Advanced Specialist, Sales

Pearson; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Pearson is seeking an Advanced Sales Specialist to drive adoption of course-based and digital learning solutions within Humanities and Social Sciences programs. You will build relationships with faculty, program leaders, and institutional stakeholders, using data-driven selling to prioritize opportunities.

The role combines in-person campus engagement with virtual selling in a hybrid setup. You should reside in the supported territory and be prepared for frequent travel while leveraging

Qualifications

• 3+ years of successful sales experience.
• Experience in Humanities and Social Sciences education services or higher education sales is preferred.
• Strong consultative selling and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage pipelines and forecast effectively.
• Proficiency with CRM systems and sales analytics tools.

Responsibilities

• Meet or exceed sales targets through adoption of Pearson course-based and digital learning solutions.
• Build and manage a robust pipeline using market intelligence and customer insights.
• Identify and close new business opportunities through campus engagement and virtual selling.
• Collaborate with local teams to strengthen pipeline development and sales execution.

Skills

Sales experience

Strategic selling

CRM systems

Sales analytics

Presentation skills

Relationship building

Self-motivation

Territory planning

Data-driven selling

Digital learning solutions

Tools

Salesforce

Tableau

Job description

This Advanced Sales Specialist role partners with Humanities and Social Sciences schools and education programs to identify customer needs, drive courseware and program adoption decisions, and deliver innovative learning solutions that improve learner outcomes, student readiness, and institutional success.

The ideal candidate brings a strong track record of sales success, strategic selling capability, and the ability to build trusted relationships with Humanities and Social Sciences faculty, department leaders, and institutional stakeholders. This role requires a highly motivated, customer-focused individual who thrives in a dynamic environment, embraces data-driven selling, and is passionate about the evolving role of digital learning solutions in Humanities and Social Sciences education.

Candidates must have experience within solutions go-to-market environment and ideally in Humanities and Social Sciences education services.

This is a hybrid sales role that combines virtual engagement and field-based selling. Candidates must reside within the territory they support and should expect frequent travel within their assigned geography.

What You’ll Do

Drive Strategic Sales Growth

• Meet or exceed weekly, monthly, and seasonal sales targets through the successful adoption of course-based and digital learning solutions within Humanities and Social Sciences programs
• Build, manage, and advance a strong pipeline of competitive opportunities using market intelligence, customer insights, and data-driven prioritization
• Identify, develop, and close new business opportunities through a blend of in-person campus engagement and virtual selling strategies
• Execute disciplined sales strategies and account plans designed to drive market share growth and long-term customer value

Build Strong Customer Partnerships

• Develop trusted relationships with Humanities and Social Sciences faculty, program directors, department leaders, and institutional decision-makers by understanding their instructional goals, accreditation priorities, and evolving program needs
• Deliver compelling presentations, consultative recommendations, and tailored solutions aligned to customer objectives, learner outcomes, and workforce readiness goals
• Utilize effective selling techniques including pre-call planning, strategic questioning, and opportunity management to successfully advance deals through the sales pipeline
• Maintain strong knowledge of Pearson’s Humanities and Social Sciences education solutions, digital platforms, and learning technologies to effectively position customer value

Collaborate and Execute with Excellence

• Partner closely with local teams and cross-functional stakeholders to strengthen pipeline development, customer engagement, and sales execution
• Maintain disciplined pipeline management and accurate CRM reporting to support forecasting and business planning
• Leverage sales tools, analytics platforms, and customer insights to improve efficiency, prioritization, and sales effectiveness
• Contribute to a collaborative and inclusive team environment through knowledge sharing, partnership, and best practice exchange

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role will be measured by:

• Achievement or exceedance of sales and competitive market share goals
• Development and conversion of a strong pipeline of qualified opportunities
• Effective customer engagement and strategic relationship building within Humanities and Social Sciences programs
• Consistent sales execution and pipeline discipline
• Strong collaboration across internal and external partners

What You Bring

• 3+ years of successful sales experience with demonstrated ability to build, manage, and close a pipeline of opportunities, ideally focused on competitive share gain
• Experience within Humanities and Social Sciences education services and solutions, or related higher education sales environments
• Proven track record of achieving results in a fast-paced, goal-oriented sales environment
• Strong consultative selling, relationship-building, and strategic account management skills
• Demonstrated ability to identify customer needs and develop solutions that create value for customers and the business
• High level of self-motivation, initiative, and accountability with an entrepreneurial mindset
• Strong analytical and technology skills, including experience with CRM systems, virtual presentation platforms, sales analytics tools, Salesforce, Tableau, and related business systems
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills

Preferred Attributes

• Strategic and customer-focused mindset with strong business acumen
• Passion for digital learning solutions and innovation within Humanities and Social Sciences education
• Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable navigating change and ambiguity
• Highly organized with strong time management and territory planning skills
• Collaborative team player who thrives in cross-functional environments

Compensation

Compensation at Pearson is influenced by factors including skill set, experience, and location.

The full-time salary range for this role is $85,000 - $110,000.

This position is eligible to participate in Pearson’s sales incentive plan.

Applications will be accepted through September 7th, 2026. This window may be extended depending on business needs.

Who we are:

At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. We are the world's lifelong learning company. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. To learn more: We are Pearson.

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing [e-mail].