Account Associate – New York State/New England Territory

The Account Associate will support small to midsize school districts across New York State (excluding New York City) and the New England Territory. In this role, the Account Associate will take a consultative sales approach—quickly identifying and capitalizing on opportunities, building strong relationships, and guiding districts toward the adoption of effective literacy solutions. Collaborating closely with educators and decision-makers, this individual will deliver tailored offerings that address immediate needs and drive student success. By leveraging adaptability, strong relationship-building skills, and a clear value proposition, they will achieve sales targets while fostering long-term partnerships that support district-wide literacy initiatives. This position reports to the Regional Sales Manager.

Candidates must reside in New York State or one of the following New England States: CT, ME, MA, RI, VT or NH. They must also be willing to travel freely throughout the territory. Relocation assistance is not available.

Responsibilities:

• New Business Acquisition & Market Growth: Proactively identify and pursue new business opportunities within small to midsize school districts to expand market presence. This includes uncovering untapped opportunities, launching strategic outreach initiatives, and executing targeted sales plans to drive adoption of additional products and services.
• Renewals & Account Expansion: Lead renewal efforts for the subscription base across the territory, with a strong focus on expanding district investment in our client’s ecosystem of solutions.
• Rapid Sales Cycle Management: Execute a high-volume sales approach to quickly identify, qualify, and close opportunities within small to medium size school districts, leveraging shorter procurement processes and faster decision-making.
• Prospecting & Lead Generation: Identify and engage potential K–12 school districts, administrators, and key decision-makers to promote the adoption of our client’s science-based reading curriculum and professional learning services.
• Strategic Sales Presentations: Conduct compelling and strategic sales presentations to showcase the value and effectiveness of our client’s literacy products and services, tailored to the needs of each prospect.
• Relationship Building: Cultivate and nurture relationships with district leaders— including superintendents, curriculum directors, and literacy coaches—to understand their challenges, provide consultative support and present tailored solutions.
• Negotiation & Closing: Lead sales negotiations, address concerns with confidence, and close deals that meet or exceed revenue targets.
• Market Insights: Stay current on education policy, competitor activity, and literacy trends within the K–12 market to inform strategic selling and contribute market insights to internal teams.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with colleagues across departments to align on customer needs, support implementation efforts, and contribute to organizational growth.
• Continuous Learning: Commit to ongoing learning and development related to our client’s science-based reading solutions and services by participating in training, product updates, and professional development.
• Efficient Pipeline Management: Manage a dynamic pipeline of district opportunities, prioritizing prospects based on readiness to buy and potential for long-term relationship development.
• Consultative Selling: Provide consultative guidance to smaller and medium size school districts on the adoption of science-based reading curriculum and professional learning, emphasizing the immediate impact and ease of implementation.
• Adaptability and Flexibility: Quickly adapt sales strategies and messaging to align with the unique needs and preferences of each smaller district, focusing on value proposition.

Qualifications and Ideal experience:

• Bachelor's degree strongly preferred
• Proven Track Record - Minimum of 3 years of experience in educational sales, ideally within K–12 publishing or edtech, with a strong emphasis on literacy and the Science of Reading.
• Proven Experience working with Small to-Midsize Districts: Demonstrated success in selling to and navigating procurement processes within Small to Midsize K-12 school districts, with a track record of securing multi-year contracts and exceeding revenue targets.
• Renewals Experience: Familiarity with renewals management and expansion.
• Deep Network: Extensive existing network of contacts within Small to Midsize School Districts, with established relationships at various levels of administration.
• Hunter Mentality: Demonstrated ability to prospect, cold-call, and generate new business opportunities independently.
• General knowledge of Literacy Education: Working knowledge and familiarity with literacy instruction methodologies, reading intervention, and science-based reading (preferred)
• Strategic Thinker: Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to understand prospects’ needs and develop customized solutions.
• Excellent Communication & Presentation Skills: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including persuasive presentation abilities and active listening skills.
• Results-Driven: Motivated by achieving and exceeding sales targets, with a track record of meeting or exceeding quotas.
• Open Mindset and Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to changing priorities and market conditions.
• Technological Proficiency: Proficiency with CRM software (e.g., Salesforce), Microsoft Office Suite, and virtual presentation tools.
• Strategic Sales Skills: Ability to develop and execute strategic plans, leveraging insights into district priorities and challenges to drive sales opportunities forward.
• Speed and Agility: Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume sales environment, with a knack for quickly identifying and capitalizing on sales opportunities.
• Patience and Persistence: Resilience and patience to navigate longer sales cycles and complex decision-making processes within the school districts.
• Travel: Willingness to travel up to 30% to meet with prospects and attend conferences or industry events.

Benefits:

95 Percent Group offers a generous benefits package which includes life, health, dental, vision, STD, LTD insurance, 401(k), PTO, paid holidays, expense reimbursement and more.                                          

Salary Range:  

This role offers a targeted compensation package with on-target earnings ranging from $80,000 to $160,000, inclusive of commissions.

Company Description:

95 Percent Group is a leader in literacy instruction for pre-K through grade 8 across the U.S. The company offers professional development training for teachers and administrators as well as print and online products to assist teachers with literacy instruction. 95 Percent Group’s comprehensive educational consulting, professional development, diagnostic assessments, and instructional materials help schools deliver instruction that consistently and significantly increase reading achievement.

The company was founded in 2005 and is based in Lincolnshire, IL (northwest suburban Chicago). Its customers are primarily school districts across the U.S., and they are served by consultants who travel for on-site training as well as through online training.

95 Percent Group has a fully engaged and highly committed leadership team who cares deeply about our mission. We’ve hired the best from inside and outside the industry. This is a tremendous opportunity to join a company positioned for continued significant growth. An added plus is knowing that what you’re doing every day is making a significant difference in children’s lives. Come work with a group of smart, fun, passionate professionals who value creativity, innovation, and making an impact.

95 Percent Group, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

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