Solution Specialist

Job Overview

The Solutions Specialist, HSG (Humanities, Social Sciences & Gale) is a consultative, new‑business seller responsible for expanding market share and driving competitive takeaways within assigned teams or solution areas within the higher‑education market. The role focuses on leading the entire sales cycle at the course and department level, building faculty advocacy, driving digital usage, and creating momentum for larger institutional agreements.

Lead the full sales cycle for course and department‑level new adoptions and driven takeaways.

Identify, qualify, develop, and close new digital opportunities within the assigned subject area.

Establish relationships with deans, department chairs, coordinators, and faculty influencers to secure multi‑section or multicourse wins.

Drive digital‑first decisions that increase usage, value, and long‑term institutional alignment.

Consultative selling and solution alignment: lead discovery conversations to uncover instructional challenges, curriculum needs, and departmental goals; deliver high‑quality product demonstrations, digital walkthroughs, and solution‑based presentations tailored to faculty workflows and outcomes; position the company’s value in terms of career readiness, next‑gen assessment, guided learning, student success, and instructional efficiency; guide faculty through evaluation, trial, and decision‑making processes that lead to adoption commitments.

Collaboration with Product Consultants: engage for down‑funnel support on complex, strategic, or large‑scale opportunities; partner to deliver high‑impact demos, competitive differentiation, and discipline‑specific expertise; ensure seamless coordination to elevate presentation quality and increase win probability for high‑value targets.

Coordinate with Principal Account Directors to provide access to departmental activities influencing institutional agreements and share insights on digital adoption, competitive movement, and faculty sentiment to inform institutional strategy.

Market expansion and competitive displacement: develop targeted strategies to win high‑value competitive accounts; activate faculty advocates, peer influencers, and reference customers to accelerate competitive takeaways; analyze field trends, enrollment patterns, and competitor presence to prioritize high‑impact targets.

Territory, pipeline, and forecast management: maintain a disciplined pipeline for new business opportunities using Salesforce; plan strategic activity and customer engagement using Outlook and Salesforce calendars; provide accurate forecasting and ensure transparent activity tracking; use data to guide territory focus, campaign execution, and prioritization of the highest‑value opportunities.

Required

• Minimum 2 years of customer‑facing sales, education, or training experience with evidence of strong performance, or 5+ years of equivalent experience.
• Strong consultative selling and presentation skills with the ability to influence faculty and academic leaders.
• High digital proficiency with learning platforms and comfort delivering virtual and in‑person demos.
• Positive relationship‑building capabilities and credibility with academic collaborators.
• Ability to independently manage a territory, pipeline, and complete sales cycle.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM systems (Salesforce preferred).
• Ability to travel to campuses and events as required.

Preferred

• Experience in EdTech, SaaS, or new‑business acquisition roles.
• Background in teaching, instructional design, or academic environments.
• Experience partnering with product, marketing, or customer success functions.

Base pay range: $52,000.00 – $67,600.00 USD. The role includes variable sales‑incentive compensation with a target of $45,000.00 USD annually. Actual incentive earnings are not guaranteed and may vary based on performance goals.

Cengage is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong, qualified individuals. Applications are considered regardless of any classification or protection class. Cengage also provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities during the application process. Contact  for assistance.

For more information on the Total Rewards Philosophy, please visit the company website.