Smb Account Executive (Franchise)

At InStride, people are our purpose. We believe that investing in people is the most powerful way to drive success—for individuals and organizations alike. 

As a public benefit corporation, we partner with leading employers to unlock opportunities for their employees, providing access to top-tier education programs that align with their employees' career goals and the company's business goals. 

Our mission goes beyond skill-building; we're here to empower our partners' employees to advance their careers, elevate their expertise, and achieve meaningful personal and professional growth.

No matter the team you're on, our dedication to the success of our partners and their employees is what drives us. If you're passionate about making a difference and driving educational and professional advancement, InStride is the place for you. 

To get a better feel for our culture, watch more here.

Candidates must be located in one of the following states to be considered eligible for employment: AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, TX, VA, WA, WI. 

What we're looking for: We're in search of a SMB Account Executive who will play a pivotal role in driving our organization's growth by expanding adoption of programs within our Franchise client segment. They will lead the prospecting, engagement and enlistment of franchisees whose parent companies offer the InStride workforce education programs. This will include territory planning, prospecting outreach, opportunity execution and successful delivery against quota. The role requires strong communication, negotiation and problem-solving skills to effectively promote our offering to potential clients. It is a fast paced, high volume environment.

Skills we'd love to see you show off: Entrepreneurship & Strategic Thinking: You take a creative approach to problem-solving and understand the importance of a compelling value proposition. Communication & Negotiation: You excel at articulating complex ideas in a clear, persuasive manner and negotiating win-win outcomes. Analytical Decision-Making: You leverage data to inform strategies, making decisions that align with business goals and market opportunities. Relationship Building & Emotional Intelligence: You listen actively, build trust quickly, and are energized by the prospect of finding solutions to clients' pain points. Adaptability & Drive: You thrive in fast-paced environments, demonstrating resilience and motivation to meet challenges head-on. Who you are: Minimum of 3 years of experience in business-to-business sales for software, educational services, franchise benefits or related solutions. Proven track record of consistently meeting or exceeding sales targets. In-depth knowledge of the industry, market trends, and a keen understanding of client needs and pain points.  Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to present complex ideas and solutions in a clear and persuasive manner.  Analytical mindset, proficient in using data to drive decision-making and inform strategy.  Strong business acumen, strategic thinking, and the ability to align business objectives with sales and marketing initiatives.  Self-motivated, driven, and adaptable to a fast-paced and dynamic work environment. A passion for professional growth, continuous learning, and a commitment to staying up-to-date with industry best practices.  Excited by the challenge of building a world-class business that delivers not only a high return on investments but also has meaningful impact on society High EQ, comfortable with ambiguity and has a "no job too small" startup mentality. How you will create impact: Proactively identify and target potential franchise business owners to expand our program adoption among InStride's strategic Franchisor partners. Use your in-depth knowledge of our products and services to successfully align them with the evolving needs of their workforce. Partner closely with Corporate Partner Success and Engagement Managers to align on goals, define the acquisition strategy, and provide regular updates to the Corporate Franchise stakeholders. Leverage outreach strategies including warm and cold calls, promotional campaigns, incentives, and PR to set meetings with prospective franchise business owners and operators. Conduct compelling product presentations and demonstrations to showcase the benefits of the InStride program offering, using insight into the prospect's specific needs to tailor appropriately.  Develop and implement effective sales plans to meet or exceed quotas and revenue targets. Collaborate effectively with sales and marketing teams to align strategies and messaging. Effectively communicate and align prospects with the terms and pricing of the InStride offering. Close sales opportunities and ensure successful contract signings. Stay informed about industry trends, competing offerings and market conditions to support informed and tailored sales execution. Maintain accurate records of sales activities, prospect interactions and opportunity forecasts. Support regular opportunity and pipeline reviews. Continuously update knowledge of InStride's products and services to effectively communicate their value to potential clients. Gather and relay customer feedback and insights to relevant InStride teams and management, contributing to the refinement and development of our offerings. Travel as necessary and participate in industry events, conferences, and thought leadership initiatives to strengthen our brand's presence and network with potential clients and partners.  Target base compensation amount for this role outlined below. This position is eligible for a commission plan in addition to base pay. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and expertise and may vary from the amounts shown below.

Base salary range:
$65,000—$80,000 USD We are looking for someone who is not only technically skilled, but also enthusiastic about making a meaningful impact. If this description resonates with you, we're excited about the possibility of having you on our team. As a skills-driven employer, we encourage you to apply if there is a skill-fit, even in the absence of years of experience.

Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At InStride we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role, but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this role!

Benefits @ InStride  As an organization that champions investing in people, it's critical we walk the talk. That's why InStride employees are eligible to enroll in 2,800+ online certificate and degree programs through our Step Forward program. Unlike traditional tuition reimbursement programs, InStride covers your tuition upfront, regardless of your course of study, degree type, or school - eligible to employees starting Day 1. 

This role is also eligible for the following benefits:

401(k) plan with company match  Flexible vacation policy Paid family leave Best-in-class health care benefits And more! InStride Diversity and Inclusion Statement At InStride, we foster a culture of belonging, we support authenticity and intersectionality, and we embrace and appreciate our differences. We do this by building a diverse pipeline of talent and ensuring equitable access to opportunities, information and leadership. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. 

If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let your recruiter know. 

Policies & Disclosure  InStride recommends employees have their COVID vaccinations. InStride may require employees to have COVID vaccination before entering the office or attending any InStride-related even in the future. However, we do not require this at this time.

 For questions on how we use personal information of job applicants, please refer to InStride's Job Applicant Privacy Policy.

Beware of recruiting scams. InStride does not require a financial transaction or any financial account information to be eligible for employment. If you receive a message purporting to be from InStride asking you for a financial transaction, your financial account information, or any other sensitive information, please do not respond and let us know immediately at ******** . About InStride InStride is a tech-enabled services company that is pioneering new approaches to workforce education solutions with a mission of driving meaningful social and business outcomes by unlocking access to life-changing education. In collaboration with quality academic institutions, we enable employers to provide career-aligned, debt-free education through a personalized, digital platform and a consultative service model. To learn more, visit: https://www.instride.com/