[Hiring] Academic Account Executive @Research Solutions

Role Description

Research Solutions is seeking a dynamic and experienced SaaS Sales Executive to join our team. This role is pivotal in driving sales within the academic sector across North America. The ideal candidate will be multilingual, possessing a deep understanding of the academic market, a proven track record in SaaS sales, and a genuine curiosity for AI technologies—actively exploring and applying them in their day-to-day work.

As a SaaS Sales Executive, you will play a crucial role in expanding our presence in the North American market, driving the adoption of our innovative AI-powered solutions within academic institutions. You will be responsible for:

• Identifying new business opportunities
• Building and nurturing relationships with key stakeholders
• Contributing to the growth and success of our organization
• Helping clients understand the transformative potential of our AI and NLP-driven platform

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Proficiency in English is required; additional language skills are a plus
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in B2B SaaS sales, preferably within the academic sector or related fields
• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets in a remote, fast-paced environment
• Strong understanding of the academic sector, with the ability to navigate complex sales cycles involving multiple stakeholders
• Experience with sales tools and CRM systems (e.g., HubSpot, Salesforce)
• Library experience or selling to academic libraries is a plus
• Working knowledge of AI and NLP concepts; ability to credibly articulate how AI-powered products deliver value in research and academic workflows
• Demonstrated curiosity about AI tools—actively experiments with and adopts AI in their personal workflow (e.g., AI writing assistants, research tools, sales automation)
• Highly motivated and goal-oriented, with excellent problem-solving and negotiation skills

Requirements

• Achieve and exceed quarterly and annual sales targets by acquiring new clients in the academic sector
• Conduct comprehensive market research to identify potential clients and opportunities
• Develop and maintain a robust sales pipeline through strategic prospecting and networking
• Lead the entire sales cycle from prospecting to closing deals, ensuring a smooth and efficient process
• Conduct discovery and demo calls, effectively presenting our SaaS solutions to potential clients
• Utilize consultative sales techniques to understand client needs and propose tailored solutions
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers within target organizations
• Develop and deliver compelling client proposals and presentations that highlight the value of our solutions
• Ensure client satisfaction and retention by providing ongoing support and addressing any issues promptly
• Collaborate with internal teams, including marketing, product, and customer success, to ensure alignment and support for sales efforts
• Utilize CRM tools to track sales activities, manage client information, and generate reports for strategic planning
• Stay updated on industry trends and competitor activities to identify new opportunities and challenges
• Leverage AI tools and technologies to enhance sales productivity, prospecting, and client engagement—and actively share learnings with the team

Benefits

• Remote work environment
• Occasional travel may be required for business engagements and industry events