Institutional & Education Sales Manager

We are seeking an Institutional & Education Sales Manager to lead and grow our institutional sales channel across our entire multi-state footprint. In this role, you will own relationships with colleges and universities, performing arts centers, K-12 school districts, houses of worship, hospitality venues, and other institutional clients. You will serve as a trusted advisor, helping organizations identify the right piano solutions — acoustic, digital, and hybrid — to support their musical, educational, performance, and community engagement goals.

This is a high-autonomy, high-trust field role. You will manage the full institutional pipeline from first conversation through delivery and follow-up, representing Solich Piano and the Yamaha brand at the highest professional level.

Candidates must currently reside in (or be willing to relocate to) one of the following states: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, or western Pennsylvania. Preference will be given to candidates based in or near one of our primary service markets: Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Detroit, Traverse City, or Pittsburgh.

This position requires regular travel to all Solich Piano markets and service territories, including overnight travel. A valid driver’s license and the ability to maintain a consistent multi-market travel schedule are required. Travel expenses are reimbursed.

•      Develop, own, and grow relationships with colleges, universities, performing arts centers, K-12 schools and districts, houses of worship, hospitality organizations, and other institutional customers across all Solich Piano markets.

•      Travel throughout the territory to conduct customer visits, presentations, campus and facility assessments, and follow-up meetings.

•      Identify and pursue opportunities for new piano sales, replacement and trade-up programs, practice room solutions, institutional loan programs, and performance venue upgrades.

•      Present acoustic, digital, and hybrid piano solutions tailored to each organization’s needs, goals, and budget cycle.

•      Coordinate piano demonstrations, evaluations, artist events, and special institutional programs in partnership with showroom teams.

•      Prepare quotes, proposals, bid responses, and sales agreements, and manage opportunities through the full institutional sales cycle, including procurement and board approval processes.

•      Build and maintain a healthy institutional pipeline with accurate records and activity tracking in the company CRM.

•      Attend conferences, festivals, workshops, and educational events (including MEA conferences and collegiate events) to represent Solich Piano and develop new business relationships.

•      Collaborate closely with showroom staff, piano technicians, and delivery and logistics personnel to ensure flawless delivery, installation, and after-sale service for every institutional client.

•      Partner with company leadership and Yamaha institutional and higher education teams on strategic accounts and programs.

•      Achieve established sales goals while providing outstanding customer service and fostering long-term institutional partnerships.

•      Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with confidence engaging faculty, administrators, worship leaders, facility managers, procurement officers, and organizational leadership.

•      Strong written and verbal communication and professional presentation skills.

•      Proven ability to work independently while managing a multi-market travel schedule and an active sales pipeline.

•      Strong organizational, time management, and follow-through skills.

•      Understanding of the institutional and higher education sales cycle, including budget timing, procurement, and multi-stakeholder decision-making.

•      Demonstrated problem-solving ability and a customer-focused mindset.

•      Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with CRM systems.

•      Ability to play basic piano repertoire and confidently demonstrate piano features during customer meetings.

•      Valid driver’s license and ability to travel extensively throughout the assigned region, including overnight stays.

•      Current residence in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, or western Pennsylvania (or willingness to relocate).

•      Passion for music and a genuine desire to support music education and artistic communities.

•      Bachelor’s degree in Music, Music Education, Business, Marketing, or a related field.

•      Experience in outside sales, consultative sales, or institutional account management.

•      Experience working with colleges, universities, K-12 schools, performing arts centers, churches, or other institutional organizations.

•      Familiarity with acoustic and digital pianos or the broader musical instrument industry.

•      Background in music performance, music education, or piano instruction.

•      Existing relationships within the regional music education community.

•      Competitive base salary plus performance-based bonuses.

•      Travel expense reimbursement.

•      The backing of an established, respected Yamaha dealership with a growing multi-state footprint.

•      A collaborative team of musicians, educators, technicians, and sales professionals who care deeply about music and the institutions we serve.