Managing Director, RSL China

Salary: 530,000-610,000 RMB per year

JOB SUMMARY / PURPOSE

The Managing Director, RSL China will lead all aspects of RSL’s Mainland China operations, based in Beijing. This is a predominantly outward-facing role: the MD will spend the majority of their time in market, building and converting commercial opportunities across private training providers, international schools, RSL China’s existing partner network and other educational institutions.

Reporting to the Director of Business Development in London, the MD will hold full accountability for the office’s commercial performance, operational health and team development, acting as the most senior RSL representative in-country.

Reporting to: Director of Business Development, RSL Awards (London, UK)

Location: Shunyi District, Beijing, China

Team size: 2 direct reports and external channel managers

Contract type: Permanent

 

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Business Development (primary focus)

• Lead RSL China’s commercial strategy, setting and delivering ambitious growth targets for exam entries and revenue across the region.

• Develop and maintain a strong pipeline of new partners across private training providers, international schools and other educational institutions.

• Manage and deepen relationships with RSL China’s existing network of partner institutions, identifying and unlocking new business opportunities within those relationships.

• Conduct regular in-market visits across China to meet partners, understand local needs and represent the RSL brand at the highest level.

• Deliver compelling presentations and product demonstrations to prospective partners, face to face and virtually.

• Lead promotional events, training programmes and partner briefings across the country.

• Monitor market trends, competitor activity and regulatory developments in China’s education sector, feeding insight back to London.

Office Leadership and Operations

• Lead and develop a team of 2 staff covering business development, customer service and administration, setting clear objectives and maintaining a high-performance culture.

• Oversee day-to-day office operations, ensuring the WFOE remains compliant with Chinese legal, financial and regulatory requirements.

• Manage cash flow, budgets and financial reporting for the China entity, working closely with RSL’s UK finance team.

• Act as the primary point of escalation for operational issues in-country, resolving challenges efficiently and keeping the UK leadership informed.

• Ensure RSL’s marketing and communications activity in China is aligned with the global brand while remaining locally relevant and effective.

 

Strategic Leadership

• Work closely with the Director of Business Development to shape RSL’s China strategy, contributing market insight, commercial judgment and operational intelligence.

• Represent RSL Awards at senior level with external stakeholders including schools, government bodies, industry associations and media.

• Support the onboarding and development of new partners, building their capability to deliver RSL qualifications effectively.

• Provide regular reporting on commercial performance, market developments and team progress to UK leadership.

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Essential

• Strong knowledge and understanding of the education market in China, including familiarity with the international and private school sectors, music and performing arts extracurricular training centres and relevant academic regulations and policies.

• Proven track record of business development and commercial growth within the education sector.

• Experience leading and managing a small team, with the ability to motivate, develop and hold people accountable.

• Strong financial literacy, including experience managing budgets, cash flow and reporting.

• Fluent English and Mandarin, both written and spoken, with the ability to operate fully in either language in a professional environment.

• Degree-level education.
• Highly self-motivated, with the ability to operate independently and make sound decisions without day-to-day supervision.

• Culturally empathetic and comfortable working across British and Chinese business contexts.

• Willingness and ability to travel extensively across Mainland China.

 

Desirable

• Background in or strong familiarity with the music education, performing arts or wider arts education sector in China.

• Experience managing or working within a wholly-foreign-owned enterprise or similar cross-border business structure.

• Established network within China’s international school ecosystem.

• A background in teaching or training within the arts education sector.

 

WHAT WE OFFER:

• A senior leadership role with genuine strategic influence in RSL’s second largest international market.

• A high degree of autonomy and the opportunity to shape how the China business grows.

• Flexible working arrangements with the freedom to manage your own schedule, provided business targets and deadlines are met.

• A collaborative, high-trust team environment with close working relationships across the UK and China offices.

 

HOW TO APPLY:

Please apply via the RSL Awards careers website page: https://www.rslawards.com/careers/

 

RSL is an equal opportunity and Living Wage employer. We are committed to ensuring no applicant or employee is discriminated against on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race. In line with the wide range and diversity of our product range, we particularly welcome applications from disabled candidates and those from the global majority as they are currently under-represented at head office.