Account Executive, Hattiesburg, MS / New Orleans, LA

Account Executive

We believe in the power and joy of learning. At Cengage Group, our employees have a direct impact in helping students around the world discover the power and joy of learning. We are bonded by our shared purpose driving innovation that helps millions of learners improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education. Our culture values inclusion, engagement, and discovery. Our business is driven by our strong culture, and we know that creating an inclusive workplace is absolutely essential to the success of our company and our learners, as well as our individual well-being. We recognize the value of diverse perspectives in everything we do, and strive to ensure employees of all levels and backgrounds feel empowered to voice their ideas and bring their authentic selves to work. We achieve these priorities through programs, benefits, and initiatives that are integrated into the fabric of how we work every day.

What You'll Do Here :

The Account Executive role is a field sales position working with customers within the college and universities market to offer digital learning solutions. The goal of this role is to grow your territory through sourcing / closing new business with a high level of customer engagement. We are looking for a professional with experience working with instructors and students, digital competence, motivated by goal achievement, desire to collaborate with diverse thought, audiences, and team, and a passion for education. Ideal candidates are located in Hattiesburg, MS or New Orleans, LA area. We offer a company car, and during the selling season expect travel in the field 4 days per week where you will be walking across campus and may be standing for long periods of time to engage with customers. This role works remotely from home when not in the field. You will be supported with clear goals and expectations, regular coaching, opportunities to build and strengthen your sales capabilities, internal resources and sales support, and a team of dedicated sales and marketing professionals passionate about education.

Plan for Success

Plans, organizes, and prioritizes sales activities to achieve sales targets. Uses Salesforce to develop and maintain opportunities pipeline for every account in assigned territory. Creates and implements strategic plans for opportunities through resource management and internal collaboration. Develops product knowledge and digital skills for sales calls, presentations, and delivery of digital courses. Collaborates with the Customer Success team to support instructor course set-up and student course access to drive digital activations and usage. Builds itineraries and daily plans that effectively address territory priorities and optimizes customer engagement.

Deliver Results

Achieve and / or exceed established sales targets by promoting Cengage solutions to customers. Conducts sales calls with decision makers to identify needs, propose solutions, and establish relationships. Represents all product offerings and platforms across the territory. Collaborates internally with account partners to implement institutional sales strategies and ensures complete coverage of all Cengage solutions for an account. Partners with Customer Success teams for digital customer course builds, training, and implementation. Confirms and communicates details with customers on options to access Cengage content in use at each account. Develops relationships with channel partners to coordinate shared delivery of content and gain understanding of campus initiatives.

Manage Your Business

Uses data to identify priorities for allocation of time and resources. Continues ongoing updates and maintenance of Salesforce. Handles travel, business and sampling budgets effectively. Provides clear, timely communication and accurate reporting. Exhibits digital proficiency with internal systems and when sharing Cengage solutions.

Skills You Will Need Here :

Minimum 2 years of customer facing or education / training experience with track record of success, including Associate's or Bachelor's degree or minimum of 5 years of related experience with High School diploma. Digital skills to demonstrate products to customers. Compelling communication capabilities verbally and in writing to engage customers and present solutions. Experience building trusting relationships with decision-makers. Driven to succeed by goal setting, strengthening skills and knowledge, competitive spirit, and satisfaction of helping customers achieve their goals. Strong organizational and time management skills to build territory plans, track sales opportunities and activities, and balance time with multiple priorities. Ability to enhance collaboration and performance through valuing diversity of thought and working with diverse audiences both internally and externally. Flexible and adaptable to change in strategies, operations, and market conditions. Proficiency in PC and Microsoft Office applications to complete tasks and communicate internally and externally. Ability to travel (with some overnight in certain territories) to meet with customers and for sales meetings via both auto and air. Ability to walk, climb (such as campus hills and stairs), and stand for extensive periods of time while conducting on-site visits, meeting with current and prospective clients. Must be located within assigned sales territory.

Preferred :

Direct sales, marketing, or education experience preferred. Prior ed tech sales experience preferred. Proficiency in social media web platforms preferred.

Cengage Group's Higher Education business, Cengage, supports learning and student success by providing materials and digital solutions to faculty and students enrolled in two-year, four-year and vocational programs. We currently serve more than 10 million of the 18 million students in US higher ed. Setting a new standard of service for our customers, we deliver quality, easy-to-use course materials from textbooks and eBooks to courseware such as MindTap and WebAssign. In the US, we offer Cengage Unlimited and Cengage Unlimited for Institutions. We help instructors be better teachers, we help institutions solve problems and we empower students to leverage the power and joy of learning to transform lives.

Cengage Group is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong and most qualified individuals. Our job applicants are considered regardless of race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, veteran status, and any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws. Cengage is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including during our job application process. If you are an applicant with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in our job application process, please contact us at accommodations.ta@cengage.com or at +1 (617) 289-7917.

Cengage Group, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

Compensation : At Cengage Group, we take great pride in our commitment to providing a comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package designed to support and empower our employees. The full base pay range has been provided for this position. Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity, and geographic location. Sales roles often incorporate a significant incentive compensation program beyond this base pay range. $52,000.00 - $67,600.00 USD.

Warning : Be aware, there has been an increase of targeted recruitment scams perpetrated by bad actors falsely providing job offers on behalf Cengage Group to candidates as a means of obtaining personal information. Note that Cengage will always interview candidates via live in-person meetings, phone calls and video calls before an offer would be extended. Also, be sure to check that communication is coming from an @cengage.com email address.