Associate Director, Agent Partnerships & Growth

Cialfo is a leading platform connecting students, higher education institutions, and counselors through technology-driven solutions. Launched in 2017 with a mission to make education accessible to 100 million students, Cialfo provides a range of mobile and web solutions to students, K-12 institutions, and higher education institutions. We’re one of the fastest-growing tech startups in the region, consistently charting new heights! Cialfo is looking for an Associate Director, Agent Partnerships & Growth to own and scale our global network of master agents across all key study destinations. This is a high-impact, commercially driven role responsible for managing the entire master agent ecosystem, from selection and onboarding, to performance management, monetisation, and long-term partnership value creation. You will be accountable for ensuring that master agents are not only operationally aligned, but also driving strong application volumes, high-quality submissions, and revenue outcomes for the business. This role sits at the intersection of external partnerships and internal execution, working closely with operations and counselling teams to ensure that master agents are effectively integrated into workflows, and that best practices are consistently applied. What You Will Be Doing • Master Agent Ecosystem Ownership • Own and manage Cialfo’s global master agent network across all key destinations • Define the strategy for which agents to onboard, expand, or phase out • Build strong, long-term relationships with key master agents while holding them accountable to performance • Ensure agents are aligned with Cialfo’s standards, priorities, and growth objectives • Commercial Growth & Monetisation • Drive revenue growth across the agent network by improving application volumes, conversion rates, partner productivity, etc. • Lead commercial negotiations, pricing structures, and partnership agreements • Continuously optimise partnerships to ensure maximum value extraction and sustainable margins • Identify and unlock new revenue opportunities through agent partnerships • Performance Management • Define and track clear performance metrics across all agents, including application volume, offer rates, enrolment conversion, processing efficiency etc. • Build a structured approach to agent performance tracking and reviews • Actively manage underperformance and scale high-performing partners • Operational Integration • Work closely with operations teams to ensure seamless application processing from master agents • Align agents with internal workflows, submission standards, and timelines • Identify and resolve friction points between agents, operations, and counsellors • Ensure consistency in how applications are handled across all partners • Internal Enablement & Best Practices • Guide internal teams (operations and counsellors) on how to effectively work with master agents • Define and roll out best practices, playbooks, and engagement models • Ensure teams are aligned on process updates, partner expectations, and requirements • Improve internal coordination to maximise efficiency and outcomes • Market Intelligence & Partner Strategy • Stay close to the master agent ecosystem and identify, emerging players, market shifts, new partnership opportunities • Bring insights back into the business to inform strategy and decision-making What We’re Looking For • Experience • 8 to 12+ years of experience in international education, student recruitment, or agent partnership management • Strong experience managing master agent or sub-agent networks • Proven track record in commercial negotiations and partnership growth • Deep understanding of the study abroad ecosystem and agent models • Experience working in or closely with the India outbound market • Core Skills • Strong commercial acumen with the ability to drive revenue through partnerships • Excellent relationship management with the ability to influence external partners • Strong operational understanding of application workflows and admissions processes • Ability to think in systems, balancing external partnerships with internal execution • High ownership mindset with the ability to operate independently • Nice to Have • Existing network of master agents across key destinations • Experience across multiple study destinations (UK, US, Canada, Australia, NZ) • Familiarity with CRM systems or admissions platforms