Lead, Sales (State Funding)

Pearson • Jefferson City, MO • 2d ago

Pearson's Career Ready portfolio helps state systems, institutions, and employers access workforce-aligned learning and certification programs. This role positions you as both the strategic architect and lead revenue driver of the Career Ready commercial strategy - understanding how states invest in career readiness, translating that into coordinated commercial strategy, and directly executing state-level sales and appropriations strategy with a $20M+ target.

You will lead a state funding portfolio across the country and lead a team of state strategy and implementation managers who execute on state K-12 sales strategy, in close partnership with Pearson's Government Affairs team. You will meet directly with state leadership, build and maintain strong relationships, collaborate closely with Pearson's Government Affairs team, and drive adoption and revenue growth across your portfolio.

What You Will Do

This is a sales and execution role grounded in strategic expertise . You help shape market, policy, and state-level strategy while leading a team and directly driving revenue through state appropriations and funding mechanisms. You carry quota responsibility for $20M+ in state funding and cultivate key state relationships.

State Revenue Leadership & Strategy Execution

Own a portfolio of strategic states and carry quota responsibility for securing $20M+ in state appropriations, grants, and other state funding mechanisms.

Meet directly with state education leadership, governors' offices, and appropriations officials; develop and maintain key relationships; and lead contract negotiations in partnership with Pearson's Government Affairs team.

Conduct research and analysis of state trends, budget priorities, and legislative activity to identify funding opportunities and inform commercial priorities.

Develop integrated state strategy frameworks that connect state priorities, funding mechanisms, regulatory requirements, and commercial opportunity into coordinated go-to-market plays.

Lead state certification placements and ensure Pearson offerings are positioned competitively in state procurement and funding decisions.

State Strategy, Policy Alignment, and Team Leadership

Partner closely with Pearson's Government Affairs team to executive the state-level CTE curriculum and certification strategy, supporting state-level awareness, policy alignment, and budgetary support for our priorities.

Support advocacy initiatives and public policy campaigns, working alongside Pearson's Government Affairs team, that shape state environments favorably for product adoptions and funding flow.

Manage and develop a team of state sales strategy and implementation managers responsible for driving adoption and onboarding of state-funded curriculum and certifications; set performance expectations, provide coaching, and build a high performing team.

Work cross-functionally with Product, Marketing, Revenue Operations, and Government Affairs to ensure go-to-market support and operations alignment

What You Need to Be Successful

10+ years of progressive experience in state policy, education policy, budget strategy, or related commercial roles combining policy expertise and proven commercial impact.

Direct experience securing K-12 state funding (appropriations, grants, federal passthrough) - ideally for CTE, workforce development, or career pathway initiatives. K-12 state funding expertise is essential.

Proven track record of owning and closing significant state-level deals and partnerships with direct accountability for revenue.

Success building and maintaining long-term relationships with state education officials, governors' staff, appropriations leaders, and key state decision-makers, in coordination with Pearson's Government Affairs team.

Deep understanding of state education systems, K-12 workforce development, state budget processes, appropriations mechanisms, and funding pathways.

Demonstrated success managing and developing sales or state strategy teams.

Strong analytical and strategic thinking; excellent written and verbal communication skills with C-suite executives and state officials.

Bachelor's degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Business, Education, Economics, or related field.

Compensation at Pearson is influenced by factors including skill set, experience, and location.

The full-time salary range for this role is $170,000 - $190,000.

This position is eligible for Pearson's annual incentive program. Information on benefits can be found here.

Applications will be accepted through 9/18/26 . This window may be extended depending on business needs.

LI-JH1

Who we are:

At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. We are the world's lifelong learning company. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. To learn more: We are Pearson.

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing TalentExperienceGlobalTeam@grp.pearson.com.

Job: Sales

Job Family: GO\TO\MARKET

Organization: Higher Education

Schedule: FULL_TIME

Workplace Type:

Req ID: 25758

location

Pearson

Go to Apply

Share this job

Similar Jobs

Derivative Sales Analyst

Coinbase • Jefferson City, MO • 7h ago

Sales & Marketing

Ready to do the most impactful work of your career? Athttps://www.coinbase.com/careers. Requirements: Demonstrates the ability to responsibly use generative AI tools and copilots (e.g., LibreChat, Gemini, Glean) in daily...

7h ago

Go to Apply

Sr Channel Sales Representative

Honeywell Technologies • Jefferson City, MO • 23h ago

Sales & Marketing

As a Sr Channel Sales Rep here at Honeywell, you will be instrumental in driving the company's sales growth through effective channel management. Your expertise in building and nurturing relationships with channel partne...

23h ago

Go to Apply

Advanced Specialist, Events

Pearson • Jefferson City, MO • 2d ago

Sales & Marketing

Job Title - Advanced Specialist, Events DESCRIPTION Deliver exceptional customer, partner and industry event experiences that support Pearson's commercial, marketing and brand objectives. Comparable market titles for thi...

2d ago

Go to Apply

Market Research Strategist

Centene Corporation • Jefferson City, MO • 3d ago

Sales & Marketing

Position Purpose: Stays current with emerging trends, methodologies, and technologies in market research to ensure Centene leverages best-in-class approaches. Proactively recommends enhancements, leads pilot initiatives,...

3d ago

Go to Apply

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

UKG • Jefferson City, MO • 3d ago

Sales & Marketing

Why UKG: At UKG, the work you do matters. The code you ship, the decisions you make, and the care you show a customer all add up to real impact. Today, tens of millions of workers start and end their days with our workfo...

3d ago

Go to Apply

Marketing Intern - Cognizant AI Labs

Cognizant • Jefferson City, MO • 3d ago

Sales & Marketing

About the role As a Marketing Intern, you will make an impact by helping tell the story of the research, technology, and people shaping the future of AI at Cognizant AI Lab. You will be a valued member of the Cognizant A...

3d ago

Go to Apply

Account Executive (Strategic)

Verint Systems, Inc. • Jefferson City, MO • 4d ago

Sales & Marketing

At Verint, we believe customer engagement is the core of every global brand. Our mission is to help organizations elevate Customer Experience (CX) and increase workforce productivity by delivering CX Automation. We hire...

4d ago

Go to Apply

Account Executive Enterprise Sales

Highmark Health • Jefferson City, MO • 4d ago

Sales & Marketing

Company : enGen Job Description : JOB SUMMARY The Account Executive is responsible for growing the client base within our national print & mail manufacturing footprint. They will be responsible for driving sales reve...

4d ago

Go to Apply

Outside Sales Representative, Residential

Google • Jefferson City, MO • 4d ago

Sales & Marketing

At GFiber, we believe that great internet has the power to drive innovation, strengthen communities, enable the impossible, and do all the everyday things that make all of our world go round. And the job of creating bett...

4d ago

Go to Apply

Director, Sales Enablement

Trustmark • Jefferson City, MO • 4d ago

Sales & Marketing

Remote Remote Charlotte, NC Plymouth Meeting, PA Lake Forest, IL Meridian, ID Full time 106777 Trustmark's mission is to improve wellbeing - for everyone. It is a mission grounded in a belief in equality and born from ou...

4d ago

Go to Apply

Subscribe to get new jobs sent directly to you
(no charge, cancel anytime)