Otter.ai

Account Executive, Higher Education

Otter.ai$180K — $200K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 2+ years of closing experience in high-velocity SaaS sales, preferably in Higher Ed or public sector markets.
  • Proven track record managing full sales cycles and negotiating contracts with educational institutions.
  • Familiarity with Higher Ed procurement processes and budget cycles.
  • Experience collaborating with IT, legal, and finance teams for complex deal closures.
  • Proficiency with sales engagement tools like Salesforce, Outreach.io, and Sales Navigator.
  • Understanding of accessibility and compliance in higher education is a plus.
  • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Education, or related fields preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Own the entire sales cycle for Higher Ed accounts, from prospecting to closure.
  • Drive new business through various channels including prospecting and referrals in the Higher Ed vertical.
  • Build and manage relationships with diverse university stakeholders.
  • Navigate higher education procurement processes such as RFPs and purchase orders.
  • Customize product demos addressing specific Higher Ed use cases.
  • Collaborate with Marketing, Product, and Customer Success for effective Higher Ed positioning.
  • Maintain pipeline hygiene and accurate forecasting in Salesforce.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work model allowing flexibility between San Francisco and Mountain View offices.
  • Opportunity to work directly with innovative sales and product teams.
  • Engagement with key stakeholders in the Higher Ed sector at conferences and events.
  • Potential for career growth in a rapidly expanding organization.
Full Job Description
Location: Bay Area (Hybrid - 3 days/week in San Francisco office or Mountain View HQ)
The opportunity

Are you ready to be part of our exciting journey of exponential growth? We are seeking a talented Mid-Market Account Executive to join our expanding Sales team at Otter.ai! In this role, you'll play a vital role in fueling our revenue engine with innovation and energy, driving the scaling of our business while maximizing value for our customers. You'll have the chance to collaborate with a dynamic team dedicated to empowering SMBs and Mid-Market customers to harness the power of Otter. This is an excellent opportunity to work alongside exceptional sales talent and our product-focused team.
Your impact
  • Own the full sales cycle, from prospecting to close, for Higher Ed accounts, spanning individual departments, colleges,
    and institution-wide deals.
  • Drive new business acquisition through outbound prospecting, inbound leads, conference/event follow-up, and
    channel/partner referrals specific to the Higher Ed vertical.
  • Build and manage relationships with a wide range of university stakeholders: CIOs/IT and Ed Tech leaders, Provosts
    and Deans' offices, disability/accessibility services, procurement officers, and faculty.
  • Navigate higher ed-specific procurement: RFPs, purchase orders, cooperative/consortium purchasing agreements,
    board and committee approvals, and academic-year budget cycles.
  • Customize product demonstrations that speak to Higher Ed use cases, including lecture capture, accessibility and
    accommodations (e.g., note-taking support for students with disabilities), advising and research meetings, and
    administrative/committeeworkflows.
  • Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Product, and Customer Success to shape Higher Ed-specific positioning,
    packaging, and feedback loops.
  • Maintain accurate forecasting and pipeline hygiene in Salesforce, and deliver reliable visibility into Higher Ed segment
    performance.
  • Represent Otter at higher education conferences (e.g., EDUCAUSE), webinars, and trade events to build pipeline and
    brand presence in the sector.
  • Serve as the voice of the Higher Ed customer internally, championing the needs of colleges and universities in product
    and go-to-market discussions
We're looking for someone who
  • 2+ years of closing experience in a high-velocity SaaS sales environment; prior experience selling into Higher Ed or
    broader public sector/EDU markets strongly preferred.
  • A proven track record of managing the full sales cycle and negotiating contracts with colleges and universities,
    including navigating RFPs and multi-stakeholder buying committees.
  • Familiarity with higher ed procurement processes, academic budget calendars, and funding sources (e.g., institutional
    budgets, grants, consortium/cooperative purchasing vehicles).
  • Experience working with IT/security, legal, and finance/procurement teams to close complex deals.
  • Proficiency with Salesforce, Outreach.io, Sales Navigator, or comparable sales engagement tools.
  • Understanding of accessibility and compliance considerations relevant to higher education (e.g., FERPA,
    ADA/accessibility requirements) is a plus.
  • A go-getter attitude and comfort building repeatable processes to support a high volume of transactions.
  • Excellent team orientation and a track record of cross-functional collaboration.
  • Impeccable customer skills, including communication, empathy, and integrity, especially when working with mission-
    driven, budget-conscious institutions.
  • Adaptability, flexibility, and resilience in an ever-changing environment.
    Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Education, or a related field preferred.
  • Previous experience at a tech start-up is a plus.


Salary range
Salary Range: $180,000 to $200,000 USD per year **potential inclusive of commission**

This salary range represents the low and high end of the estimated salary range for this position. The actual base salary offered for the role is dependent on several factors. Our base salary is just one component of a comprehensive total rewards package.

#LI-Hybrid

#LI-Hybrid

About Otter.ai

Otter.ai is an AI-powered transcription service that uses machine learning algorithms to transcribe audio and video recordings. The platform is used by businesses, journalists, and other professionals to transcribe interviews, meetings, and other recordings. Otter.ai's platform is designed to be easy to use and offers a range of features, including real-time transcription and collaboration tools.
Learn more about Otter.ai
Size
100 employees
Industry

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Otter.ai

More Education, Government & Non-Profit Jobs

Find similar Account Executive, Higher Education jobs: