Regional Director Portugal

Job Title: Regional Director – Portugal & Europe Enablement Location: Lisbon, Portugal (Remote / Hybrid) Reporting to: SkillUp Executive About SkillUp Group SkillUp Group is a rapidly growing global education technology (EdTech) company with operations in the USA, India, and Portugal, serving clients worldwide. We are a fully remote organization committed to fostering a collaborative and innovative environment. As we expand our European footprint, we are seeking a consultative leader to serve as a strategic anchor in Portugal and a primary catalyst for our growth across Europe. Job Summary: The \"Multiplier\" Role The Regional Director – Portugal & Europe Enablement serves as the stabilizing executive presence and strategic anchor for our European operations. This is a \"multiplier\" role designed to stabilize our Portugal talent hub while enabling broad-scale success across the European market. You will act as the Europe-facing director for clients and partners, providing the consultative leadership that underpins our AI, content, and platform solutions. This role requires a leader who can earn immediate trust from clients, inspire internal teams, and provide the executive-level guidance necessary to bridge the gap between complex client problems and high-value execution. Primary Responsibility Pillars 1. Country Management & People Leadership (Portugal) Talent Hub Anchor: Act as the single point of accountability for the health of the Portugal entity, ensuring it remains a premier delivery and talent hub. Culture & Stability: Serve as the primary culture carrier, managing talent stability, attrition, and leadership bench health during periods of growth or transition. Operational Oversight: Provide executive oversight for legal entity compliance and HR rhythms (supported by central HR). Strategic Hiring: Prioritize local hiring aligned with fluctuating demand from European and US markets. 2. Client-Facing & Business Development (Europe) Executive Sponsorship: Serve as the primary point of contact for Europe-based clients and partners, closing \"confidence gaps\" through high-level credibility and industry expertise. Pre-Sales Leadership: Lead complex, multi-capability deals by translating vague client problems into structured, consultative solution frames. Sales Support: Support the US sales team by providing European delivery credibility and local market context. Ecosystem Representation: Represent SkillUp within the Portuguese and European tech/education ecosystems to build long-term brand equity. 3. Program & Portfolio Leadership (Director-Level PM) Portfolio Oversight: Maintain a high-level \"Director PM\" lens over multi-program portfolios, focusing on strategic outcomes rather than individual task management. Escalation Ownership: Act as the final escalation point for delivery, scope, or expectation risks, ensuring execution remains rigorous. Cross-Functional Alignment: Partner with (but do not replace) Delivery Heads to ensure AI, platform, and content teams are aligned with client expectations. 4. Consulting & Solutioning Backbone Solution Narratives: Shape the narrative across AI, learning, and platforms, ensuring our proposals are realistic, scalable, and value-driven. Pressure-Testing: Critically evaluate proposals to ensure they bridge the gap between \"what we can build\" and \"what clients actually buy.\" Internal Coaching: Mentor internal teams on structured problem-solving and professional consultative communication. What This Role is NOT To ensure success, it is important to define the boundaries of this role: NOT a \"Hands-on\" AI architect or technical model leader. NOT a day-to-day delivery/project manager. NOT a cold-calling Sales role (you close and consult, rather than prospect). NOT a Technical/Functional Leader responsible for product ownership. The Ideal Profile: Startup Mindset & Consulting DNA We are looking for a leader who possesses \"Trusted Advisor\" energy and the agility required to thrive in a high-growth environment. Startup DNA: You have significant experience operating within the startup or mid-sized company ecosystem . You are comfortable with ambiguity, proactive in identifying gaps, and possess the \"scrappy\" resourcefulness needed to build and scale without the heavy infrastructure of a legacy corporation. Professional Background: 10+ years of experience in Management Consulting (strategy/tech transformation), Enterprise Solutioning, or as a Client Partner/Engagement Director. Ambiguity Management: Proven ability to lead multi-threaded, complex problems and navigate cross-functional teams without direct authority. Diplomacy: Comfortable saying \"no\" to clients and stakeholders when necessary to protect delivery integrity and maintain strategic focus. Communication: Fluent in Portuguese and English; able to influence at the C-suite level. Local Governance: Knowledgeable of Portuguese compliance, labor laws, and administrative requirements. Why Join SkillUp Group? Executive Impact: Report to a SkillUp Executive and serve as the definitive voice for Europe. Autonomy: Shape the \"Europe Enablement\" strategy with high levels of independence in a fast-moving, remote-first environment. Global Reach: Work at the forefront of AI and EdTech with a diverse, global team.