Head of Business Development - Premium Cultural Travel

Our client is a distinguished premium cultural travel company with nearly 40 years of heritage in creating exceptional, academically-driven small-group tours. Following a recent private equity acquisition, they are accelerating their U.S. expansion and seek their first U.S.-based commercial hire to establish their presence and drive customer acquisition across North America.

This is a rare opportunity to build a market from the ground up, working with autonomy and ownership as the sole on-the-ground commercial leader. You'll be instrumental in establishing strategic partnerships with leading cultural institutions, universities, museums, and alumni organizations while driving measurable growth in U.S. bookings.

The company specializes in tours exploring art, architecture, history, music, and gastronomy, led by expert lecturers and designed for an affluent, highly educated clientele who value intellectual rigor and enriching experiences.

The Role

As Head of Business Development, you will spearhead commercial expansion in the United States, developing and executing the go-to-market strategy while building sustainable institutional partnerships. This is a senior, outward-facing role requiring someone who thrives with autonomy and brings the sophistication to engage leaders across arts, culture, academia, and philanthropy.

Key Responsibilities:

Go-To-Market Leadership

• Develop and execute the U.S. GTM strategy aligned with global commercial goals
• Identify priority institutions and segments, shaping the company's positioning in North America
• Build comprehensive business plans for revenue targets, regional growth, and partnership models

Partnership Development & Relationship Management

• Cultivate relationships with leading cultural, academic, and artistic institutions
• Secure strategic partnerships for co-branded tours, private groups, donor travel, and bespoke projects
• Represent the company at key cultural events, industry conferences, and relevant networks

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as senior ambassador to high-net-worth clients, trustees, patrons, alumni groups, and cultural leaders
• Develop a regional book of business through direct outreach, referrals, and relationship-building
• Collaborate with the UK team to tailor programs and proposals for U.S. partners

Entrepreneurial Execution

• Operate independently in a remote environment, setting priorities and driving outcomes
• Bring creativity and initiative to shaping new products, collaborations, and channels
• Analyze market trends and competitive developments to inform innovation

Requirements

• Highly self-directed, entrepreneurial profile with proven ability to operate independently and build a market from the ground up
• Strong business development or partnerships leadership experience in arts, culture, education, or adjacent premium service sectors
• Established network and relationships within cultural institutions, universities, museums, donor groups, or alumni communities
• Results-driven commercial profile with track record of accountability for bookings and customer acquisition outcomes
• Highly academically accomplished with strong record of achievement demonstrating intellectual capability
• Polished communicator with excellent writing, presentation, and influencing skills
• Intellectually curious with genuine interest in history, art, architecture, and culture
• Culturally sensitive and comfortable engaging affluent, highly educated audiences
• Strategic maturity to design GTM plans combined with hands-on drive to execute them

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with discerning audiences or cultural ecosystems
• Previous experience in premium educational travel or cultural travel sector
• Track record of engaging affluent, highly educated audiences
• Experience with partnership models in cultural institutions and universities

Benefits

Base Salary: $130,000 - $170,000 (depending on experience)

Additional Benefits:

• Potential performance-based bonus structure
• Comprehensive benefits package including 401K and healthcare
• High autonomy and ownership as sole U.S. commercial lead
• Opportunity to shape a strategic initiative tied to U.S. expansion under private equity ownership
• Clear path to leadership role as U.S. business scales (team/structure growth anticipated within 12-24 months)

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