Sales Account Executive, Custom

Macmillan Learning; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Car Allowance

Competitive pay and bonus plan

Generous health benefits

Contributions to 401k

Generous paid time off

Education Assistance Program

Life and AD&D insurance

And much more!

Job summary

Macmillan Learning is seeking a driven sales professional to acquire, negotiate, and sell custom published adoptions and original authored works to 2‑ and 4‑year colleges and universities. The role involves on‑campus and virtual meetings, with substantial travel across the Midwest region and preferred proximity to Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Kansas City, or Milwaukee.

You will work with sales reps and specialists to close complex, high‑value adoptions and craft pricing, RFIs, and proposals,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Minimum 3 years of Higher Education Publishing experience.
• Ability to work well both independently and collaboratively with sales management, sales representatives, editors, and marketing managers.
• Proven track record of initiating and championing strategic shifts in sales planning or customer outreach models, resulting in measurable improvements in performance or customer experience.
• Demonstrated ability to take strategic risks and drive innovative sales approaches.
• Experience strategizing on complex sales opportunities.
• Passion for emerging educational technologies and digital learning tools.
• Comfortable adapting to market changes; maintaining focus on long‑term strategic outcomes.
• Presentation skills.
• Technical proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute selling techniques that effectively promote Macmillan Learning Custom Solutions by delivering sales presentations, campus visits, attending conferences, and executing high impact events.
• Network with decision makers at key accounts, including Instructors, Lab Coordinators, Chairs, Deans, Procurement, Instructional Designers, Directors of Academic Programs, and Digital Technology Executives.
• Bring advanced knowledge and strategic insight to help win complex, high‑value adoptions.
• Create appropriate sales materials as needed, including follow‑up messages, proposals, mock‑ups, and samples.
• Work collaboratively with internal partners and coordinate resources for sales and support activities.
• Coordinate handoff of newly signed customers to Project Editors.
• Facilitate completion of RFIs and RFPs.
• Meet annual sales goals.

Skills

Presentation skills

Technical proficiency

Strategic thinking

Independent work

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

At Macmillan Learning, we’re committed to driving innovation that transforms education. We seek team members who thrive on pushing boundaries, envisioning future possibilities, and building solutions that make a lasting impact. Whether you’re a Pioneer shaping bold new ideas, a Builder turning possibilities into reality, or a Stabilizer optimizing for success, you’ll play a vital role in advancing our mission. If you’re excited by the prospect of testing new technologies, implementing transformative strategies, and thriving in a fast‑paced, innovative environment, we’d love to hear from you!

About the Role

This position will be responsible for acquiring, negotiating, and selling custom published adoptions and original authored custom works from Macmillan Learning Curriculum Solutions. The representative will work with Macmillan Learning sales reps and Specialists across 2‑ and 4‑year colleges, universities, and career colleges to sell and close custom business through personal on‑campus sales calls, virtual meetings, in‑person conferences, and phone and email interactions with prospective customers. This role requires significant travel within its geographic region (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin). Candidates located within Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Kansas City, or Milwaukee are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute selling techniques that effectively promote Macmillan Learning Custom Solutions by delivering sales presentations, campus visits, attending conferences, and executing high impact events.
• Network with decision makers at key accounts, including Instructors, Lab Coordinators, Chairs, Deans, Procurement, Instructional Designers, Directors of Academic Programs, and Digital Technology Executives.
• Bring advanced knowledge and strategic insight to help win complex, high‑value adoptions.
• Create appropriate sales materials as needed, including follow‑up messages, proposals, mock‑ups, and samples.
• Work collaboratively with internal partners and coordinate resources for sales and support activities.
• Coordinate handoff of newly signed customers to Project Editors.
• Facilitate completion of RFIs and RFPs.
• Meet annual sales goals.

Reporting and Financial Analysis

• Update and maintain sales data and activity in the CRM system.
• Create, analyze, and customize profitable pricing solutions for custom products.
• Maintain and refine sales forecasting to provide real‑time visibility into sales performance and projected KPIs.

Feedback and Market Intelligence

• Maintain and develop competitive knowledge and market awareness.
• Identify market opportunities and risks by conducting deep‑div analysis on CRM data and customer behavior.
• Contribute to product development across the Macmillan Learning Custom Solutions group.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Minimum 3 years of Higher Education Publishing experience.
• Ability to work well both independently and collaboratively with sales management, sales representatives, editors, and marketing managers.
• Proven track record of initiating and championing strategic shifts in sales planning or customer outreach models, resulting in measurable improvements in performance or customer experience.
• Demonstrated ability to take strategic risks and drive innovative sales approaches.
• Experience strategizing on complex sales opportunities.
• Passion for emerging educational technologies and digital learning tools.
• Comfortable adapting to market changes; maintaining focus on long‑term strategic outcomes.
• Presentation skills.
• Technical proficiency.

Preferred Qualifications

• Higher education custom publishing experience.
• Demonstrated success launching or scaling new custom publishing projects, digital‑first offerings, or hybrid solutions in competitive institutional environments.
• Demonstrated experience leveraging generative AI tools to draft customized proposals, RFP responses, pricing rationales, and follow‑up communications more efficiently and strategically.
• Strong working knowledge of digital courseware platforms, LMS integrations, inclusive access models, and AI‑enhanced learning tools.

Salary, Exemption Status, and Physical Requirements

Salary Range: $80,000 – $90,000 per year.

Exemption Status: Exempt.

Physical Requirements: Requires periods of close concentration; must be able to multi‑task; must be able to travel occasionally and work overtime – more than 40 hours a week – regularly, as needed.

Benefits

• Company Car Allowance
• Competitive pay and bonus plan
• Generous health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• Contributions to your 401k retirement account through Fidelity
• Generous paid time off, sick time, floating holidays, and paid holidays (Spring Reset Day, Juneteenth, Indigenous People’s Day, Election Day, and more)
• Employee Assistance Program, Education Assistance Program
• 100% employer‑paid life and AD&D insurance
• And much more!

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability status, physical ability, neurodiversity, genetic information, protected veteran status, family and economic status, and background, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Application Note

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply – we’re excited to learn how your unique background and abilities could contribute to our team’s success.

Company Statement

Macmillan Learning is a privately‑held, family‑owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes.