[Hiring] Higher Education Solution Strategist @CDW

Role Description

CDW and Google for Education are empowering Higher Education (HiEd) institutions through advanced AI tools, resources, and platforms like Gemini for Education and Google AI Pro for Education. We are looking for a Senior Strategist to drive the adoption and strategic implementation of these advanced AI and cloud solutions within the HiEd market, specifically targeting Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and Chief Technology Officers (CTOs).

In this highly technical and executive-facing role, you will leverage deep expertise in campus-wide IT infrastructure, enterprise AI strategy, and Google's management console to deliver compelling, high-level pre-sales consultations and technical demonstrations. These engagements will occur both virtually and in-person across North America. You will partner closely with both the Google for Education and CDW teams to identify strategic sales opportunities, champion AI governance and integration best practices tailored for complex HiEd environments, and directly contribute to our strategic program growth goals focusing on enterprise AI adoption.

• Deliver compelling presentations virtually and in person that showcase the transformative value proposition of Gemini for Education and Google AI Pro for Education.
• Address key HiEd CIO and CTO priorities such as research acceleration, administrative efficiency, data security, and responsible AI implementation across the institution.
• Travel within North America is required for in-person training and executive presentations at customer locations, partner locations, and industry conferences.
• Design and develop executive-level content and presentations to promote the strategic deployment of Gemini for Education and Google AI Pro within HiEd.
• Create compelling value propositions and technical use cases specifically tailored for the needs of senior Higher Education IT leadership.
• Build strong, consultative relationships with key decision-makers and influencers in the Higher Education sector.
• Stay up-to-date on all updates to Gemini for Education and Google AI Pro, Google Workspace for Education changes, and the latest trends in the education technology landscape.
• Submit conference sessions and speak as an AI and IT strategy expert at Higher Education industry conferences.
• Reporting and tracking key team metrics related to AI adoption, enterprise licensing, and executive engagement.
• Provide expert technical consultation to HiEd CIOs/CTOs to support complex pre-sales processes and large-scale AI infrastructure planning.
• Address all advanced AI and product-related technical queries in a timely and efficient manner.
• Outline and explain CDW Education services to HiEd customers and convey value propositions for enterprise-level AI and cloud deployments.
• Identify and coordinate executive briefings, technical workshops, and strategic planning sessions for HiEd IT leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field and 5+ years experience in a Higher Education institution, specifically in IT departments managing large-scale enterprise infrastructure, cloud services, and/or strategic AI initiatives OR 9+ years of experience.
• Background as a HiEd IT Director, Associate CIO, or similar enterprise-level IT management/strategy role strongly preferred.
• Deep familiarity with typical HiEd enterprise IT systems, including identity and access management, enterprise governance, research computing environments, Student Information Systems (SIS), and Learning Management Systems (LMS).
• Proven understanding of the technical, ethical, and governance challenges related to deploying and managing large language models (LLMs) and AI tools in a secure, compliant Higher Education environment.
• Excellent communication, executive presentation, and negotiation skills, particularly when engaging with senior IT executives.
• Ability to build strong, trust-based relationships and navigate complex institutional and stakeholder environments.
• Self-motivated, results-oriented, and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to travel up to 50%.
• Experience in business development or educational technology sales targeting enterprise accounts (specifically HiEd), with a proven track record of exceeding targets, a plus.
• Direct, hands-on experience with Gemini for Education, Google AI Pro, or other major enterprise-level LLM/AI platforms, a plus.
• Proficiency in CRM software and enterprise sales methodologies, a plus.
• Proven track record of success in developing and executing go-to-market strategies for complex AI or cloud solutions in Higher Education, a plus.

Requirements

• Pay range: $71,500- $107,600, depending on experience and skill set.
• Annual bonus target of 66.67% subject to terms and conditions of plan.

Benefits

• CDW is committed to being an AI-fluent organization.
• We’re looking for people who bring curiosity, a learner’s mindset, and a willingness to engage with ever-evolving technology and tools.
• We value adopting AI as a partner, openness to experimentation, and a shared interest in learning together on AI.
• Our goal is to create a culture where AI enhances—not replaces—human creativity and decision-making.
• We encourage candidates to embrace an AI mindset, one that’s curious, adaptive, and ready to explore what’s possible.