Staples is business to business. You're what binds us together.
At Staples, our sales team helps organizations work smarter by delivering innovative solutions, trusted expertise, and exceptional customer experiences. As a Key Account Executive, SLED, you will play a critical role in driving growth within large State, Local Government, and Education accounts, managing a portfolio of customers with significant annual spend. This strategic sales role is responsible for expanding existing partnerships, securing new contractual commitments, and identifying opportunities across the full range of Staples products and solutions. You'll collaborate with internal specialists, category experts, and customer success partners to create value for customers while delivering revenue growth and profitability. If you are a driven sales professional who thrives on building executive relationships, influencing complex buying decisions, and achieving ambitious goals, we'd love to hear from you.
Work Location: This is a remote position with a regional focus. This position supports customers in Louisiana and Arkansas. While the role primarily supports working from home, the individual performing this role would live within or adjacent to this region.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Drive growth and profitability across a book of large SLED accounts with revenue responsibility of approximately $20M
Secure incremental and renewal contractual commitments with executive and technical buying stakeholders
Develop and execute strategic account growth plans across the full customer hierarchy
Identify, pursue, and close programmatic and expansion opportunities to grow customer spend
Partner closely with Outside Development teams to drive program compliance and site-level engagement
Lead cross-functional account teams including category experts, customer success managers, sales engineers, and support partners
Collaborate with Revenue Management partners to support pricing strategies, contract negotiations, and growth opportunities
Build and maintain relationships with senior-level decision makers within customer organizations.
Leverage customer insights, industry trends, and competitive intelligence to develop customized solutions
Utilize CRM and sales tools, including SFDC and other prescribed systems, to prioritize activities and document customer engagement
What You Bring to the Table:
Strong drive to win and a passion for exceeding sales goals
Resilience and the ability to turn rejection into learning opportunities and future success
Demonstrated success managing strategic programs, business development efforts, or large customer relationships
Executive presence with the ability to engage and influence senior customer stakeholders
Exceptional presentation and communication skills in both virtual and face-to-face environments
Consultative, solution-based selling and advanced negotiation capabilities
Experience building and executing strategic customer growth plans
Strong business, financial, operational, and technology acumen
Analytical skills with the ability to use customer and market insights to create tailored solutions
Ability to work independently while effectively collaborating across multiple teams and stakeholders
What’s Needed- Basic Qualifications:
4+ years of successful sales experience supporting Government and/or Education clients
Proven experience managing programs, strategic accounts, or business development initiatives
Experience presenting to and influencing senior-level customer decision makers
Demonstrated consultative selling, solution selling, negotiation, and account management experience
Experience developing and executing strategic account growth plans
Strong understanding of business operations and financial concepts
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard business software applications
Experience analyzing customer data and market trends to support business decisions
Ability to independently manage priorities and deliver results with minimal supervision
Experience coordinating cross-functional teams to achieve customer and business objectives
What’s Needed - Preferred Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree
Experience working with Government and Education purchasing cooperatives
Experience working cross-functionally within a large, complex organization
Prior account management and prospecting experience with Fortune 1000 organizations
Proven track record of managing a sales budget and exceeding performance targets
Experience leading complex deal negotiations from opportunity identification through close
Business-to-business sales experience
Experience retaining, expanding, and growing strategic customer accounts
Experience within Education, State, or Local Government markets
We Offer:
- Inclusive culture with associate-led Business Resource Groups
- Flexible PTO (22 days) and Holiday Schedule (7 observed paid holidays)
- Online and Retail Discounts, Company Match 401(k), Physical and Mental Health Wellness programs, and more!
The salary range represents the expected compensation for this role at the time of posting. The specific base pay may be influenced by a variety of factors to include the candidate's experience, skill set, education, geography, business considerations, and internal equity. In addition to base pay, this role may be eligible for bonuses, or other forms of variable compensation.
About UsStaples is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.Skills Required
- 4+ years of successful sales experience supporting Government and/or Education clients
- Proven experience managing programs, strategic accounts, or business development initiatives
- Experience presenting to and influencing senior-level customer decision makers
- Demonstrated consultative selling, solution selling, negotiation, and account management experience
- Experience developing and executing strategic account growth plans
- Strong understanding of business operations and financial concepts
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard business software applications
- Experience analyzing customer data and market trends to support business decisions
- Ability to independently manage priorities and deliver results with minimal supervision
- Experience coordinating cross-functional teams to achieve customer and business objectives
- Bachelor's degree
- Experience working with Government and Education purchasing cooperatives
- Experience working cross-functionally within a large, complex organization
- Prior account management and prospecting experience with Fortune 1000 organizations
- Proven track record of managing a sales budget and exceeding performance targets
- Experience leading complex deal negotiations from opportunity identification through close
- Business-to-business sales experience
- Experience retaining, expanding, and growing strategic customer accounts
- Experience within Education, State, or Local Government markets
Staples Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Staples and has not been reviewed or approved by Staples.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing offerings are described as broad, including wellness reimbursements, emotional support and coaching, legal services, identity theft protection, and pet insurance. Employee discounts and select on-site amenities are also positioned as meaningful add-ons beyond basic coverage.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off provisions are presented as relatively expansive, including paid time off, company-recognized holidays, and a personal or flexible holiday option. Vacation that grows with tenure and PTO flexibility are highlighted as valued elements.
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Inclusive Benefits Coverage — Healthcare benefits explicitly include gender-affirming care alongside medical, dental, and vision coverage. Family and caregiver programs also include support that references LGBTQ+ considerations and broader life-stage needs.
Staples Insights
What We Do
For nearly 40 years, Staples has been a trusted leader in delivering end-to-end workplace solutions for consumers and businesses of all sizes across a broad range of industries. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio of products, strategic solutions, and services including print and marketing, shipping, technology, and travel. Its specialized assortment includes high-quality office supplies, janitorial products, technology, furniture, and breakroom essentials, all supported by best-in-class supply chain capabilities and a dedicated team of experts committed to making the workday easier. Headquartered near Boston, Massachusetts, Staples operates throughout North America via direct B2B sales, e-commerce, and more than 900 retail stores. To learn more, visit your local U.S. Staples store, download the Staples app, explore Staples.com or StaplesBusiness.com, or follow @Staples on social media.









