Sales Executive - Higher Education

Solutions & Services Executive - Higher Education Focus

Lenovo is seeking a highly experienced Solutions & Services Executive (SSE) to drive strategic growth across the Higher Education segment, with a focus on North East markets. In this client-facing role, you will own and expand the end-to-end SSG relationship across the full lifecycle of complex engagements, delivering solutions aligned to the evolving needs of universities, research institutions, and academic organizations.

As a trusted advisor, you will bring a deep understanding of Higher Education environments including decentralized decision-making structures, research-driven IT requirements, funding models (grants, endowments, and departmental budgets), and campus-wide digital transformation initiatives. You will position Lenovo's full portfolio across Services, Hardware, Software, Security, ISVs, and partner-led solutions to address institutional goals such as student success, hybrid learning, research enablement, and operational efficiency.

This role requires a proven acquisition mindset, strong consultative selling capabilities, and the ability to navigate complex academic ecosystems while building long-term, strategic relationships.

Key Responsibilities

Sales Leadership & Execution

• Lead all aspects of the services sales lifecycle across complex Higher Education opportunities, from opportunity identification through closure and long-term expansion
• Orchestrate cross-functional teams across sales, finance, service delivery, and partners to deliver innovative, scalable solutions for academic institutions
• Develop territory strategy and pipeline forecasting using Microsoft Dynamics and enterprise tools, ensuring consistent attainment of growth objectives
• Drive net-new business acquisition while expanding existing campus relationships through multi-year managed services and strategic engagements

Higher Education Account Engagement

• Partner closely with Client Managers, Service & Solution Domain Specialists (SSDS), and extended account teams to execute integrated account strategies
• Build and maintain relationships across university stakeholders, including CIOs, CTOs, Provosts, Research Leaders, IT Directors, and Procurement teams
• Navigate complex, decentralized buying environments across campuses, departments, and affiliated research entities
• Serve as a trusted consultant, aligning Lenovo capabilities to institutional priorities such as digital learning environments, hybrid campuses, and research computing

Industry & Domain Expertise - Higher Education

• Demonstrate deep understanding of Higher Education trends, including hybrid learning models, research computing needs, AI/analytics adoption, and student device strategies
• Align solutions to key initiatives such as student success programs, faculty enablement, secure research environments, and campus IT modernization
• Leverage experience with RFPs, RFQs, consortium contracts (e.g., E&I, OMNIA, Sourcewell), and higher ed procurement frameworks
• Support institutions in optimizing funding sources including grants, capital budgets, and operational spend

Portfolio & Solution Acumen

• Exhibit strong expertise across Lenovo's end-to-end portfolio, including Digital Workplace Solutions (DWS), Device as a Service (DaaS), Infrastructure Solutions (ISG), HPC solutions, and advanced services
• Translate complex academic and research requirements into scalable, outcome-driven solutions
• Confidently position integrated offerings across services, software, and hardware in multi-vendor and open research environments
• Support high-performance computing (HPC), AI/ML, and data-intensive workloads common in research institutions

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
• 5+ years of successful experience in IT solutions and services sales

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven track record selling multi-year managed services and complex IT solutions
• Strong knowledge of Digital Workplace Solutions, DaaS, and lifecycle services
• Experience navigating complex organizations with multiple stakeholders and decision-makers
• Exceptional communication, executive presence, and negotiation skills
• Self-motivated, results-oriented, with strong pipeline and forecasting discipline
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, competitive environment
• Willingness to travel across assigned North East territory as needed
• Experience selling into Higher Education institutions, particularly across East Coast universities and research organizations
• Familiarity with campus IT environments, research computing, and academic procurement processes
• Proven ability to develop and grow strategic engagements through MSAs, SOWs, and long-term service agreements
• Experience with cooperative purchasing vehicles and Higher Ed consortiums (NASPO, E&I, OMNIA, etc.)
• Background supporting research, HPC, or AI-driven academic initiatives