Account Manager in Sunderland

Location: Sunderland

Salary: £27,000 - £33,000 + commission

Type: Full-time

Hi, I’m Jonny, North East Regional Director at Zen Educate, and I’m looking for Account Managers who want to tackle a very real, very important problem: helping schools get the teachers they need, when they need them. If you’re someone who loves building relationships, solving meaningful problems, and being part of a mission-driven team… this might be your thing.

What we’re building and why

Zen Educate is an online platform that gives schools instant access to fully vetted teachers and support staff. Since launching in 2017, we’ve already saved schools over £30 million, that’s gone straight back to where it matters most. It’s an exciting time to join, have a huge impact, and grow alongside us. AK Teaching are one of the largest, fastest growing agencies in the North East over recent years. We’ve joined forces and are here to disrupt the market in the region even further.

What this role looks like in practice

This isn’t your standard "manage a few accounts and send a few emails" kind of job. As an Account Manager at Zen, you’ll be:

• Owning relationships with key schools helping them hire smarter and faster.
• Leading school leaders through recruitment processes with a consultative approach.
• Picking up the phone and building genuine relationships (yes, there’s outbound calling, but it’s about helping, not just selling).
• Collaborating closely with Sales, Ops, and our Tech team to make sure schools get the best possible experience.
• Rolling up your sleeves and diving into whatever’s needed - no two weeks look the same.

Here’s a typical snapshot of what you might do in a week:

• Chat to a Headteacher about how they can save £10k this term by switching to Zen.
• Source a teacher who is a perfect match for your school.
• Follow up with a school that’s already using Zen and find ways to expand their usage.
• Share feedback with our product team about what schools really need in the platform.
• Work with our Ops team to make sure a tricky booking gets sorted.
• Jump into a quick brainstorm with the team to improve how we build pipeline.

Who you are

You don’t have to tick every single box, but we think you’ll thrive here if you’re:

• Naturally enthusiastic and curious (we’ll train you on everything else).
• Confident picking up the phone, handling objections, and building trust fast.
• Someone with a proven track record of hitting sales targets (or smashing similar KPIs).
• A team player who loves being part of a close-knit group.
• Passionate about having a positive social impact (bonus points if you care deeply about education).
• Someone with a growth mindset is always looking to learn and improve.

What you might like or dislike

Every company has its tradeoffs, so here’s some real talk to help you decide if this is the right fit for you.

You might love it if:

• You want a role where your work has a tangible social impact.
• You like fast-paced environments where things are always evolving.
• You’re excited about the idea of working in a mission-driven startup that’s scaling rapidly.

You might find it tricky if:

• You prefer highly structured corporate environments with fixed processes.
• You don’t like ambiguity. Sometimes we’re building the plane while flying it.
• Picking up the phone and having conversations with decision-makers feels uncomfortable.

What’s in it for you?

• Meaningful work – this isn’t just another SaaS tool; you’re literally helping schools save money and pay teachers more.
• Competitive salary + ownership in the company.
• 25 days holiday + all the usual UK public holidays.
• A central Sunderland office with perks like fresh fruit, bike parking, showers, an on-site gym, and a café.
• 1-1 coaching to keep you growing personally and professionally.
• Life & Health Insurance, Cycle to Work Scheme, Electric Car Scheme.

How we hire

We like to hire fast and onboard well. Here’s what you can expect:

• Quick chat with our recruiter – to get to know you and cover the basics.
• Role-focused conversation – we’ll talk about how you approach account management, building relationships, and hitting targets.
• Practical Task and role play – to see how you’d think on your feet with a realistic school conversation.
• Culture chat with the team – making sure it’s a good fit both ways.

We’re direct and transparent. If it’s a yes, great. If it’s a no, we’ll let you know quickly.

Diversity & inclusion

At Zen, we strive to build a culture of equity and inclusion, where everyone is respected, valued and appreciated for their unique traits, experiences and perspectives. We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive and equitable environment where our team can thrive, regardless of age, ethnicity, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, disability, religion or beliefs. We value our differences and believe that practices of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion help us create a fairer, more compassionate environment for all.

We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds and different experiences and perspectives, just like the staff who teach through Zen and the children at the schools we work with. We believe in hiring the best people from the widest pool and creating an inclusive culture where people’s voices are heard and all our team can look forward to coming to work.

We are committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of our community and promoting an equitable and inclusive environment for all. We seek out diverse opinions, beliefs, and experiences because they collectively make us stronger; we’ve had former teachers, pilots, fundraisers, engineers, lawyers, marketers, social media experts and more join our team.

Ready to make a difference? If you’ve read this far and you’re excited (maybe even a little nervous) about the opportunity, apply now! We’d love to chat.