Global Sales Execution Lead

Cengage Group•Virtual US OH, OH

11d•$100,000 - $150,000

About The Position

The Global Sales Execution Lead is a senior individual contributor role that partners with the SVP of International Sales to elevate global sales execution by driving digital readiness, improving deal quality, accelerating pipeline velocity, and strengthening quarter-by-quarter operating rigor. This role embeds rigor, cadence, and follow‑through across regions to ensure strategy converts into predictable revenue, cash, and growth outcomes, while partnering closely with GTM Revenue Operations. Cengage is a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Operations, or related field required
Minimum of 10 years of experience in lead Sales execution role or Sales Operations, Revenue Operations, or Commercial Strategy
Proven experience operating at the enterprise or global level, partnering with senior sales leadership (VP/SVP/C-suite)
Demonstrated success driving sales execution discipline, including forecasting, pipeline management, deal strategy, and operating cadence
Strong background in complex, multi-region, or multi-product sales environments
Experience leading deal reviews, pipeline inspection, and forecast calls with executive-level stakeholders
Track record of improving pipeline velocity, deal quality, and forecasting accuracy
Experience working cross-functionally with Finance, Legal, Marketing, Operations, Enablement, and Customer Success to remove execution barriers
Experience driving CRM governance (Salesforce ideal) and ensuring data quality and process adoption
Experience with digital selling, SaaS, or subscription models and related GTM motions

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred but not required
Experience with quarterly business rhythms (QBRs, MBRs, sprints, close cycles) preferred
Experience in global or matrixed organizations
Familiarity with digital/CLP selling or digital revenue transformation
Consulting background (e.g., management consulting, sales effectiveness consultancy) is a plus

Responsibilities

Drive global execution cadence: run weekly regional deal and execution reviews with clear actions, owners, and follow-through
Elevate deal quality: lead deal clinics focused on win strategy, value articulation, decision path, pricing readiness, and close plans
Accelerate pipeline velocity: identify stalled deals, carry out replacement pipeline subject area, and drive early risk mitigation
Strengthen forecast confidence (in partnership with RevOps): challenge assumptions, surface risk early, and reinforce forecasting subject area
Reinforce CRM rigor: ensure consistent SFDC usage, timely updates, and stage hygiene working closely with GTM RevOps.
Own digital readiness & GTM execution: assess regional readiness for digital/CLP selling, identify execution gaps, and drive adoption of approved digital motions
Lead quarter execution (Q and Q+1): run focused execution sprints during critical periods to improve starts, finishes, and predictability
Remove execution blockers: coordinate cross-functional resolution across Finance, Legal, Marketing, Enablement, Operations, and Supply Chain
Lead coverage & execution risk: identify capacity or leadership gaps and recommend interim execution solutions
Act as SVP execution proxy: represent SVP priorities in regional forums, call out facts and risks, and ensure decisions translate into action