Job description

The Strategic Account Manager – Education focuses on leading our selling efforts with targeted Education Institutions (Schools, Colleges, Universities). In this role, the SAM is responsible for developing account strategies and for translating the respective needs of teachers, students, learning environments designers and managers into insight led Education Solutions. This role is based in Paris and is covering the French Speaking Markets area.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead overall sales efforts for the education market in the French Speaking Markets (France and overseas, French Speaking Switzerland, Luxemburg, Belgium, Northern & Western Africa).
• Primary focus on Higher Education ; secondary focus on Corporate Learning
• Work with four distinct audiences to build trust and drive results:
• Academic leaders at universities, colleges, and other centers for learning
• Architects, designers and consultants who focus on education
• Steelcase dealers
• Steelcase regional sales teams
• Lead highly consultative selling efforts focused on helping Education Institutions make a meaningful shift to more active learning models
• Share research based insights as a foundation to inform new thinking about how space impacts behavior….and about how well designed active learning spaces can increase student engagement and ultimately improve student success
• Share stories from other thought leading institutions around the world
• Inspire institutions (and faculty / teachers) to change
• Create compelling customer experiences for Institutions, primarily at the Linc Munich
• Focus on bringing innovative solutions to every type of clients learning spaces : classrooms, library, student union, residence halls, student services, faculty offices, etc
• Build the Steelcase Education brand by attending local, regional and national education events

Required Skills

• Business/related degree or equivalent experience required (Social Sciences or Pedagogy desirable)
• Professional sales role that typically requires a minimum of 5-10 years of experience with a proven sales record
• Must be Fluent in English and French (German desirable)
• Excellent written and oral presentation skills
• Ability to think laterally
• Sets high goals and standards for self and others in the organization.
• Self-starter; committed to excellence: accuracy in work and attention to detail
• Proven account management in the Education and Corporate sectors, including developing and implementing strategies for clients with complex, multiple stakeholders and long decision-making cycles.
• Strong team and collaborative working ability
• Ability to build long-term working relationships with highly diverse functions in customers’ organisation (academics, real-estate, facility management, HR, Procurement, technology etc.), specifiers (Architects and Designers – A&D), marketing and product experts and other relevant partners and dealers as part of a complex sales approach
• Proficient use of IT supporting tools such as CRM, Outlook calendar, tablets, smartphones and confidence in interacting via webinars, living on video applications, virtual meeting tools, business applications
• Strong organization and time management skills
• Autonomy, adaptability, commitment, and team playing qualities will be highly valued.
• Coaching (Proficiency)
• Formal Presentation (Proficiency)
• Impact (Proficiency)
• Information Monitoring (Proficiency)
• Negotiation (Proficiency)
• Adaptability (Proficiency)
• Communication (Proficiency)
• Customer Focus (Proficiency)
• Gaining Committment (Proficiency)
• Initiating Action (Proficiency)
• Building Strategic Relationships (Proficiency)
• Decision Making (Proficiency)
• Continuous Learning (Proficiency)
• Planning and Organizing (Proficiency)
• Work Standards (Proficiency)
• Innovation (Proficiency)