Academic Account Executive - Remote U.S. (Central/Eastern Time Zones)

POSITION SUMMARY: Research Solutions is seeking a dynamic and experienced SaaS Sales Executive to join our team. This role is pivotal in driving sales within the academic sector across North America. The ideal candidate will be multilingual, possessing a deep understanding of the academic market, a proven track record in SaaS sales, and a genuine curiosity for AI technologies—actively exploring and applying them in their day-to-day work.

As a SaaS Sales Executive, you will play a crucial role in expanding our presence in the North American market, driving the adoption of our innovative AI-powered solutions within academic institutions. You will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities, building and nurturing relationships with key stakeholders, and ultimately contributing to the growth and success of our organization. As someone who actively experiments with AI tools, you will help clients understand the transformative potential of our AI and NLP-driven platform.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Achieve and exceed quarterly and annual sales targets by acquiring new clients in the academic sector.
• Conduct comprehensive market research to identify potential clients and opportunities.
• Develop and maintain a robust sales pipeline through strategic prospecting and networking.
• Lead the entire sales cycle from prospecting to closing deals, ensuring a smooth and efficient process.
• Conduct discovery and demo calls, effectively presenting our SaaS solutions to potential clients.
• Utilize consultative sales techniques to understand client needs and propose tailored solutions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers within target organizations.
• Develop and deliver compelling client proposals and presentations that highlight the value of our solutions.
• Ensure client satisfaction and retention by providing ongoing support and addressing any issues promptly.
• Collaborate with internal teams, including marketing, product, and customer success, to ensure alignment and support for sales efforts.
• Utilize CRM tools to track sales activities, manage client information, and generate reports for strategic planning.
• Stay updated on industry trends and competitor activities to identify new opportunities and challenges.
• Leverage AI tools and technologies to enhance sales productivity, prospecting, and client engagement—and actively share learnings with the team.
  
  

RESEARCH SOLUTIONS AND OUR CORE VALUES

About Research Solutions

Research Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSSS) provides cloud-based technologies to streamline the process of accessing, managing, and creating intellectual property. Since its founding, the company has been a pioneer in developing solutions to serve researchers. Today, more than 70 percent of the top pharmaceutical companies, prestigious universities, and emerging businesses rely on our family of products, powered by AI and NLP technologies, to support the innovation process from end to end with the most comprehensive information and knowledge tools on the market. For more information and details, please visit www.researchsolutions.com.

Our Tenets

• Take Initiative: We believe in action. Our team members actively seek opportunities to create impact, solve problems, and move the needle—without waiting to be told.
• Think Critically: Sound judgment matters. We make decisions based on logic, evidence, and common sense—never autopilot. We ask questions, challenge assumptions, and stay curious.
• DTE: Do the Experiment: We're open to bold ideas and quick to test them. By running small, smart experiments, we gather real-world data, learn fast, and iterate with purpose.
• Be Accountable: Trust is built on consistency. We take ownership of our responsibilities, communicate openly, and follow through—especially when it's hard.
• Be an Owner, Not a Renter: We don't just show up—we invest. Our team takes pride in what we build, treating every project like it's our own and caring deeply about outcomes, not just tasks.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• Bachelor’s degree

Language

• Proficiency in English is required. Additional language skills are a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in B2B SaaS sales, preferably within the academic sector or related fields.
• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets in a remote, fast-paced environment.
• Strong understanding of the academic sector, with the ability to navigate complex sales cycles involving multiple stakeholders.
• Experience with sales tools and CRM systems (e.g., HubSpot, Salesforce).
• Library experience or selling to academic libraries a plus
• Working knowledge of AI and NLP concepts; ability to credibly articulate how AI-powered products deliver value in research and academic workflows.
• Demonstrated curiosity about AI tools—actively experiments with and adopts AI in their personal workflow (e.g., AI writing assistants, research tools, sales automation).
• Highly motivated and goal-oriented, with excellent problem-solving and negotiation skills.

Tools and Equipment Used

• Sales tools and CRM systems (e.g., HubSpot, Salesforce)
• Familiarity with virtual communication tools and remote collaboration platforms.
• AI productivity and research tools (e.g., AI writing assistants, AI-powered search, sales intelligence tools).

PHYSICAL & MENTAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical and mental demands, and working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to sit for extended periods and work with a computer, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally.
• Frequently required to conduct video calls, which involves periods of screen time and clear verbal communication.

Mental Demands:

• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Working Conditions:

• Remote work environment.
• Occasional travel may be required for business engagements and industry events.