Strategic Account Director, Higher Education Sales

TrulyHired; Texas; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Cengage, a global education technology company, seeks a Strategic Account Director in the North America Higher Education Sales Group. You will own strategic accounts, forecast revenue, and lead multi-year plans across CU, EA, and IA models.

You’ll collaborate with regional managers, specialists, and cross-functional teams to align goals and drive sustained growth. You will manage executive relationships, guide renewal timelines, and drive new business opportunities while ensuring customer value

Qualifications

• BA or BS degree
• 5+ years in educational or enterprise-level sales
• Own and complete strategic account plans with long-term revenue accountability
• Strong background in high-level negotiations
• Strong analytical, written, verbal, and presentation skills
• 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 account strategy and forecast for each institution in the territory
• Develop multi-year growth, retention, and expansion plans aligned to institutional priorities
• Identify high-impact opportunities and align with customer objectives
• Develop financial models aligning CU benefits with budgets to show ROI
• Drive renewal timelines, upsell and expansion opportunities with Solutions Specialists
• Articulate value proposition to support affordability, equity of access, student persistence

Skills

Strategic account management

Negotiation

Sales forecasting

CRM software

Education

BA/BS degree

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Job description

Cengage, a global education technology company, seeks a Strategic Account Director in the North America Higher Education Sales Group. You will own strategic accounts, forecast revenue, and lead multi-year plans across CU, EA, and IA models.

You’ll collaborate with regional managers, specialists, and cross-functional teams to align goals and drive sustained growth. You will manage executive relationships, guide renewal timelines, and drive new business opportunities while ensuring customer value