Blackboard helps shape the future of learning and development by delivering technology and services solutions that transform the learning experience. We continually innovate to better enable learning and development professionals of all types to teach, learn, connect and communicate whenever they want and wherever they are. We partner with businesses, government and educational organizations globally to improve the learning experience online as well as supplementing the classroom by facilitating access to information, enabling stronger learner and employee engagement and collaboration, enhancing communication, and supporting learner success and organizational effectiveness. Most importantly, we help every learner achieve their full potential through access to lifelong learning.

Summary

The Regional Account Executive France will play an integral role in the success of Blackboard in France and is responsible for sales generation, retention and growth within the assigned geographic region. The AE must be focused on meeting corporate sales, revenue, operational and strategic goals and will spend much of the time working with partners. Specifically, s/he will be responsible for:

Driving high impact, business solutions that engage the customer, drive product revenue, and leverages the Blackboard ecosystem through Consultative / Solutions selling
Meeting and exceeding Blackboard sales objectives for the defined strategic markets
Building strong and deepening customer relationships
Developing and executing strategic, effective and actionable region territory plans
Working with the Regional Vice President of Europe to identify strategies and tactics as well as developing a strategic business plan to successfully achieve the targeted sales for these markets.
Achieving stated goals and quotas. This will be accomplished by following account activity, close rates, time-to-close data and strong pipeline management.
Achieve stated goals and quotas for renewal business.
Successfully managing internal resources needed for success.
Communicating with the Blackboard Teams. Specific needs in this area are training, gaining best value for service offerings with each sale, and utilizing support staff appropriately (e.g., solutions engineers, RFP support, consulting).
Identifying and providing leadership to strategic sales opportunities with prospective customers and involving all appropriate company personnel
Partner recruitment and development
Coaching, mentoring and development of partner performance.
Identifying and sharing in process improvement; communicating better means to achieve sales goals, promote efficiencies and generally enhance the working environment.
Actively participating in all sales management meetings
Reporting: submitting weekly reports to management that reflect closed business, forecasted business, pipeline development and other management issues or concerns.
Performing other related tasks as appropriate.

SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelors’ degree required. Advanced degree preferred.
Sales experience within the French market, preferred within the Higher Education, K12 and/or Corporate Training sectors
The ability to establish a clear and understandable vision for the assigned region
A proven track record of providing leadership to a large enterprise solutions sales force in the region with a history of delivering exceptional results
5+ years of professional sales experience
Multi-cultural experience; Multi-lingual, French language, with strong English speaking and writing skills a must. Other languages are valued.
Experience of working in and a good understanding of the education market and in particular the HE sector
Excellent management, partner management, coaching, and mentoring skills
Strong listening and communication skills and a style appropriate for the education market
In-depth knowledge of and experience using Solution Selling methodology

Travel: 40%

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time.

Blackboard is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, gender, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected factor.