North America Library Sales Representative

Short company description

Peter Lang is an international publishing group specialising in Humanities and Social Sciences. We publish about 1,000+ books every year in German, English, and French, as well as in multiple other languages, from traditional print products to eBooks and Open Access publications.

Back in 1970, the Swiss entrepreneur and philanthropist Peter Lang founded his academic publishing company in his own name. In over fifty years since then, the company has undergone growth and change and overcome many challenges as an independent, internationally focused business. We are now a dynamic, entrepreneurial group of colleagues working across the globe to deliver excellence in academic publishing.

You will experience an international work environment with lean management. The Peter Lang headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, are the central hub for management and administration. The rest of our team is based in continental Europe, Anglo-American regions, and Asia with offices in Berlin, New York, Oxford, Brussels, Chennai and supporting locations in Vienna, Warsaw, Istanbul and Madrid.

Requirements

We are looking for a proactive and resourceful North American Library Sales Representative to own and grow a key territory—building Peter Lang’s academic presence across U.S. and Canadian universities and libraries.

You will be responsible for developing relationships with librarians and faculty, promoting Peter Lang’s publishing solutions, and managing the entire sales cycle—from prospecting through to closing. This is a high-impact, autonomous role for someone who understands the academic publishing ecosystem and thrives in a cross-functional, forward-thinking environment.

Your Target Market
You’ll engage with institutional contacts including:
- Collection Development Librarians
- Subject and Teaching & Learning Librarians (HSS focus)
- Library Directors and Department Heads
- Faculty members involved in course adoption or publishing decisions
- Expect to work with institutions like Carnegie Mellon University, Queens College (CUNY), and Reed College, targeting both public and private universities, city colleges, and academic consortia.

What you bring:
- 3–5 years of sales experience in academic publishing, edtech, or library-focused B2B sales
- Understanding of academic institutions, library procurement processes, and faculty dynamics
- Familiarity with digital content models: subscriptions, Open Access, licensing
- CRM and social selling fluency (e.g., HubSpot, Salesforce, LinkedIn)
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- Detail-oriented, organized, and self-directed
- A collaborative mindset and genuine interest in higher education and research

Responsibilities

Market & Prospect Development:
- Build expert knowledge of the HSS publishing and academic library market in North America
- Develop and execute outreach campaigns using LinkedIn, email, conference lists, and CRM tools
- Identify and qualify leads through research, desk outreach, and event follow-up
- Cultivate new relationships with academic consortia and under-tapped library markets

Sales Execution:
- Conduct virtual and in-person sales meetings and product presentations
- Collaborate on value propositions and tailor solutions for prospect needs
- Manage the full sales process: quoting, negotiation, and contract execution
- Track and analyze pipeline performance via CRM and dashboards
- Work closely with the Director and CEO on strategic deals and pricing strategy

Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Coordinate with Marketing on campaigns and sales content
- Share market insights with Product, Editorial, and Tech teams
- Participate in sales reviews, forecasting, and growth planning

Other info

Why Join Peter Lang?

- Represent a publisher that values scholarship, open knowledge, and academic integrity
- Enjoy a flexible, remote-first culture with autonomy and clear goals
- Be part of an international, cross-functional team of publishing experts
- Work on products that matter—supporting global learning, teaching, and Open Access
- Gain recognition for performance with a results-based bonus structure
- Shape strategy and grow your influence in a key North American market

Join us in advancing academic publishing across North America.