Higher Education World Language Sales Consultant - West & Midwest

The Higher Education World Language Sales Consultant plays a key role in expanding Klett World Languages’ presence and growing our business within the higher education market by promoting and increasing the adoption of KWL’s world language learning materials. Reporting to the Director of Sales, this position is responsible for developing new business opportunities, growing existing accounts, and building strong, long-term relationships with professors, department chairs, program coordinators, and institutional decision-makers across the West and Midwest territory of the United States.

The role combines sales expertise, pedagogical understanding, and exceptional communication and relationship-building skills to serve as a trusted partner to higher education faculty and institutions. The Sales Consultant executes KWL’s higher education sales strategy within the assigned territory, identifies new opportunities, understands institutional and instructional needs, provides meaningful curriculum and product support, and guides prospective customers throughout the evaluation and adoption process.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute KWL’s higher education sales strategy within the assigned territory, with a focus on expanding KWL’s presence, developing new business opportunities, increasing product adoption, and growing market share.
• Identify and develop new business opportunities at colleges, universities, community colleges, and other post-secondary institutions through prospecting, campus visits, virtual meetings, referrals, conferences, and targeted outreach.
• Promote KWL’s world language portfolio to prospective higher education customers through consultative conversations, engaging presentations, and product demonstrations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with professors, department chairs, program coordinators, and other academic and institutional decision-makers.
• Manage opportunities throughout the sales and adoption cycle, from initial outreach and product evaluation through adoption, implementation, and follow-up.
• Grow and retain existing accounts by providing timely, professional, and personalized support and identifying opportunities for additional adoptions and expanded use of KWL products.
• Serve as a consultative partner to faculty and academic departments by developing a strong understanding of their programs, instructional goals, challenges, and curriculum needs and recommending appropriate KWL solutions.
• Maintain an active and accurate pipeline of prospective customers, evaluations, and adoption opportunities and provide timely updates to the Director of Sales to support forecasting and sales planning.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of accounts, activities, leads, opportunities, and customer interactions in the company’s CRM system.
• Collaborate with Sales and Marketing to execute campaigns, events, outreach initiatives, and other activities that support KWL’s higher education growth objectives.
• Gather and communicate relevant information about higher education trends, competitor activity, customer needs, and market opportunities to the Director of Sales and appropriate cross-functional teams.
• Provide accurate and timely territory sales information, opportunity updates, and other reporting required to support sales analysis, forecasting, and decision-making.
• Work closely with Editorial, Product, Implementation, and other teams to communicate customer feedback, support successful adoptions and implementations, and contribute relevant market insights.
• Represent KWL at local, regional, and national conferences and professional events by presenting products, facilitating sessions, developing relationships, identifying opportunities, and increasing KWL’s visibility within the higher education community.
• Collaborate with KWL colleagues across the U.S., Spain, and Germany to share market insights and best practices and support organizational objectives.
• Travel as business needs require to attend conferences, visit campuses, develop new business opportunities, and support customer relationships.

Preferred minimum qualifications:

• Four or more years of experience in higher education, educational publishing, or an adjacent industry
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in world languages, language education, education, business, or a related field preferred.
• Strong understanding of the post-secondary education environment, including faculty needs, academic programs, and institutional decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to develop relationships, identify and pursue new business opportunities, and grow customer accounts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with both large and small audiences.
• Proficiency in Spanish and/or another world language strongly preferred.
• Ability to learn and confidently navigate multiple software platforms, digital products, and CRM systems.
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative and rapidly growing environment.
• Demonstrated success collaborating on time-sensitive projects and working effectively across teams.
• Conscientious, ethical, customer-focused, and entrepreneurial mindset.
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback and contribute positively to a collaborative team environment.
• Outstanding time-management, organization, and prioritization skills.
• Ability to work independently within an assigned territory while effectively executing established sales priorities and objectives.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically as business needs require.

To apply, submit your cover letter and resume to [email protected].  Only serious candidates who submit a cover letter will be considered. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status