Job Title: Regional Director – Portugal & Europe EnablementLocation: 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.