EdTech Regional Director Role - GCC K-12 SaaS Sales in Columbus
Career & Market Insight
This is a senior individual contributor sales role — Regional Director in title, but focused on closing deals rather than managing a team. It's an excellent fit for an ambitious SaaS sales professional looking to own a high-growth, emerging market territory in EdTech.
Skills development: You'll sharpen enterprise/government sales skills, complex tender and RFP processes, and C-suite stakeholder management — all highly transferable and in strong demand in the SaaS and EdTech sectors globally. GCC market expertise is a niche but increasingly valuable skill as the region invests heavily in education technology.
Compensation signals: No salary is listed, which is common for senior sales roles where OTE (On-Target Earnings) varies widely. For a Regional Director in SaaS in the UAE, market benchmarks typically range from AED 250,000–400,000+ annually in base, with OTE potentially doubling that via commission. The employee ownership program adds upside if Instructure pursues an exit or public offering.
Company culture signals:
- Green flag: Instructure (Canvas LMS) is an established, profitable EdTech platform with strong brand recognition — lower risk than a startup.
- Green flag: "Dim the Lights" end-of-year recharge period signals genuine concern for employee wellbeing.
- Watch point: The role is entirely quota-driven with no mention of team support, suggesting a lean structure — you'll need to be highly self-sufficient.
- Green flag: Arabic proficiency is an advantage, not a requirement — broadening the candidate pool.
For sales professionals targeting EdTech leadership in the Middle East, this is a strong market-entry or market-expansion role with a reputable global brand behind it.
At Instructure, we believe in the power of people to grow and succeed throughout their lives. Our goal is to amplify that power by creating intuitive products that simplify learning and personal development, facilitate meaningful relationships, and inspire people to go further in their education and careers.
We do this by giving smart, creative, passionate people opportunities to create awesome. And that's where you come in:
We are seeking an experienced Regional Director to be based in Dubai to join our growing K-12 sales team. You'll play a pivotal role in expanding the reach of the Instructure Learning Platform across the GCC region, helping schools modernize and simplify their approach to teaching and learning.
This role is focused on driving long-term, sustainable growth across the GCC K-12 market. You'll be responsible for building strong relationships across the region, growing pipeline, navigating complex sales cycles, and helping institutions realize the value of the Instructure platform.
If you thrive in a dynamic environment and are passionate about helping K-12 institutions succeed, we want to meet you.
What You'll Be Doing
- Drive new business growth by selling the Instructure Learning Platform across the GCC K-12 market
- Build and execute targeted sales strategies to develop and nurture a strong client pipeline across the region
- Share insights to help prospective customers evaluate solutions and choose what best fits their needs
- Prepare and tailor messaging, presentations, proposals, and tender responses for prospective customers
- Guide prospects through the purchasing process to successful, timely closure
- Secure profitable pricing and business terms by clearly communicating the value and return on investment of the platform
- Accurately forecast short-term and long-term sales performance while maintaining strong pipeline management and hygiene
- Build and maintain relationships with key institutional and government stakeholders across the GCC
- Partner closely with cross-functional teams, including Product and Customer Experience, to share market feedback and customer insights
- Attend key industry events and strengthen Instructure's presence across the region
- Consistently achieve or exceed sales quotas within established timelines
- Travel regularly across the region for onsite meetings and events, up to 30%
What We're Looking For
- 4+ years of sales experience (Bachelor's degree preferred), ideally in SaaS, enterprise software, or EdTech
- Proven success selling complex solutions at all levels, including the C-suite
- Strategic, consultative sales acumen with a Challenger mindset
- Expertise in needs analysis, proposal development, and tender completion
- Familiarity with VLE/LMS and educational pedagogy (K-12 sales experience a plus)
- Experience or strong understanding of the GCC market and regional K-12 landscape
- Fluent English with excellent written skills; Arabic proficiency is a strong advantage
Get in on all the awesome at Instructure!
We offer competitive, meaningful benefits in every country where we operate. While they vary by location, here's a general idea of what you can expect:
- Competitive compensation, plus all full-time employees participate in our ownership program — because everyone should have a stake in our success.
- Flexible work culture. Our remote, hybrid and in-office collaboration spaces vary by role, team and location.
- Generous time off, including local holidays and our annual "Dim the Lights" period in late December, when teams are encouraged to step back and recharge based on departmental needs.
- Comprehensive wellness programs and mental health support
- Learning and development resources, including professional development tools and tuition reimbursement, to support your growth
- The technology and tools you need to do your best work
- Motivosity employee recognition program
- A culture rooted in inclusivity, support, and meaningful connection
We believe in hiring great people and treating them right. The more diverse we are, the better our ideas and outcomes.
Instructure is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We comply with applicable employment and anti-discrimination laws in every country where we operate.
All employees must pass a background check as part of the hiring process. To help protect our teams and systems, we've implemented identity verification measures. Candidates may be asked to verify their legal name, current physical location, and provide a valid contact number and residential address, in accordance with local data privacy laws.
Any attempt to misrepresent personal or professional information will result in disqualification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this role fully remote or does it require being based in Dubai?
Is Arabic language proficiency required for this position?
What industries or sectors does this sales role cover?
Does Instructure offer equity or ownership participation?
What sales methodology does Instructure prefer for this role?
