Team Lead (CPM fast track)
About this role
Team Lead (CPM Fast Track)
Milan Office
At EF Language Abroad, we believe the world is better when people try to understand one another. Since 1965, we’ve helped millions of students explore new cultures, gain global perspectives, and build the confidence to pursue their ambitions.
We offer immersive language experiences around the world, empowering students with the skills they need to thrive internationally.
Accelerate your path to leadership
Are you ready to take on a high-impact commercial role with a clear path to leadership?
As a Team Lead, you will act as the right hand to the Country Product Manager (CPM) — combining individual sales excellence with team leadership and operational responsibility.
This is a fast-track role to CPM, designed for high-potential individuals who want to step into a country leadership position within approximately 6 months, based on performance and readiness.
From day one, you will be exposed to key business decisions, leadership responsibilities, and strategic planning.
Your role
You will operate across three core areas:
1. Sales Ownership & Performance
- Take full ownership of your assigned leads, managing the entire sales cycle from first contact to closing
- Consistently achieve and exceed individual sales targets
- Act as a top performer and role model for the team
2. Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of 1–5 Language Coordinators
- Drive daily performance through coaching on calls, conversion, and customer experience
- Support hiring, onboarding, and performance management in partnership with the CPM
3. Business Ownership & Operations
- Act as second-in-command to the Country Product Manager, supporting key decisions and ensuring business continuity
- Take ownership of selected managerial responsibilities such as forecasting, budgeting, and performance tracking
- Contribute to sales strategy through market analysis, performance insights, and opportunity identification
- Build partnerships with schools, universities, and local networks to drive growth
Your growth path to CPM
This role is structured as a stepping stone to Country Product Manager.
Within your first months, you will:
- Master individual sales performance and lead from the front
- Take full ownership of a team’s results and development
- Gradually assume responsibility for key business metrics and operations
- Partner closely with the CPM on strategic and commercial decisions
Successful candidates typically transition into the CPM role within ~6 months, based on performance, leadership readiness, and business needs.
What we’re looking for
- Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field, or equivalent experience
- 3+ years of sales experience with a strong track record of closing deals
- 1–2 years of experience leading, mentoring, or coaching junior team members
- Strong leadership potential and ambition to move into a general management role
- Commercial mindset with the ability to think beyond individual sales
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Full fluency in Italian and English
- International experience (study, work, or travel abroad)
- Full working rights in Italy
Work environment
This is a fully on-site role. Being together in person accelerates learning, strengthens team culture, and enables faster decision-making — all essential in a high-growth, performance-driven environment.
What EF offers
- Fast-track progression to Country Product Manager within ~6 months for top performers
- International career opportunities beyond CPM
- Staff and Friends & Family discounts on EF programs
- Free access to EF Hello language app
- Tuition reimbursement for continued education
- Discounts with global travel and hospitality partners
- And much more
Your next step toward global leadership
This is more than a Team Lead role — it’s a launchpad to country leadership.
If you’re driven by performance, motivated by responsibility, and ready to take ownership of a business, this is your opportunity to grow faster than in a traditional career path.
Ready to open the world through education? Apply now.
About EF Language Abroad
At EF Language Abroad, we believe that the world is better when people try to understand one another. Since 1965, we've helped millions of students discover new places, embrace diverse cultures, and gain fresh perspectives. We're dedicated to our mission of opening the world through education, harnessing the power of language learning to deepen the connection between people across the globe.
We offer immersive short-term and long-term language courses and programs across different languages in the countries where they’re spoken. Through blending classroom-based lessons with interactive exercises and real-world practice, our courses bring you to the heart of the language. Together, our global staff help students from around the world develop the language skills they need to achieve their dreams.
EF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All positions are subject to a criminal background and/or reference checks, as applicable.
#LI-IA1
Company at a glance
Founded in 1965 in Sweden, EF (Education First) is a global association of education companies that share a common mission of opening the world through education.
Some companies are in the business of banking. Others are in the business of shoes. Or sports. Or soft drinks. At EF, we're in a different kind of business. One that's a little less tangible, and a lot more important. Because our business, what we make, makes everything else possible. We're in the business of understanding. Between people. Between cultures.
For over half a century we’ve been the leader in international educational programs and experiences designed to foster such understanding. Through language, cultural exchange, academic studies, and educational travel, we create the kinds of immersive experiences that challenge biases, open minds, and pave the way for a more understanding world.
You’ll find our offices and schools located in some of the world’s greatest cities, and filled with smart, driven people (over 50,000 of us) who push each other to be better every day. But it’s what we do together - building greater understanding, breaking down barriers, and creating a better world - that makes all the difference.
Forbes 2025/2024 World’s Best Employers | Time100 Most Influential Companies 2026 | Fast Company 2025 Next Big Things In Tech | 2024 App Store Award winner in Cultural Impact
A notice on recruitment scams
We are aware that recruitment scams are increasingly common worldwide and affect job seekers across many organizations. These may appear on various messaging platforms, e.g., text messaging, WhatsApp, etc. To support your safety, we recommend that you do not respond to such unsolicited offers of employment. If you believe you are the victim of any fraudulent activity, we advise you to contact your appropriate authorities. Only submit your application to jobs through our official job board, jobs.ef.com. We never ask our applicants to pay a fee for any service whatsoever.
Top Benefits
- Staff discounts
- Friends and family discounts
- Free access to EF Hello language app
- Tuition reimbursement
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