Specialist Manager, HSS

Macmillan • ,

19h • $100,000 - $110,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Specialist Manager leads a team of Sales Specialists responsible for driving growth across assigned disciplines, products, and higher education markets. This role focuses on developing a high-performing team that partners closely with sales representatives and regional leaders to identify opportunities, execute strategic sales initiatives, and win complex, high-value business. The Specialist Manager provides coaching, guidance, and field support throughout the sales process, including customer presentations, opportunity strategy, and closing plans. The role also serves as the primary liaison between the Sales Specialist team and Marketing and Editorial, ensuring market insights from the field inform product strategy while equipping specialists with the resources and messaging needed to achieve sales objectives and sales initiatives. Success in this role requires strong cross-functional collaboration, strategic planning, talent development, and sales forecasting. The Specialist Manager is expected to travel as needed to support customer meetings, coach and evaluate team members, and participate in regional and national conferences, sales meetings, training events, and other business activities, particularly during peak selling seasons. This role manages other employees.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree.
• Minimum of 3 years of Sales Specialist/Sales Management experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of successful college sales experience.
• Ability to work well independently and collaboratively with field sales team and Marketing/Editorial.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to travel extensively and flexibly.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated success in covered disciplines preferred.
• Skilled at working/communicating cross-functionally to deliver results.
• Successful experiencing coaching sales reps and building relationships.
• Ability to develop and execute sales strategies that drive growth and achieve business objectives.
• Ability to develop accurate sales forecasts and manage pipeline performance to achieve business objectives.
• Ability to leverage AI tools and sales technologies to improve team productivity and sales effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Hire, train and manage all direct reports.
• Assist management colleagues with training and recruitment, as needed.
• Travel with and work effectively with each Sales Specialist to identify, develop, and close priority sales targets.
• Consistently communicate, coordinate, and collaborate with Sales Specialists, Marketing Managers, and Editors in relation to product strategies and sales targets.
• Identify priorities and execute plan to increase sales in assigned disciplines.
• Develop team culture and maintain individual and team morale.
• Work directly with the Directors of Sales and Specialist Teams to support sales strategy and continuously develop field sales reps.
• Serve as a resource for sales presentations.
• Collaborate with Sales Specialists, Sales Representatives, Sales Managers, Custom Specialists, Enterprise Solutions Specialists and Marketing/Editorial to develop and close key sales targets.
• Facilitate business plan development and execution.
• Work with sales teams to prioritize, consult and close top sales targets.
• Develop in-depth knowledge of competitors’ products.
• Work with Publishers, Editors, Marketing Managers, and field sales groups to develop successful strategies designed to gain market share.
• Communicate and reinforce sales strategies with Sales Specialists, at regional and national meetings, and during work trips in the field with sales representatives.
• Provide ongoing research and feedback on products, trends, and other developments in the field to Executive Leadership, Sales Management, Marketing and Editorial via Trip Reports and consistent usage of the CRM.
• Assist with the planning and support of national, regional, and local meetings and impact events.
• Partner with Product to assist in development of new product.
• Facilitate ongoing customer training and support for key technology products post-adoption.
• Collaborate with support teams throughout the organization.
• Provide feedback to continuously improve training tools for internal and external customers.
• Provide leadership, training and support for field sales groups.

Benefits

• Company Car Allowance
• Competitive pay and bonus plan
• Generous Health Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision)
• Contributions to your 401k retirement account through Fidelity
• Generous paid time off, sick time, floating holidays, and paid holidays (Spring Reset Day , Juneteenth, Indigenous People's Day, Election Day, and more!)
• Employee Assistance Program, Education Assistance Program
• 100% employer-paid life and AD&D insurance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager