14380 - Senior Sales Director - Higher Education (Virtual)

Together we change lives. 

Kelly is a team of experts driven by our belief that the impact of the right person in the right job is limitless.  

No matter where you are in your career journey you can apply your knowledge and passion to move people, organizations, and communities forward.  You’ll have opportunities to grow your expertise and capabilities, both professionally and personally.  As a team we celebrate inclusion, caring and collaboration.  As a company we value your contribution, we work with integrity, and we always put people first – so your impact really will change lives. 

Our Senior Sales Director, Higher Education is the principal seller responsible for driving strategic new business acquisition with high-value, complex organizations university across higher education. This role requires mastery of consultative selling, strong business acumen, disciplined territory planning, and the ability to engage senior executives.  

This leader partners closely with the Sales VP, senior sales consultants, and cross-functional stakeholders to win large opportunities, penetrate multiple business units, and position the company as the trusted partner of choice.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic New Business Development

• Define and lead growth strategy and priority account targeting
• Identify and pursue the most complex, high-value higher education opportunities
• Build C-suite / executive-level relationships across HR, Procurement, Operations, and Business Unit leadership, serving as a trusted advisor and primary point of contact
• Develop and execute territory and account strategies that identify priority targets, growth opportunities, and competitive risks
• Develop and deliver compelling executive-level presentations and proposals that clearly articulate the value proposition and business impact of Kelly solutions
• Maintain deep expertise in higher education staffing and MSP solutions, with working knowledge of ETM offerings including BPO, RPO, and PPO/EOR
• Leverage the full Kelly portfolio to identify cross-business opportunities and drive integrated solution sales

Complex Sales Execution

• Lead the organization’s most complex higher education pursuits involving multiple business units or global programs
• Shape solution strategy and commercial structure for large higher education deals
• Lead the negotiation of strategic partnerships and long-term agreements
• Ensure prospects advance through each stage of the higher education decision process—need identification, option evaluation, risk mitigation, and final selection
• Design value-based business cases tied to financial, operational, and talent outcomes
• Negotiate complex commercial agreements ensuring alignment with company policies, legal requirements, and long-term partnership objectives
• Manage the sales pipeline with disciplined opportunity management, accurate forecasting, and consistent follow-up to drive predictable revenue outcomes

Account Expansion

• Develop long-term institutional partnership strategies, identifying cross-business opportunities across the full Kelly portfolio
• Influence higher education-wide solution adoption and expansion, executing cross-sell and upsell opportunities within strategic accounts through coordinated internal engagement
• Map higher education stakeholder relationships, expand influence, and cultivate executive sponsors and internal champions
• Maintain strong understanding of client operating environments, strategic priorities, and organizational dynamics to proactively identify growth opportunities
• Build long-term client partnerships that drive satisfaction, retention, and expansion of higher education programs

Collaboration & Internal Alignment

• Partner closely with delivery, operations, product, legal, and executive leadership to develop scalable, client-centric solutions
• Collaborate cross-functionally to align sales strategy with broader business priorities and solution development
• Participate in strategic account planning and territory reviews with sales leadership and supporting teams
• Provide senior leadership with regular updates on pipeline performance, market trends, competitive landscape, and growth opportunities

Sales Operations, Enablement & Continuous Improvement

• Analyze sales performance data and market insights to identify opportunities for growth, process optimization, and improved win rates
• Champion effective use of CRM platforms and sales enablement tools to drive pipeline visibility, forecasting accuracy, and operational efficiency
• Contribute to sales capability development by sharing best practices, participating in training sessions, and mentoring team members on higher education sales methodologies and solutions

Core Behaviors

• Demonstrate a strong attitude, personal accountability, perseverance, and consistent habits in planning and execution
• Represent the organization professionally in higher education sales environments, meetings, conferences, and executive briefings
• May lead and mentor a team of sales consultants, providing guidance on selling techniques, product knowledge, and customer relationship management, requiring proven capability to collaborate, engage, and motivate others

Essential Skills, Knowledge, & Experiences: 

• Minimum of 10 years experience with strategic account sales experience, preferably in higher education, with territory and account planning discipline
• Demonstrated success leading large, complex, multi-solution higher education / institutional deals
• Strong financial and business acumen, with experience engaging C-suite decision makers and higher education procurement
• Proven ability to shape higher education strategy and influence executive stakeholders
• Skilled in advanced consultative selling and managing complex sales cycles with multiple decision makers
• Proficiency with CRM systems and structured sales processes
• Executive presence, with capability to build relationships at multiple organizational levels
• Strong active listening and questioning skills
• Objection handling and value articulation
• Resiliency along with consistent execution habits

Role is virtual with travel as required

Base pay range for this position is $120,075 - $175,00 per year.  In addition to the base salary, this role is eligible for an attractive variable compensation plan designed to reward high performance and revenue growth, providing the opportunity to significantly increase total earnings based on individual results. Final annual compensation will be based on experience and may vary by geographic location.  

Total compensation package including benefits as applicable to the position – understanding that each person has unique professional and personal needs focused on your total well-being.  Explore our range of benefits at: Kelly Services | People Regular Staff

Kelly is an equal opportunity employer committed to employing a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, including, but not limited to, race, gender, individuals with disabilities, protected veterans, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Equal Employment Opportunity is The Law.