Manager, Societies Partnerships

Cactus Communications; Port Reading (NJ); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A remote-first organization is seeking a Sales Manager to drive revenue growth across the U.S. You will partner with academic publishers and sell editorial services, managing the full sales cycle. Candidates should have over 5 years of B2B sales experience, ideally in academic publishing. Responsibilities include closing business opportunities, managing a sales pipeline, and developing long-term partnerships. Comfort in remote work, consultative selling skills, and excellent communication abilities are crucial for this role.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of B2B sales experience with a proven track record.
• Experience selling to academic publishers or scholarly societies is advantageous.
• Strong communication skills to simplify complex offerings.

Responsibilities

• Prospect, pitch, negotiate, and close new business opportunities.
• Build and manage a robust sales pipeline to exceed targets.
• Develop long-term partnerships with clients as a strategic advisor.

Skills

B2B sales experience

Consultative selling skills

Communication and presentation abilities

CRM proficiency

Familiarity with scholarly publishing

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics

Job description

CACTUS is a remote‑first organization that values the ability to work from anywhere. You may be required to travel to our Princeton (New Jersey) office for business needs or company/team events.

CACTUS is empowering the future of scholarly publishing through hybrid services and products. We help scholarly publishers and societies publish better, faster, and with greater impact by offering a comprehensive portfolio that includes digital tools, editorial and peer review services, research integrity solutions, and media offerings.

About the role

As a Sales Manager, you will drive revenue growth across the United States by partnering with academic publishers, university presses, and independent scholarly societies. You will open new opportunities, build strategic partnerships, and close meaningful deals that help publishers streamline operations, safeguard research integrity, and expand their global reach. Working in a consultative sales environment, you will collaborate with cross‑functional teams to deliver tailored solutions that address the evolving needs of the scholarly publishing ecosystem.

If you are passionate about solutions that support the credibility and impact of scientific and medical research, this role offers an exciting opportunity to own a high‑value territory and make a lasting impact.

Responsibilities

• Prospect, pitch, negotiate, and close new business opportunities across a defined U.S. territory.
• Build and manage a robust sales pipeline while consistently achieving and exceeding revenue targets.
• Partner with publishers to sell editorial and peer review services, including manuscript editing, language support, reviewer management, and workflow optimization.
• Promote research integrity solutions that help journals strengthen quality control, mitigate misconduct risks, and ensure compliance with industry standards.
• Pitch digital media services, including video abstracts, infographics, and research promotion solutions, to increase article visibility and engagement.
• Represent CACTUS at major industry conferences and events (e.g., SSP and CSE) to build pipeline, deepen client relationships, and stay ahead of publishing trends.
• Develop long‑term, trust‑based partnerships with clients, positioning CACTUS as a strategic advisor for operational, quality, and growth challenges.
• Collaborate with internal teams across marketing, product, and operations to deliver customized client solutions.
• Manage the full sales cycle, including forecasting, contract negotiations, and accurate CRM reporting.

Qualifications and Prerequisites

• 5+ years of B2B sales experience with a proven track record of owning revenue targets and closing large, complex deals.
• Experience selling to academic publishers, university presses, libraries, or scholarly societies is a strong advantage.
• Familiarity with key decision‑makers such as Publishing Directors, CTOs, CPOs, and Procurement leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage long and complex sales cycles involving multiple stakeholders.
• Strong consultative selling skills with the ability to identify client challenges and position tailored solutions.
• Excellent communication and presentation abilities, capable of simplifying complex offerings for diverse audiences.
• Structured and methodical, with proficiency in CRM tools such as Microsoft Dynamics and familiarity with AI‑driven solutions.
• Comfortable working in a dynamic, agile, and remote environment; self‑directed and performance‑driven.
• Familiarity with scholarly publishing workflows, editorial processes, or research integrity solutions is preferred.
• Willingness to travel frequently for client meetings and industry conferences.

Equal Opportunity

Our hiring practices reflect our commitment to providing equal opportunities and creating an environment where everyone can thrive, develop, and succeed. We celebrate the uniqueness of our team members and prohibit discrimination of any kind, based on race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or any other protected characteristic.