Role: Sales Executive

Division: Enterprise Learning and Skills – UK Government Team.

Location: Hybrid-working in our Pearson Manchester office.

About Pearson

At Pearson, we enhance lifelong learning, helping everyone achieve their goals through impactful experiences. Founded in 1844, Pearson is a leader in creating high-quality, digital-first, and accessible resources, with over 24,000 employees dedicated to lifelong learning. We foster an inclusive culture that celebrates diversity and ensures equal opportunities for all. Committed to flexibility, Pearson embraces hybrid and remote working to support a balanced work-life environment.

About the Team

As a Sales Executive you will work as part of the Business Development Team within the Enterprise Skills and Learning - UK Government Team, you will report to the Business Development Manager.

As part of the Business Development team, you will have shared accountability for increasing market share by:

Market Expansion:

Seek out new business opportunities for new and existing products in new markets, both in the public and private sector, driving growth of Apprenticeships, qualifications, and short course programmes. Coordinate lead generation campaigns and outreach initiatives in untapped markets. Act as team lead for generation of leads via social media.

Revenue Generation:

Enhance the efficiency of the sales process, aiming to support the Business Development team in closing additional revenue by 10% in the first 12 months. Support in the bid no bid process in identification of opportunities and writing of tenders to support revenue growth. Contribute to achieving The UK Government Team annual revenue target.

Administrative and Operational Support:

Manage CRM data to improve pipeline visibility and forecasting accuracy. Support in preparing sales proposals and coordinate follow-up activities to ensure a seamless client experience.

Client Retention and Upselling:

The ability to clearly articulate product / service vision and strategy to a variety of audiences. Ensure existing clients are nurtured, contributing to 10% increase in the overall revenue growth through upselling and cross-selling training programmes. 

You will work with cross-functional teams, key stakeholders, and external partners to identify business development opportunities.

Essential

Strong verbal and written communication skills, with proven ability in collaboration and effective presentation delivery. Comfortable navigating and contributing within a matrix organisation structure. Interpersonal skills: be able to work effectively with various stakeholders, including customers, sales teams, operations teams, and business leaders. Problem-solving and analytical skills: should be able to identify and solve problems and be able to gather and analyse data to make informed decisions. Ability to think outside the box and question requirements or processes. Passionate about customers and the customer experience A self-starter with initiative and commercial awareness Numerical and financial acumen with forecasting and data analysis skills Good at influencing and networking both internally and externally Innovative and intrinsically motivated Results oriented, able to follow plans through to their conclusion.  High professional integrity.

 

Desirable 

Proven record of accomplishment of achieving/ exceeding targets.  Proven record of accomplishment of business development, sales. Ability to contribute to overall strategy and team effectiveness.  Experience of creating reports. Knowledge or capability to manage data and use of CRM (Salesforce) Use of digital tools that support your reach and insight into customer segments. Knowledge of the UK Education market is desirable. Knowledge of selling via social media.

 

Experience you’ll Gain 

Business Acumen: Develop a comprehensive understanding of the business value delivered by Pearson products and services portfolio. Leverage this insight to articulate a clear and compelling product/service vision, create strategic roadmaps, and manage profit and loss for assigned products/ services effectively. Strategic Sales Planning: Practical knowledge in developing and implementing sales strategies aligned with business objectives, including territory planning and account management. Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Expertise in using CRM systems to manage customer interactions, track sales performance, and analyse data to improve customer engagement. Negotiation and Closing Deals: Experience in negotiating terms, handling objections, and successfully closing sales deals. Product/ Service and Market Knowledge: A solid understanding of the products or services they represent and the ability to effectively position them in the marketplace. Sales Reporting and Analytics: Proficiency in creating and interpreting sales reports, tracking KPIs, and using insights to inform sales strategies. Effective Communication: Strengthened skills in communicating with clients, stakeholders, and team members through various channels to build strong relationships and support the sales process. Project and Time Management: Practical experience in managing multiple sales projects, prioritising tasks, and meeting deadlines efficiently. Problem-Solving: Enhanced ability to identify challenges in the sales process and implement effective solutions to address customer needs and business objectives. Sales Techniques and Methodologies: Familiarity with modern sales approaches, including consultative selling, solution selling, and handling complex sales cycles. Team Collaboration: Hands-on experience working cross-functionally with marketing, operations, and other teams to ensure a cohesive approach to sales efforts.

Job Location and Hours

This role can be in Pearson Plc London or Manchester offices.

We work a 37.5-hour week, with all our team free to flex their day around our core hours, which are Monday to Friday, 10 to 4 GMT/BST. School runs, etc can be accommodated. Other flexible working patterns can be considered, including part-time working and non-traditional hours. As we regularly work with global teams, particularly in India and the US, there may be the occasional need to accommodate meetings outside of core hours.

For this role there is a requirement to provide occasional out of hours support during business-critical periods.