As a Product Specialist you are responsible for ensuring the education partners you engage with are educated on full utilization of our product and adopt critical Handshake features as identified by account needs and Handshake priorities.

You will create repeatable strategies for driving engagement across our education partners’ teams, driving product adoption by leading onsite and virtual trainings, and 1:1 customer intake meetings to assess their needs and promote feature usage. In this role, you will be responsible for combining detailed product expertise with sales acumen to drive the success of our products in the market with Top 500 Education partners and other accounts as is relevant to business needs. You will serve as a key point of contact for both customers and internal teams, bridging the gap between technical specifications and customer needs.

You will report to the Senior Director of Success and Education, working closely with customer success, product, sales, and marketing to deliver a world-class customer experience and drive our business through product adoption and increased partner competency in the platform functionality.

This role requires travel to partner onsite trainings, conferences, Handshake events and workshops, as well as virtual trainings. You should expect 95% of your time involve travel, with additional variance based on seasonality and business need.

Your role

In-Person/Virtual Services & Custom Solutions

• Provide clear and comprehensive technical guidance to customers, ensuring they fully understand how Handshake’s product can be utilized to achieve their specific goals and objectives.

• Deliver personalized training sessions, both one-on-one and in group settings, that are tailored to the unique needs and preferences of individual customers, such as administrators and employer relations teams.

• Proactively identify and address customer-specific requirements, customizing product solutions to ensure optimal fit and effectiveness.

• Collaborate closely with product development and engineering teams to ensure the feasibility and successful implementation of customer-requested workflows and features.

• Provide valuable insights and feedback based on customer interactions to inform the development of future product enhancements.

• Partner with customer success and product marketing teams to develop and deliver training offerings that effectively address the diverse needs and learning styles of our customer base.

• Consider factors such as account health, customer goals, and industry-specific requirements to create tailored training programs that drive customer satisfaction and success.

Product, Industry & Customer Knowledge

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of our entire product portfolio, including its features, functionalities, and competitive advantages.

• Stay abreast of industry trends in EdTech and Career Services to identify opportunities for product improvement and provide valuable insights to customers.

• Proactively drive the expansion and deepening of product adoption and usage among career center partners.

• Gather, document, and share best practices on how university partners can effectively leverage the platform to enhance student engagement and achieve desired outcomes.

• Provide consulting services to university partners, assisting them in analyzing and optimizing their workflows to align with Handshake’s product capabilities.

Training 

• Design and deliver engaging, interactive, and customized training programs that drive increased product usage.

• Leverage a variety of training methodologies and tools to cater to different learning styles and preferences.

• Tailor training content and delivery to address the specific needs and challenges of various customer segments, industries, and stakeholders.

• Develop training programs that are accessible to a wide range of learning styles and groups, including those with varying levels of technical proficiency and industry knowledge.

• Ensure that training materials and content are clear, concise, and easy to understand.

Product Positioning & Influence

• Develop and deliver compelling product demonstrations, presentations, and proposals that are tailored to the specific needs and requirements of each customer.

• Effectively communicate the unique value proposition of our product and how it can address customer challenges.

• Cultivate strong, lasting relationships with key customers by actively listening to their evolving needs and proactively addressing any technical or product-related concerns.

• Build trust and credibility by providing exceptional customer service and support.

Your experience

• Deep understanding of the higher education and career services landscape, with a preference for in-depth knowledge of Handshake and competing products.

• A willingness and ability to travel extensively, approximately 95% of the time.

• Proven experience working with SaaS platforms, or a demonstrated ability to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies.

• A proven track record of successfully training others on the effective utilization of complex SaaS tools and products.

• Demonstrated ability to deliver compelling and persuasive presentations that drive customer action and change.

• Experience building strong relationships with customers and navigating complex or challenging conversations with tact and diplomacy.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, effectively managing multiple priorities simultaneously.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with a strong executive presence.

• A highly curious and inquisitive mindset, always seeking new opportunities for discovery and growth.

• A critical and empathetic approach to understanding customer needs, coupled with a strategic problem-solving mindset.

• An analytical and methodical approach to identifying challenges, measuring impact, and driving continuous improvement.

As a Product Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in driving the success of our products by combining technical expertise with product-driving skills. If you thrive in a dynamic, customer-focused environment and possess a passion for technology and product optimization, we would love to hear from you.

Bonus areas of expertise

• 4+ years of Career Services/HigherEducation leadership experience

• 2+ years of in-depth experience with a complex SaaS platform

• In-depth Handshake product knowledge

• EdTech Customer Success, Sales Engineering or Implementation Specialist experience a plus

Compensation range

• $104,013 – $126,000