Account Executive/Sales Development Representative

Education Week•Bethesda, MD

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Education Week, the nation's trusted source for independent education journalism, research, and insights, is seeking an Account Executive/Sales Development Representative to join our Enterprise Sales team. If you are a strategic, relationship-driven sales professional who has strong business development skills and is excited to represent a respected mission-driven organization, help higher education institutions access solutions that inform decision-making and advance educator preparation, then we want you to apply. The Account Executive/SDR will drive revenue growth for Education Week's enterprise content, data, and intelligence solutions. This role is responsible for driving new sales of Education Week’s Group Online Subscriptions. This role leverages consultative B2B sales strategies to help district prospects invest in solutions that meet their needs, resulting in revenue growth, long-term customer relationships, and maximum customer lifetime value. The Account Executive/SDR is a dual role that is responsible for direct sales responsibilities, and sales development (SDR) responsibilities. This person manages a defined territory, builds and advances a strategic pipeline, conducts consultative sales conversations, and closes new business. At the same time, the Account Executive/SDR also supports the broader Enterprise Sales team by qualifying inbound and outbound leads, conducting early-stage discovery, scheduling meetings for Regional Managers, and ensuring high-quality pipeline development across the team. This dual role focuses 75% on sales development with 25% focused on direct sales.

Requirements

1-2 years of B2B sales experience, preferably selling research, subscriptions, information, professional development, SaaS, or related solutions to K-12 education, and Higher Education or institutional customers (bachelor's degree preferred).
Demonstrated success developing new business and achieving challenging sales goals.
Experience with consultative enterprise sales, including discovery, active listening, objection management, and solution alignment.
Ability to develop account plans, manage multiple stakeholders, and navigate purchasing processes.
Strong communication, presentation, organization, and prioritization skills.
Proficiency with Salesforce, Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, and other digital sales tools as well as learning agility.
Comfort learning and applying new technologies, including generative AI tools, to improve productivity and sales outcomes.
High ethical standards, professionalism, and integrity.

Nice To Haves

The ideal candidate is a curious, organized, and results-oriented sales professional who combines strong business development skills with a commitment to customer success.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute territory and account strategies to achieve revenue goals.
Identify, research, and engage prospective K-12 and higher education clients.
Conduct consultative discovery conversations to understand customer priorities and align solutions to institutional needs.
Manage complex sales cycles, including presentations, proposals, negotiations, procurement processes, and closing new business.
Build and maintain a strong sales pipeline and accurate forecasts using Salesforce.
Establish relationships with faculty, administrators, school and university leaders, and other decision-makers.
Partner with Marketing, Editorial, Product, and Sales teams to support customer engagement and growth.
Use digital communication tools and generative AI resources to enhance research, account planning, and sales effectiveness in alignment with Education Week's AI principles.
Stay informed on K-12 and higher education trends and market opportunities.
Occasional travel may be required.