[Hiring] Account Manager I @Cision

Role Description

The SLED Account Manager will own a portfolio of state, local, and higher education accounts across the East Coast. You'll be responsible for renewal performance, expansion ARR, and new logo growth within the territory.

This role suits someone who knows how state and local government buys, has relationships with public sector communicators, and can run a deal from first conversation through contract. You'll report to the VP of US Government & Public Sector and work closely with CX, Solutions, Marketing, and our federal sales team. Travel within the territory is expected.

What You'll Do

• Own and deliver expansion ARR quota and renewal performance across an assigned book of East Coast SLED accounts.
• Develop and execute account plans focused on multi-product adoption and wallet share growth across CisionOne, Brandwatch, and PR Newswire.
• Build a territory plan that balances existing customer growth with new logo pipeline.
• Build relationships with communications directors, press secretaries, PIOs, agency leaders, and procurement stakeholders.
• Lead deals through the full sales cycle, including RFPs, RFIs, cooperative purchasing vehicles, and sole source justifications.
• Drive disciplined renewal strategy, negotiation, and retention execution, with attention to state and local fiscal year timing.
• Identify commercial risk signals early and work with CX to address renewal exposure.
• Maintain accurate revenue forecasting and pipeline discipline in Salesforce.
• Track the SLED landscape, including budget cycles, policy shifts, and competitor activity, and share what you're hearing with leadership.
• Represent Cision at industry events, customer briefings, and state and regional associations.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as required to support business needs.

Qualifications

• Strong working knowledge of public sector sales and the SLED communications market.
• Sound judgment on moderately complex deals, with the ability to weigh procurement, budget, and stakeholder variables.
• Works independently toward territory goals with limited day-to-day oversight.
• Comfortable representing Cision with senior government communicators and at industry events.
• A customer-first approach: you want to understand what a comms team is dealing with before you pitch anything.
• The ability to think about the territory a year out and still get a renewal across the line this week.

Requirements

• Typical experience: 5+ years in a related role.
• Experience selling technology, SaaS, data, or media solutions to state and local government or higher education.
• Experience managing account portfolios with ARR responsibility and a track record of meeting or exceeding targets.
• Hands-on experience with state procurement, including cooperative contracts (NASPO ValuePoint, Sourcewell, OMNIA) and formal RFP processes.
• Strong negotiation skills, including pricing conversations and competitive displacement.
• Existing relationships with SLED stakeholders on the East Coast.
• Education: University degree preferred.

Nice to have

• Background in government communications, public affairs, or a PR agency.
• Familiarity with media monitoring, social listening, or press release distribution.