Strategic University Partnerships Sales Leader

Everspring Inc; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Paid parental leave

Medical, dental and vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Generous PTO plan

Tuition reimbursement program

Professional development

Job summary

Everspring is seeking a high‑performing VP of Sales for University Partnerships to drive revenue by signing colleges and universities to multi‑year contracts. The role is based in Chicago with a hybrid work model, reporting to the Chief Sales Officer, and requires deep higher‑ed experience and executive‑level engagement.

The ideal candidate will lead with strategy, manage complex sales cycles, and travel nationally up to 50% to secure strategic partnerships with traditional institutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 5+ years of sales experience with substantial recent experience in higher education.
• Product and service/consulting sales experience is required.
• Experience in enterprise sales in a start-up environment preferred.
• Thrive in highly complex sales cycles and team-based selling environments.
• Demonstrated success in developing complex service relationships.
• Ability to cultivate deals from the earliest stages and manage the total sales process at various types of schools.
• Excellent sales strategy and selling skills in large-scale, complex higher education environments.
• Proven experience building and developing senior-level client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate deals from the earliest stages, and manage the total sales process
• Build and develop senior-level client relationships
• Travel nationally up to 50% of the time to meet with prospective clients
• Secure high-impact and successful solution offerings with multi-year contracts
• Deliver high-stakes presentations where exec-level decision makers are part of the key stakeholder community

Skills

Sales experience

Higher education sales

Enterprise sales

Startup environment

Travel 50%

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Everspring is a leading provider of education technology and service solutions. We are looking to add an energetic, high-performing, customer-oriented VP of Sales - University Partnerships to operate as an individual contributor on our sales team. Responsibilities of this role include executing sales strategies and driving revenue by signing new clients with Everspring's product and service solutions.

The VP of Sales - University Partnerships will prospect, cultivate, and establish new relationships with decision makers at colleges and universities with the goal of securing high-impact and successful solution offerings with multi-year contracts. We are looking for someone who is passionate about higher education and has experience working with traditional colleges and universities to develop market leading value-based solutions. This role will also serve as a solution expert for high-stakes presentations where exec-level decision makers are part of the key stakeholder community.

This position reports to the Chief Sales Officer and is based in Chicago, Illinois, the Northeast, the mid-Atlantic or Southeastern region of the US. Everspring operates in a hybrid work model.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate deals from the earliest stages, and manage the total sales process
• Build and develop senior-level client relationships
• Product and service/consulting sales experience is required
• Travel nationally up to 50% of the time to meet with prospective clients
• Secure high-impact and successful solution offerings with multi-year contracts
• Deliver high-stakes presentations where exec-level decision makers are part of the key stakeholder community
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, Master's degree preferred
• 5+ years of sales experience with substantial recent experience in higher education
• Product and service/consulting sales experience is required
• Experience working in enterprise sales in a start-up environment preferred
• Thrive in highly complex sales cycles and team-based selling environments
• Demonstrated success in developing complex service relationships
• Ability to cultivate deals from the earliest stages, and manage the total sales process at various types of schools, i.e. public, private, systems, etc.
• Excellent sales strategy and selling skills operating in large scale, complex sales environments in higher education
• Proven experience in building and developing senior-level client relationships
• Excellent internal and external communication skills
• Ability to travel nationally up to 50% of the time
• Demonstrated sales achievement in previous roles

Other Attributes That Will Help You in This Role:

• Deep understanding of higher education and online education service areas
• An enthusiastic self-starter with strong leadership skills who enjoys working in a dynamic team environment
• An outstanding verbal and written communicator with great interpersonal and organizational skills
• Embraces accountability and enjoys managing to well-defined goals and specific expectations for sales targets
• Value and outcomes-oriented vs transaction-oriented
• Impeccable integrity
• Proven track record of executing against aggressive growth strategies and delivering sales targets in excess of company expectations

About Everspring

Everspring is a leading provider of education technology and service solutions. Our advanced technology, proven marketing approach, research-based instructional design services, and robust faculty support deliver outstanding outcomes for our university partners, powering their success online. Everspring offers a range of full-service turnkey solutions, as well as standalone single service offerings, and innovative self-service products that enable universities to establish and maintain themselves as leaders in the digital delivery of education.

Based in Chicago, Everspring serves a growing number of colleges and universities. Built In Chicago has named us one of the "Best Places to Work" in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025. We were also certified as a Great Place To Work® in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Compensation offered at Everspring will be determined by factors such as location, level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Position Location: Illinois

The base salary hiring range for this position is: $125,000 to $165,000.

This role is eligible for incentive compensation. We offer benefits that include hybrid work arrangement, paid parental leave, medical, dental and vision insurance, FSA, HSA, employer-paid short-term and optional long-term disability, 401k with an employer match vested immediately, a generous PTO plan that accrues with tenure, professional development, tuition reimbursement program, discounted onsite gym, optional pet insurance and more!

EEO Note:

Everspring is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Everspring makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.