Pearson is seeking an inspiring Head of Sales to lead our ANZ business. This role is ideal for a dynamic leader passionate about driving high performance and sustainable growth in a collaborative, customer-centric environment.
Key Responsibilities Business Leadership
* Lead a national sales team to achieve profitable, sustainable growth and deliver exceptional customer satisfaction.
* Develop and execute sales strategies to acquire new customers and expand existing accounts.
* Collaborate with the Higher Education Leadership Team to shape and implement regional strategies.
* Build and nurture deep relationships with stakeholders, including C‐suite executives, professional, and academic staff.
* Drive business transformation by accelerating digital growth, increasing market share, and innovating monetization efforts.
* Partner with senior stakeholders locally and internationally across marketing, product, finance, and customer support to ensure effective business leadership.
* Oversee key customer and partner relationships.
Commercial Excellence
* Ensure financial targets for revenue, gross margin, and contribution are met.
* Achieve quantitative success metrics, including take‐aways, adoptions, pipeline growth, and digital sales proportion.
* Empower the sales team to negotiate effective commercial terms, fostering long‐term partnerships.
* Champion sales effectiveness through skill development, CRM adoption, pipeline management, and accurate forecasting.
* Apply data‐driven approaches to problem‐solving, strategy planning, and reporting.
* Develop strategic plans to enhance commercial outcomes and customer experience.
* Undertake other duties and travel as required to support business and team coaching.
Team & Culture
* Build a high‐performing team culture grounded in accountability and trust.
* Enhance organizational effectiveness through recruitment, onboarding, training, coaching, and timely performance feedback.
* Develop a robust talent pool for succession planning.
* Foster an international, contemporary, and customer‐centric culture.
Ideal Experience
* Minimum 10 years' sales experience in diverse consumer sectors, preferably within education or related industries.
* Proven expertise in sales strategy, leadership, and execution.
* Demonstrated success in driving new business growth, customer retention, and renewals.
* Experience working internationally or in multinational environments, managing matrix reporting and stakeholders.
* Entrepreneurial self‐starter with a blend of results orientation and strategic capability.
* Strong team leadership skills, with a track record of developing and motivating large teams.
* Advanced stakeholder management skills, adept at navigating multicultural and matrix organizations.
* Empathetic and authentic team player, confident in advocating for their views.
Key Attributes
* Critical thinker with strong analytical and problem‐solving skills.
* Creative and effective communicator with high personal integrity.
* Skilled at building partnerships and consulting across all levels, committed to equality and diversity.
* Commercially astute with a global perspective.
* Team‐oriented, respectful of all cultures, and non‐hierarchical.
* Excellent communication and presentation skills.
* Capable of navigating complex stakeholder environments and building internal consensus.
* Resilient under pressure, able to manage competing priorities.
* Credible and experienced, with sound judgment at senior organizational levels.
* Highly developed decision‐making, persuasion, influencing, and negotiation skills.
Additional Leadership Team Requirements
* Actively contribute to the success of Higher Education Australia and the APJ Region.
* Drive a high‐performance culture across sales and the broader Higher Education Australia business.
* Apply critical thinking to navigate complex challenges and uncertainty.
* Operate collaboratively, transparently, and prioritize sound business decisions over individual interests.
* Maintain a local focus with an international outlook.
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