Education Sales Specialist

Job Purpose

• We are looking for a proactive and field-driven Education Sales Specialist to develop new business opportunities across the education sector.
• The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying and developing opportunities across universities, colleges, schools, education groups, NGOs and organisations involved in education projects.
• The role will involve actively visiting institutions, building relationships with key decision-makers and identifying opportunities for technology, equipment and broader education solutions.
• This is a new-business and project-focused role, with the successful candidate expected to actively prospect, develop relationships, open new accounts and build a pipeline of education-related opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify and prospect for new business opportunities within the education sector.
• Target universities, colleges, schools, education groups, NGOs and organisations involved in education projects.
• Research institutions and identify procurement, IT, facilities, finance and other relevant decision-makers.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders within educational institutions.
• Conduct cold calling, email prospecting, networking and face-to-face business-development activities.
• Arrange and attend meetings and site visits at educational institutions.
• Identify upcoming education projects, tenders, refurbishments, technology requirements and procurement opportunities.
• Identify client needs and recommend suitable SMD products and solutions.
• Promote products including computers, monitors, projectors, accessories, furniture and broader technology solutions.
• Identify opportunities for computer labs, classrooms, offices, student facilities and other institutional requirements.
• Develop relationships with organisations funding or implementing education projects.
• Prepare and coordinate proposals and quotations with internal teams.
• Follow up consistently on prospects, quotations, projects and outstanding opportunities.
• Develop newly acquired clients into long-term, repeat customers.
• Identify cross-selling and up-selling opportunities across SMD’s product portfolio.
• Maintain accurate records of prospects, client visits, projects and sales opportunities.
• Work closely with internal sales administration and order-processing teams to ensure a smooth handover of confirmed business.
• Achieve agreed sales targets and business-development KPIs.
• Monitor education-sector developments, projects and procurement opportunities.
• Attend relevant industry events, exhibitions and networking opportunities.
• Perform other sales-related and ad hoc duties as required.

Requirements:

• Grade 12 / Matric.
• Relevant tertiary qualification in Sales, Marketing, Business Management, Education or a related field will be advantageous.
• Minimum 2–3 years’ experience in B2B sales, business development or a similar sales environment.
• Proven experience in new-business development and prospecting.
• Experience selling technology, electronics, educational equipment or workplace solutions will be advantageous.
• Experience working with schools, universities, colleges, NGOs or other educational organisations will be advantageous.
• Strong networking and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and presentation skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and ability to identify business opportunities.
• Self-motivated, target-driven and comfortable working independently.
• Comfortable with field-based sales and regular client visits.
• Strong computer literacy, including Microsoft Office.
• Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel for client meetings and site visits.