Strategic Account Director; Remote

Strategic Account Director

The Strategic Account Director is a senior, customer‑facing role within the Cengage North America Higher Education Sales Group, responsible for strategic account‑level revenue and relationships across all institutional accounts including Cengage Unlimited Institutional Access (CU), Equitable Access (EA), and Inclusive Access (IA) business models. The position requires a strategic owner for assigned accounts and focuses on forecasting, multi‑year account planning, contract strategy, renewals, and expansion efforts while serving as a trusted advisor to senior academic and administrative stakeholders.

Travel required to key customers for in‑person negotiations, on‑campus meetings, attendance at conference events and Cengage partner events. 35–50% travel encouraged.

• Direct Sales & Strategic Account Ownership
  • Lead complex contract negotiations with senior‑level academic and administrative leaders, including provosts, chief academic officers, finance, and procurement collaborators.
  • Own the overall account strategy and forecast for each institution within the assigned territory.
  • Develop multi‑year growth, retention, and expansion plans aligned with institutional priorities and Cengage business objectives.
  • Strategically identify and capitalize on high‑impact institutional opportunities, ensuring alignment with customer objectives and improved student outcomes.
  • Build financial models and arguments that align Cengage Unlimited (CU) benefits with the institution’s specific budgetary and retention goals to demonstrate return on investment.
  • Spearhead new business development opportunities at an executive level through personal sales engagement, networking, market research, and targeted outreach.
  • Drive institutional revenue growth and CU renewals by proactively managing renewal timelines and upsell, expansion, and conversion opportunities in partnership with Solutions Specialists.
  • Clearly articulate the value proposition of Cengage products and services in support of institutional priorities such as affordability, equity of access, student persistence, and academic achievement.
• Institutional Account Strategy, Leadership & Program Success
  • Own IA/EA/CUI data management and analysis, leveraging enrollment, usage, pricing, and adoption insights to inform account strategy, forecast performance, and guide decision‑making.
  • Lead institutional change management efforts, navigating the cultural and political shifts required to move faculty and administration toward digital access models.
  • Manage and deepen customer relationships through program kick‑offs, onboarding support, executive‑level success reviews, and ongoing strategic engagement.
  • Act as a trusted strategic advisor to institutional collaborators, using data‑driven insights to optimize programs and strengthen long‑term outcomes.
  • Partner closely with sales, channel, customer success, marketing, and operations teams to ensure cohesive execution and accountability across institutional programs.
  • Champion disciplined pipeline, opportunity, and account management within CRM systems (Salesforce).
• Thought Leadership & Collaboration
  • Exhibit thought leadership within the institutional sales process by positioning oneself as a subject‑matter authority on Cengage institutional business models and account strategy.
  • Foster collaborative, high‑trust relationships across internal teams to support seamless execution and customer satisfaction.
  • Serve as a critical market feedback loop, synthesizing executive‑level insights and institutional trends to help Cengage leadership refine product strategy and business model.

• BA or BS degree.
• 5+ years of successful experience in educational or enterprise‑level sales.
• Proven ability to own and complete strategic account plans with long‑term revenue accountability.
• Strong background in high‑level negotiations.
• Strong analytical, written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Deep understanding of higher‑education institutional financial and academic decision‑making structures.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and CRM platforms, preferably Salesforce.

Base salary range: $77,100.00 – $ USD. Sales roles may incorporate a significant incentive compensation program beyond this base pay range.

Cengage is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong and most qualified individuals. Our job applicants are considered regardless of any classification protected by applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws. Cengage is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including during our job application process.

If you are an applicant with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in our job application process, please contact