Higher Education Growth Leader

attainpartners; United States; On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Attain Partners is seeking a Senior Growth Leader for its Higher Education practice to accelerate business development, expand the market, and grow revenue across Advancement and Student Services. You will own growth outcomes, mentor a small growth team, and collaborate with delivery, alliance, and executive teams to craft differentiated, value-driven solutions for colleges and universities in the US.

This role requires deep Higher Education relationships, credibility with senior institutional

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Higher Education, consulting, professional services, or enterprise technology sales.
• Demonstrated success driving business development and revenue growth in Advancement, Student Services, or adjacent Higher Ed domains.
• Deep understanding of Higher Education culture, governance, and decision‑making processes.
• Established network and credibility within the Higher Education ecosystem.
• Experience managing, mentoring, or leading sales or growth‑focused teams.
• Executive presence and ability to engage effectively with senior institutional leaders.

Responsibilities

• Own and execute growth strategy for Higher Education aligned to firm‑wide goals.
• Develop, manage, and convert a robust pipeline of opportunities across Salesforce, data, and strategy services.
• Build trusted relationships with Chief Advancement Officers, Enrollment Leaders, Student Affairs leaders, CIOs, CFOs, and Presidents' cabinets.
• Lead complex, consultative sales cycles from early relationship development through close.
• Partner with delivery and solution leaders to shape differentiated, value‑driven proposals.
• Represent Attain as a senior leader in client meetings, pursuits, and strategic discussions.
• Serve as a visible ambassador for Attain within the Higher Education ecosystem.
• Maintain and grow strong relationships with Colleges and universities, Salesforce and strategic partners, Higher Education associations, consortiums, and advisory groups.
• Monitor market trends, institutional priorities, and regulatory or funding shifts impacting Advancement and Student Services.
• Contribute to Attain's thought leadership through conferences, webinars, and industry content.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a small team of growth and business development professionals.
• Set clear expectations, coach performance, and foster a collaborative, inclusive culture aligned with Attain's values.
• Support skill development across consultative selling, Higher Ed domain expertise, and relationship management.
• Collaborate with Attain executive leadership to refine go‑to‑market strategy and long‑term growth plans.
• Work closely with Salesforce alliance leaders to drive joint pursuits and partner‑led opportunities.
• Ensure strong alignment and handoff between sales and delivery teams to support long‑term client success.

Skills

Higher Education

Business Development

Sales Leadership

Strategic Partnerships

Job description

Attain Partners is an innovative consulting firm dedicated to disrupting the status quo to change the world and improve the lives of those we touch. From strategy to technology and ever y where in between, our experts use their unique skills to advance the important missions of education, nonprofit, healthcare, and state and local government clients.

People are at the center of all we do, and that's why we empower career growth, provide industry-leading benefits packages, encourage a flexible work environment, and foster a culture of inclusion to support the needs of our team. We share a collective passion for our mission and our people. Guided by our seven core values, The Attain Way, our vision is the foundation of our culture-to be and attain the best.

The Higher Education Growth Leader is a senior leader within Attain's Higher Education practice, responsible for driving business development, market expansion, and revenue growth across Advancement and Student Services.

This role is ideal for a growth-oriented leader who is deeply connected within the Higher Education ecosystem , brings credibility with senior institutional stakeholders, and thrives in a consultative, mission-aligned environment. In addition to owning growth outcomes, this leader will manage and mentor a small team of business development professionals and collaborate closely with Attain's delivery, alliance, and executive leadership teams.

Key Responsibilities

Growth & Business Development

• Own and execute Attain's growth strategy for Higher aligned to firm-wide goals
• Develop, manage, and convert a robust pipeline of opportunities across Salesforce, data, and strategy services
• Build trusted relationships with Chief Advancement Officers, Enrollment Leaders, Student Affairs leaders, CIOs, CFOs, and Presidents' cabinets
• Lead complex, consultative sales cycles from early relationship development through close
• Partner with delivery and solution leaders to shape differentiated, value-driven proposals
• Represent Attain as a senior leader in client meetings, pursuits, and strategic discussions

Higher Education Market & Ecosystem Leadership

• Serve as a visible ambassador for Attain within the Higher Education ecosystem
• Maintain and grow strong relationships with: Colleges and universities, Salesforce and strategic partners, Higher Education associations, consortiums, and advisory groups
• Monitor market trends, institutional priorities, and regulatory or funding shifts impacting Advancement and Student Services
• Contribute to Attain's thought leadership through conferences, speaking engagements, webinars, and industry content

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a small team of growth and business development professionals
• Set clear expectations, coach performance, and foster a collaborative, inclusive culture aligned with Attain's values
• Support skill development across consultative selling, Higher Ed domain expertise, and relationship management

Cross-Firm Collaboration

• Collaborate with Attain executive leadership to refine go-to-market strategy and long-term growth plans
• Work closely with Salesforce alliance leaders to drive joint pursuits and partner-led opportunities
• Ensure strong alignment and handoff between sales and delivery teams to support long-term client success

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• 10+ years of experience in Higher Education, consulting, professional services, or enterprise technology sales
• Demonstrated success driving business development and revenue growth in Advancement, Student Services, or adjacent Higher Ed domains
• Deep understanding of Higher Education culture, governance, and decision-making processes
• Established network and credibility within the Higher Education ecosystem
• Experience managing, mentoring, or leading sales or growth-focused teams
• Executive presence and ability to engage effectively with senior institutional leaders

Preferred

• Experience with Salesforce in Higher Education , including Advancement, Student Services, Enrollment, or Education Cloud
• Prior experience in a Salesforce consulting partner or professional services firm
• Experience shaping go-to-market strategies or launching new service offerings

Additional Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to build trusted advisor relationships with clients
• Experience supporting sales and business development
• Position requires flexibility to travel periodically based on business and client needs

Attributes for Success at Attain

• Relationship-driven, consultative seller aligned to Attain's mission-first culture
• Strategic thinker who can translate institutional needs into actionable solutions
• Collaborative leader who values teamwork, transparency, and shared success
• Passion for Higher Education and its impact on students, institutions, and communities

Why Attain

• Opportunity to shape the growth of a flagship Higher Education practice
• High-visibility leadership role with direct impact on firm