Sales Account Executive, Custom

Macmillan; Wisconsin; On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car allowance

Bonus plan

Health benefits

401(k) contributions

Paid time off

Education assistance

Life and AD&D insurance

Paid holidays

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Macmillan Learning is seeking a field sales representative to acquire, negotiate, and close custom published adoptions and original works for two- and four-year colleges across the Midwest. You will travel regularly to campuses, meet with instructors and administrators, and partner with sales reps to win strategic opportunities.

The role demands a bachelor’s degree and 3+ years in higher education publishing, strong presentation and technical skills, and a proven ability to drive innovative

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; 3+ years in higher education publishing or related sales field.
• Ability to work independently and with sales, editors, and marketing teams.
• Proven track record of initiating strategic shifts in sales planning or outreach.
• Demonstrated willingness to take strategic risks and drive innovative approaches.
• Strong presentation skills and comfort with digital tools.
• Experience selling custom publishing or digital learning solutions is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute selling techniques for Macmillan Learning Custom Solutions.
• Network with decision makers at key accounts and close high‑value adoptions.
• Create sales materials and collaborate with internal teams to coordinate resources.
• Support RFIs and RFPs; aim to meet annual sales goals.
• Update CRM data and refine pricing and forecasting models.
• Contribute to market intelligence and product development.

Skills

Presentation skills

Technical proficiency

Strategic selling

Sales strategy

Independent & collaborative

Relationship building

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, Builder, or Stabilizer, you’ll play a vital role in advancing our mission. We’re excited about testing new technologies, implementing transformative strategies, and thriving in an innovative environment.

This position is responsible for acquiring, negotiating, and selling custom published adoptions and original authored custom works from Macmillan Learning Curriculum Solutions. The representative works with Macmillan Learning sales reps and Specialists across 2‑ and 4‑year colleges and universities, as well as 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. Significant travel within the territory is required. The territory covers Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Candidates located in Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Kansas City, or Milwaukee are preferred.

We know that talented candidates sometimes hesitate to apply when they don’t meet every single qualification listed. We encourage you to apply if you’re excited about this role and believe you can contribute meaningfully to our team, even if your background doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement. We’re committed to building a workplace where everyone can do their best work and where diverse viewpoints are valued.

Major 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‑dive strategic 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 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; 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 401(k) retirement account through Fidelity
• Generous paid time off, sick time, floating holidays, and paid holidays (Spring Reset Day, Juneteenth, Indigenous Peoples Day, Election Day, and more)
• Employee Assistance Program, Education Assistance Program
• 100% employer‑paid life and AD&D insurance
• And much more.

Macmillan Learning is a privately‑held, family‑owned company that improves lives through learning. 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, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The successful candidate for this position will be an employee of Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishing Group, LLC d/b/a Macmillan Learning. Bedford Freeman & Worth Publishing Group, LLC has developed an equal‑opportunity compliance program in compliance with the NY Department of Education’s guidance. Portions of the equal‑opportunity compliance program are available for review by applicants and employees by contacting Human Resources at Macmillan Learning.