Account Executive, Higher Education

Otter.ai•San Francisco, CA

22h•$180,000 - $200,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Are you ready to be part of our exciting journey of exponential growth? We are seeking a talented Mid-Market Account Executive to join our expanding Sales team at Otter.ai! In this role, you'll play a vital role in fueling our revenue engine with innovation and energy, driving the scaling of our business while maximizing value for our customers. You'll have the chance to collaborate with a dynamic team dedicated to empowering SMBs and Mid-Market customers to harness the power of Otter. This is an excellent opportunity to work alongside exceptional sales talent and our product-focused team.

Requirements

2+ years of closing experience in a high-velocity SaaS sales environment; prior experience selling into Higher Ed or broader public sector/EDU markets strongly preferred.
A proven track record of managing the full sales cycle and negotiating contracts with colleges and universities, including navigating RFPs and multi-stakeholder buying committees.
Familiarity with higher ed procurement processes, academic budget calendars, and funding sources (e.g., institutional budgets, grants, consortium/cooperative purchasing vehicles).
Experience working with IT/security, legal, and finance/procurement teams to close complex deals.
Proficiency with Salesforce, Outreach.io, Sales Navigator, or comparable sales engagement tools.
A go-getter attitude and comfort building repeatable processes to support a high volume of transactions.
Excellent team orientation and a track record of cross-functional collaboration.
Impeccable customer skills, including communication, empathy, and integrity, especially when working with mission-driven, budget-conscious institutions.
Adaptability, flexibility, and resilience in an ever-changing environment.

Nice To Haves

Understanding of accessibility and compliance considerations relevant to higher education (e.g., FERPA, ADA/accessibility requirements) is a plus.
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Education, or a related field preferred.
Previous experience at a tech start-up is a plus.

Responsibilities

Own the full sales cycle, from prospecting to close, for Higher Ed accounts, spanning individual departments, colleges, and institution-wide deals.
Drive new business acquisition through outbound prospecting, inbound leads, conference/event follow-up, and channel/partner referrals specific to the Higher Ed vertical.
Build and manage relationships with a wide range of university stakeholders: CIOs/IT and Ed Tech leaders, Provosts and Deans' offices, disability/accessibility services, procurement officers, and faculty.
Navigate higher ed-specific procurement: RFPs, purchase orders, cooperative/consortium purchasing agreements, board and committee approvals, and academic-year budget cycles.
Customize product demonstrations that speak to Higher Ed use cases, including lecture capture, accessibility and accommodations (e.g., note-taking support for students with disabilities), advising and research meetings, and administrative/committee workflows.
Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Product, and Customer Success to shape Higher Ed-specific positioning, packaging, and feedback loops.
Maintain accurate forecasting and pipeline hygiene in Salesforce, and deliver reliable visibility into Higher Ed segment performance.
Represent Otter at higher education conferences (e.g., EDUCAUSE), webinars, and trade events to build pipeline and brand presence in the sector.
Serve as the voice of the Higher Ed customer internally, championing the needs of colleges and universities in product and go-to-market discussions.