and the great career opportunities please go to our Careers Site: http://www.taylorandfrancisgroup.com/careers

Or better yet check out our LinkedIn ‘Life’ Page, highlighting our accomplishments, employees, and company culture. It’s also a good way of meeting our recruitment team, who will be happy to advise you on your journey here at T&F.

https://www.linkedin.com/company/taylor-&-francis-group/life/79e0c27c-afdf-4bbb-84e6-5f8ed5e10bb8/