Senior Account Executive - Education & Public Sector

Union Office (UOI) is a Boston-based commercial furniture dealership with longstanding alignment with Allsteel/HNI — one of the most comprehensive and competitive product portfolios for institutional buyers. We serve the full New England market across corporate, life sciences, education, healthcare, and government sectors, delivering end-to-end workplace solutions from programming through installation.

The education and public sector markets represent a significant and growing opportunity for UOI. With Allsteel/HNI's robust cooperative purchasing contract access — we are positioned to move fast with institutional buyers who need compliant, competitive paths to quality solutions.

• Identify, qualify, and develop new business opportunities within K-12, higher education, state/local government, and other public sector institutions across New England
• Build and manage a structured sales pipeline with 12-24 month opportunity horizons; maintain accurate forecasting in CRM
• Respond to, complete, and track formal bids, RFPs, and RFQs submitted to government and educational agencies
• Attend relevant industry events, association meetings and campus planning forums to build pipeline and visibility

• Serve as the primary UOI contact for assigned education and public sector accounts across the full project lifecycle — from initial discovery through post-installation follow-up
• Build and maintain relationships with key institutional decision-makers: facilities directors, VP of Administration, procurement officers, department heads, campus planners, and A&D firms serving the education sector
• Understand the unique procurement constraints, budget cycles, and approval structures of institutional buyers; structure proposals accordingly
• Conduct site visits, space assessments, and discovery meetings to understand client needs before presenting solutions
• Manage existing institutional relationships and identify expansion opportunities within installed accounts

• Lead client presentations and furniture solution demonstrations; translate complex product capabilities into client outcomes
• Partner with UOI's design team to develop space plans, specifications, and finish packages that meet institutional budget and performance requirements
• Develop and present project proposals, budgetary estimates, and product narratives tailored to institutional audiences
• Maintain current knowledge of Allsteel/HNI product lines relevant to education and government environments — including collaborative furniture, flexible classroom solutions, private office, lounge, and outdoor systems
• Stay current on competitor activity, pricing, and contract vehicles used by peer dealerships in the region

• Work closely with project management and operations to ensure seamless delivery, installation, and client sign-off on all projects
• Coordinate with internal teams on quote generation, order entry, and acknowledgment tracking
• Provide accurate, timely information to the team to ensure smooth order execution and client communication
• Participate in regular sales team meetings, pipeline reviews, and manufacturer rep engagement sessions

• 5+ years of B2B sales experience; contract furniture, commercial interiors, or related industry required
• Demonstrated experience selling into higher education, K-12, state/local government, or other institutional/public sector accounts
• Working knowledge of cooperative purchasing vehicles and how institutional buyers use them
• Familiarity with formal procurement processes: RFPs, RFQs, bid submissions, and contract compliance requirements
• Strong relationship-building skills; proven ability to cultivate trust with institutional procurement officers, facilities directors, and academic administrators
• Self-directed with strong organizational skills; able to manage a long-cycle pipeline across many accounts simultaneously
• Proficiency in CRM tools and Microsoft Office Suite
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Interior Design, or related field preferred

• Compensation is negotiated individually and structured to reflect the candidate's experience, existing institutional relationships, and market coverage. First-year total compensation includes a base salary guarantee.