This is a regular full-time exempt position reporting to the Chief Operating Officer.
Position Summary
The Company
Founded in 1996, Scientific Learning (http://www.scilearn.com/; NASDAQ: SCIL) produces the patented Fast ForWord® family of products, a series of computer-delivered intervention products that build learning capacity by developing the neurocognitive skills required to read and learn effectively. These foundational skills are built through a series of brain-based exercises that create fast, effective, and enduring results.
Based on more than 30 years of neuroscience and cognitive research, the Fast ForWord products use patented technology and applications of validated neuroscience principles to help children, adolescents, and adults build the language and reading skills widely recognized as the keys to all learning. Each product's interactive exercises integrate proprietary CD-ROM and Internet technology to create an optimal learning environment that adapts to the level of each student. Patented Web-based tracking tools provide ongoing monitoring of each student's progress.
The Challenge
Reporting to the COO, the Vice President, Education Sales will lead the K-12 sales organization, with both a direct sales force and an inside sales organization. This Vice President will develop, and implement the operational plan for the K-12 segment consistent with the strategic plan of the overall business. The executive will become a member of the Senior Executive Team and participate in developing and executing the overall strategic plan for the business.
The new Vice President of Sales will be expected either to live in the Bay Area or to commute to Oakland on a regular basis from a metropolitan area west of the Mississippi. Candidates living along the East Coast will not be considered unless they are willing to relocate.
Detailed Responsibilities
Core leadership responsibilities:
- Work collaboratively with other members of the senior executive team members to establish the strategic plan for the overall business
- Develop the annual operating plan for the K-12 business consistent with the strategic plan of the overall business working with the other key executives of this segment.
- Review K-12 market conditions, establishing and prioritizing key market development activities, reviewing the effectiveness of sales efforts and channels to market, providing sales forecasts, pricing policies consistent with profitability performance, and establishing sales and marketing plans to achieve annual sales and profitability goals.
- Champion succession planning and employee development, ensuring bench strength for future growth while maintaining a focus on furthering the existing organizational culture.
- Improve operational efficiency and effectiveness by assessing, upgrading or installing new operational systems, processes and methodologies.
- Execute and achieve K-12 business model by achieving annual growth targets while gaining increased leverage on costs and operating expenses.
- Demonstrate leadership skills in rapidly growing both product and service sales essential to high fidelity implementations and continuing support of existing customers.
- Demonstrate skills in recruiting and holding top talent with particular focus in quota bearing sales reps
- Demonstrate high regard for educators and display the ability to work with the senior leaders in education.
- Possess the demonstrated ability to quickly assert her/himself into an existing leadership group and earn the respect of the Scientific Learning team.
- Demonstrate the capacity to serve customers and shareholders while building a great place for Scientific Learning employees to work.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate currently works as Vice President of Sales of a technology, content- or curriculum-focused company in the K-12 (school) market. Candidates will have a record of performance documented by superior growth of their organizations, especially if they have taken a less than $50MM company to revenues of $100MM and more. Equally important, this individual will be a true leader--outstanding communication skills, presence, self-awareness, "learning agility," integrity, and intelligence.
Requirements
Requisite Experience:
- The successful candidate must have a minimum of 8 years in sales management roles in education and/or technology companies.
- He/she will have a strong track record of building and scaling a business.
- He/she should have an established record of bringing innovative products to the markets served.
- He/she must have self-awareness derived from a history of innovative leadership, proven abilities to overcome obstacles, and successful team play.
- He/she will display a professional agility that enables him/her to easily deal with the vicissitudes of the industry and the marketplace.
- He/she must have strong business acumen.
Personal Characteristics:
This individual should thrive in a very fast paced environment where high energy and resiliency are required. The successful candidate will be a highly creative individual who, at the same time, possesses the ability to implement and sustain process necessary to produce predictability and consistency. He/she will work well in a culture, which seeks a collaborative, participative and non-political management style. A bottom-line method of communication is critical to working effectively with the other members of the management team.
- The Vice President, Education Sales will have strong technical awareness ideally including market understanding and awareness of competitors and partners in Scientific Learning's space as well as the industry as a whole.
- The Vice President, Education Sales must understand technology trends and how software can be used to build highly agile and competitive businesses.
- The ideal candidate will have the ability to develop and deliver presentations to both small and larger groups of individuals, and to be an excellent ambassador of the company's unique solutions as well as its values.
- This individual will have the ability to optimize team performance through effective hiring, performance management, rewards and recognition and coaching.
- The individual hired will be able to gain support, influence others, handle rejection, reach win/win agreements, and manage conflict.
- Finally, the individual hired will be able to demonstrate his/her ability to communicate with individuals at all levels internal and external to the organization.
An MBA and/or advanced degree is desirable.
Compensation
Compensation includes base salary, bonus, and significant equity in line with an individual's work experience.
Please send your cover letter and resume, Attention: Human Resources Department, to resumes@scilearn.com or fax 510.874.1877.
Please no phone calls!
We are located near the 12th Street Downtown Oakland BART station. See map and directions.