How to contact Sales teams in the Higher Education industry
Our database lists 2,800 Sales professionals in the Higher Education industry including 359 in France. Here's who they are and how to reach them.
Who these professionals are
Sales professionals in higher education are key decision-makers for providers of educational solutions, technologies, or services tailored to institutions. Their role involves identifying, negotiating, and closing partnerships with universities, schools, or training organizations—whether for management software, teaching tools, or student services. Reaching out to them is relevant if you offer solutions that address the specific needs of this sector, such as SaaS platforms, academic content, or career insertion programs.
These roles are often part of small teams or embedded within broader departments, depending on the size of the institution or publisher. Their approach combines relationship-building (academic networks, trade shows) with data-driven decision-making, with a strong focus on ROI and the pedagogical or administrative impact of your proposals.
Breakdown by company size
How to contact them
To identify these professionals, start by targeting the most common job titles: Directeur commercial, Responsable commercial, Business Developer, or Account Executive (in English: Head of Sales, VP Sales, Sales Director). Use platforms like LinkedIn, combining these titles with sector-specific keywords (*higher education*, *university*, *school*, *edtech*). Medium-sized institutions (11-500 employees) and large groups (1001+ employees) account for a significant share of these roles, but smaller structures (11-50 employees) may also have versatile sales managers.
Once you’ve identified the contacts, prioritize professional email for the first outreach. Use a generic format like *first.last@institution-domain.fr* or *first.last@company.com*, then verify deliverability with a tool like Listar, which can also retrieve phone numbers if needed. Avoid overly generic messages: reference a specific point (a recent project by the institution, sector news) to grab their attention. Cold calls are less effective in this sector, where decision-making processes are often lengthy and collective.
Job titles to search for
Useful tools: email permutator, free email verifier, email formats by company. See also our B2B data enrichment guide.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most effective channels to contact these professionals?
Professional email remains the most effective channel for first contact, especially if it’s personalized and targeted. LinkedIn can complement this approach, but direct messages (InMail) are often less read than emails. Sector-specific trade shows (such as edtech or higher education events) are also ideal opportunities to make initial in-person contact.
How can I find the right contact in a university or educational publisher?
Search for the job titles mentioned earlier, then refine with keywords like *partnerships*, *business development*, or *corporate relations*. In large organizations, the sales manager may report to a dedicated department (e.g., Partnerships Division). In smaller institutions, the general manager or administrative head may also handle commercial aspects.
How can I verify that the email or phone number found is valid?
Use a verification tool like Listar, which confirms email deliverability and phone number accuracy. Avoid free, non-specialized tools, as they may return outdated or incorrect addresses. For emails, you can also test by sending a simple message (e.g., a request for information) to check for bounces.
Sales in other industries
Other functions in Higher Education
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