Senior Strategic Account Director - Higher Education

Cengage Group; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 77,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Cengage Group is seeking a Strategic Account Director in Minnesota to lead account strategy and complex negotiations with senior academic leaders. This role blends new business development with post-sale ownership to ensure long-term partnerships and revenue growth.

You will manage renewals, upsell opportunities, and cross-functional collaboration across institu­tions using data-driven insights to improve student outcomes and maximize institutional value.

Qualifications

• BA or BS degree is required.
• 5+ years of successful experience in educational or enterprise-level sales.
• Proven ability to own and complete strategic account plans with long-term revenue accountability.
• Strong background in high-level negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex contract negotiations with senior academic and administrative leaders (provosts, CAOs, finance, procurement).
• Own account strategy and forecast for each institution, with multi-year growth and renewal plans.
• Identify high-impact institutional opportunities aligned with customer objectives and ROI.
• Develop financial models to align CU benefits with budgetary goals.
• Drive new business at executive level through targeted outreach and market research.
• Manage renewals and upsell opportunities in partnership with solutions teams.
• Articulate value of Cengage products to support affordability, equity of access, and student outcomes.

Skills

Strategic account management

High-level negotiations

Executive communication

Analytical thinking

Presentation skills

Education

BA or BS degree

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Job description

Cengage Group is seeking a Strategic Account Director in Minnesota to lead account strategy and complex negotiations with senior academic leaders. This role blends new business development with post-sale ownership to ensure long-term partnerships and revenue growth.

You will manage renewals, upsell opportunities, and cross-functional collaboration across institu­tions using data-driven insights to improve student outcomes and maximize institutional value.