Sr Solution Specialist

• We believe in the power and joy of learning
  At Cengage, our employees have a direct impact in helping students around the world discover the power and joy of learning. We are bonded by our shared purpose – driving innovation that helps millions of learners improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.
  Cengage's Higher Education business, Cengage, supports learning and student success by providing materials and digital solutions to faculty and students enrolled in two-year, four-year and vocational programs. We currently serve more than 10 million of the 18 million students in US higher ed. Setting a new standard of service for our customers, we deliver quality, easy-to-use course materials from textbooks and eBooks to courseware such as MindTap and WebAssign. In the US, we offer Cengage Unlimited and Cengage Unlimited for Institutions.
  We help instructors be better teachers, we help institutions solve problems, and we empower students to leverage the power and joy of learning to transform lives. Our culture values inclusion, engagement, and discovery Our business is driven by our strong culture, and we know that creating an inclusive workplace is absolutely essential to the success of our company and our learners, as well as our individual well-being. We recognize the value of different perspectives in everything we do, and strive to ensure employees of all levels and backgrounds feel empowered to voice their ideas and bring their authentic selves to work. We achieve these priorities through programs, benefits, and initiatives that are integrated into the fabric of how we work every day.
  To learn more, please see https://www.cengagegroup.com/about/inclusion-and-belonging/. 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 disciplines or solution areas. Solutions Specialists own the entire sales cycle at the course and department level from discovery through close, focused on new adoptions, competitive displacement, and expansion within higher educational institutions.
  Their work directly contributes to Cengage’s broader institutional strategy by building faculty advocacy, driving digital usage, and creating departmental momentum that strengthens the value proposition for larger institutional agreements negotiated by Account Teams. Operating within a specialized new business model, Solutions Specialists deliver exceptional discovery, tailored demos, and consultative engagements.
  They collaborate closely with Product Consultants for high stakes presentations and complex opportunities and with Account Teams to ensure alignment with institutional account strategy and initiatives. For our Solution Specialist, HSG positions, we are targeting specific geographies due to territory alignment and travel expectations.
  To be considered, candidates must be based in one of the following areas: Bay Area, CA Sacramento, CA metro area. Own the entire sales cycle for course and department level new adoptions and competitive takeaways. Identify, qualify, develop, and close new digital opportunities within 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.
  2. Consultative Selling & Solution Alignment Lead discovery of conversations that uncover instructional challenges, curriculum needs, and departmental goals. Deliver high-quality product demonstrations, digital walkthroughs, and solution-based presentations customized to faculty workflows and outcomes. Position Cengage’s value in terms of career readiness, next gen assessment, guided learning, student success, and instructional efficiency. Drive consensus among faculty by guiding them through evaluation, trial, and decision-making processes that lead to adoption commitments.
  3. Collaboration With Product Consultants Engage Product Consultants for down funnel support on complex, strategic, or large-scale opportunities. Partner to deliver high impact demos, competitive differentiation, and discipline specific expertise during critical deal moments. Ensure seamless coordination to elevate presentation quality and increase win probability for high value targets.
  4. Coordinate with Principal Account Directors to ensure access to departmental activity that influences institutional agreements. Share insights regarding digital adoption, competitive movement, and faculty sentiment to inform institutional strategy.
  5. Market Expansion & 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.
  6. Territory, Pipeline, & Forecast Management Maintain a disciplined pipeline for new business opportunities using Salesforce. Effectively 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. 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 us at [email protected].
   

Skills You'll Need Here: (Required) Minimum 2 years of customer-facing sales, education, or training experience with evidence of strong performance, or 5+ years 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.

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 us at [email protected].
 

Cengage, 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

Compensation

At Cengage, we take great pride in our commitment to providing a comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package designed to support and empower our employees. Click here to learn more about our Total Rewards Philosophy.

The full base pay range has been provided for this position. Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity, and geographic location. 

In this position,  you will be eligible to participate in the company’s variable Sales incentive compensation program.

Target Variable Compensation:

annually

Actual incentive earnings are not guaranteed and may be more or less than the target amount based on achievement of performance goals and the terms of the applicable incentive compensation plan.