Associate Director, Sales Operations

About the Department

INSEAD’s Executive Education department delivers tailored and open enrolment programs for executives and organizations, focusing on leadership development and business innovation. It provides cutting‑edge learning experiences that equip professionals with the skills to drive transformation and succeed in a global environment.

Full‑time, permanent role based at our Middle East Campus in Abu Dhabi. Hybrid working model: 3 days on campus, 2 days from home.

Reporting to the Senior Director Administration, you will drive the contract‑to‑cash engine behind Executive Education in the GCC. As the key operational integrator across Sales, Finance, Legal, Programme Delivery, and our clients, you will ensure contracts, invoicing, and revenue recognition move with accuracy and speed. You will lead contract governance, guide complex agreements, and resolve commercial issues before they escape escalation.

With a mandate to streamline, automate, and strengthen how we work, you will enhance data quality, tighten controls, and advance processes that support a seamless client experience.

• Own and provide strategic oversight of end‑to‑end sales operations across the full commercial lifecycle, from contract‑to‑invoice and through to revenue recognition.
• Lead commercial contract governance for Executive Education, overseeing drafting, approvals, negotiation, and compliance for complex or high‑risk agreements in close partnership with Sales, Legal, and senior stakeholders.
• Serve as the senior operational point of integration between Sales, Finance, Legal, Programme Delivery, and external clients to ensure aligned decisions, timely execution, and effective escalation resolution.
• Improve processes that drive invoicing accuracy, revenue tracking, and contract‑to‑billing alignment, partnering with Finance to manage risk and ensure compliance.
• Set standards and governance for Salesforce sales data quality across the contract‑to‑cash cycle.
• Drive continuous improvement and transformation of sales and contracting workflows, including standardisation, automation, and scalability initiatives across the Executive Education portfolio.
• Oversee readiness for audits and compliance reviews, ensuring robust internal controls and transparent documentation across contracts, revenue, and sales operations.

• 8 to 10 years of professional experience, including at least 5 to 7 years in accounting, commercial sales operations, contract management, procurement, or revenue operations.
• 2 to 3 years of experience operating at a senior or lead IC level, working with senior stakeholders.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Law, Economics, or related fields; professional certifications are advantageous.
• Strong commercial judgement and credibility when engaging with Sales, Finance, Legal and senior internal partners.
• Ability to operate independently in ambiguous environments and manage complex workflows with ownership and precision.
• Deep experience in the GCC/Middle East context.
• Proficiency in Salesforce and familiarity with ERP/finance systems, as well as strong process‑improvement and digital transformation skills.
• Proficiency in Arabic language.
• Consistently deliver high‑quality work, take responsibility for your role, and demonstrate reliability and continuous improvement in your day‑to‑day performance.
• Work effectively with others, readily share information, and contribute to a cooperative, solution‑driven environment.

Kindly submit your application along with a CV in English.

At INSEAD, we are proud of our strong international presence and deep connections to the global business community. Guided by our core values diversity, independence, rigour, and entrepreneurial spirit
, we foster a collaborative environment where empathy and integrity are at the heart of every interaction. With a commitment to professionalism and a client‑focused approach, we encourage our team to embrace a growth mindset
, driving innovation and delivering exceptional results. If you’re passionate about working with a dynamic, globally‑minded team that values closeness to its clients and thrives on new challenges, we’d love to hear from you! Join our vibrant community and help shape the future of business education!

Diversity is one of INSEAD’s founding values and as such we commit to cultivating a community that pursues equity, exemplifies inclusion and cherishes diversity in all its dimensions. Our jobs are open to all talents, so apply and join us!