Competitive Compensation & Benefits Package
- 401(k) with Profit Sharing
- Flexible Time Off
- Office Dog!
!ABOUT USBy combining our unparalleled domain expertise with leading-edge technology, Ad Astra is helping higher education in its mission to advance timely student completions. We are building a cloud-based software platform that will provide the foundation for our next generation of industry-leading solutions and analytics. Simply put, we're helping students graduate faster.
OUR CORE VALUES
We recognize talent. We recognize and appreciate the unique God-given talents that our people bring to Ad Astra. Aligning these individual gifts with our work sets team members up to succeed.
Were unpretentious. Theres no room for ego. We admit our imperfections and have the humility to know what we dont know.
Were passionate. We arent satisfied with the status quo. Were on a mission together to protect the value of degree completion and to transform the higher education industry.
Were pioneering. Were pioneering and arent afraid to failin fact, we celebrate it. We love it when our people boldly experiment with innovative solutions.
We love fun. The health of our relationships is strengthened by working with people who stretch our thinkingand by enjoying the lighter side of life together. We dont take ourselves too seriously, but we do take fun seriously.
We have grit. Beyond talent and intelligence, our people have stick-to-itiveness. We push through challenges to make goals a reality.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Account Executive (AE) is responsible for driving revenue growth within an assigned portfolio of existing clients by identifying, developing, and closing expansion opportunities. This role focuses on deepening client partnerships, uncovering business needs, and aligning solutions to client goals to increase adoption, broaden product usage, and grow account value. The AE owns the expansion sales cycle from opportunity identification through proposal, negotiation, and close, while maintaining accurate pipeline forecasts and delivering against sales targets. In partnership with Client Success, Product, and Services teams, this role leverages client insights, usage trends, and strategic relationships to generate incremental revenue and support long-term client retention and growth.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Own revenue expansion across an assigned portfolio of existing clients by identifying, developing, and closing upsell, cross-sell, and add-on opportunitiesBuild and maintain strong client relationships, including executive and decision-maker alignment, to support account growth and long-term partnership valueDevelop and execute account growth strategies based on client business objectives, product adoption trends, and identified expansion opportunitiesManage the full expansion sales cycle, including discovery, solution alignment, proposal development, pricing, negotiation, and contract closeMaintain an accurate pipeline and forecast for expansion business, ensuring timely updates, clear visibility, and reliable revenue projectionsPartner closely with Client Success, Product, Marketing, and Services teams to uncover client needs, shape solutions, and advance growth opportunitiesUse client insights, product knowledge, and business context to recommend solutions that expand product adoption, increase account value, and support retentionPrepare and present business cases, proposals, quotes, and other commercial documentation to support expansion opportunities with existing clientsCapture client feedback, market insights, and use-case trends to inform internal stakeholders and help refine positioning, packaging, and product directionIdentify client success stories and expansion outcomes, and collaborate with Marketing to incorporate them into reference and content strategiesOther duties as assigned
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum 3 years of experience in account management, sales, business development, or expansion/renewal sales, preferably in SaaS B2B businesses or within Higher EducationBachelors degree in business, sales, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and relevant commercial experience preferredAbility to engage enterprise client stakeholders at various levels of technical and non-technical depth, including executive decision-makersExperience managing a sales pipeline, maintaining forecast accuracy, and progressing opportunities through the sales cycleProven ability to build strategic relationships and develop executive champions that support account growth and expansionTrack record of identifying client needs, developing account growth strategies, and achieving retention and expansion objectivesStrong consultative selling, negotiation, and closing skills with experience guiding opportunities from discovery through contract executionExperience creating proposals, quotes, and business cases and presenting commercial terms to clientsProven ability to meet or exceed sales, retention, and expansion goalsAssertiveness and professionalism in leading direct client conversations, including opportunity advancement, negotiation, and resolution of objectionsHigh emotional intelligence, including curiosity, empathy, self-awareness, and integrityCapable of analyzing data, interpreting client and business metrics, and using insights to inform account strategyExperience in Higher Ed is preferred
ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES
Problem SolvingCollaborative CommunicationRelationship BuildingStorytellingFlexibility
ADDITIONAL PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
Gainsight PXOffice 365Salesforce CRMMiller Heiman Sales Methodology
HOW PERFORMANCE IS MEASURED FOR THIS ROLE
Expansion Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)Forecast accuracyPipeline coverageWin rateAverage deal size and overall expansion penetrationMigration pace for clients adopting new platformThis position is in Overland Park, KS in the greater Kansas City metro area. Ad Astra does not cover relocation expenses.
Ad Astra is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and fairnessregardless of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, political affiliation, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.