Account Executive - Higher Education

DataDirect Networks is a global leader in AI and high-performance storage solutions; DDN empowers data-intensive, complex environments. We are seeking a strategic Account Executive to accelerate growth within our Higher Education vertical in the West Region.

In this role, you will cultivate strategic partnerships and hunt for new business to bring DDN’s industry-leading AI and storage platforms to the Higher Education sector. This position is highly active, requiring 70% travel to engage directly with customers and drive regional growth.

Key Responsibilities

Own and drive revenue growth within assigned Higher Education accounts and territory

Develop and execute strategic account plans targeting Higher Education customers

Identify, qualify, and close new business opportunities aligned with DDN’s AI and data platform solutions

Build strong relationships with key stakeholders including CIOs, CTOs, data leaders, and engineering teams

Partner with pre-sales engineers and solution architects to deliver tailored solutions that address customer challenges

Lead complex sales cycles from prospecting through negotiation and close

Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, product, and customer success teams to ensure successful customer outcomes

Maintain accurate pipeline management and forecasting within CRM systems

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

10+ years of enterprise technology sales experience, preferably within storage, infrastructure, or data solutions

Experience selling into Higher Education verticals

Proven track record of meeting or exceeding quota in complex, solution-based sales environments

Strong understanding of enterprise IT, data infrastructure, or AI/ML ecosystems

Excellent communication, negotiation, and executive presentation skills

Ability to manage long sales cycles and multiple stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with high-performance computing (HPC), AI infrastructure, or large-scale data environments

Existing relationships within US Higher Education accounts