Senior Strategic Accounts Director, Higher Education

Cengage Group; Sioux Falls (SD); Remote; USD 77,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Cengage, a global education technology company, seeks an experienced Strategic Account Director in North America Higher Education sales. You will own account strategy across institutions, lead complex negotiations with senior leaders, and drive revenue growth, renewals, and expansion for CU, EA, and IA programs.

You will collaborate with regional teams, guide data‑driven decisions, and manage long‑term partnerships to improve student outcomes and affordability.

Qualifications

• BA or BS degree
• 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
• Deep understanding of higher‑education institutional financial and academic decision‑making structures
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and CRM platforms, preferably Salesforce

Responsibilities

• Lead complex contract negotiations with senior academic and administrative leaders
• Own the overall account strategy and forecast for each institution within the assigned territory
• Develop multi‑year growth, retention, and expansion plans aligned with institutional priorities
• Identify high‑impact institutional opportunities and align with customer objectives
• Develop financial models to demonstrate ROI of Cengage Unlimited benefits
• Drive renewal timelines and upsell/expansion opportunities in partnership with Solutions Specialists
• Act as a trusted advisor to institutional collaborators using data‑driven insights

Skills

Analytical skills

Sales experience

BA/BS degree

Education

BA or BS degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Salesforce

Job description

Cengage, a global education technology company, seeks an experienced Strategic Account Director in North America Higher Education sales. You will own account strategy across institutions, lead complex negotiations with senior leaders, and drive revenue growth, renewals, and expansion for CU, EA, and IA programs.

You will collaborate with regional teams, guide data‑driven decisions, and manage long‑term partnerships to improve student outcomes and affordability.