Lead Customer Success Manager, Public Sector

As a Lead Customer Success Manager focused on State, Local, and Education (SLED) customers, you'll own a portfolio of government and higher education accounts and serve as the advisor they rely on to connect Workiva's platform to the outcomes that matter most in their sector. You understand the distinct rhythms of public sector organizations: budget cycles tied to fiscal years, procurement constraints, multi-agency stakeholder maps, and a mission focus that shapes every conversation. You'll operate in partnership with the account executive across your full book, driving retention, adoption, and growth with the discipline and domain fluency this market demands. What You’ll Do Customer Journey & Success Planning Build and maintain a clear picture of each account's organizational structure, budget cycle, procurement process, and strategic priorities, then develop account plans that connect those realities to Workiva capabilities Cultivate relationships across multiple stakeholder layers including department heads, finance officers, IT leaders, and elected or appointed officials, as an ongoing partnership rather than a contract-driven engagement Identify platform growth opportunities by mapping Workiva capabilities against SLED-specific requirements, including grant tracking and transparency initiatives Lead Business Reviews that speak to public sector outcomes: audit readiness, compliance efficiency, reporting accuracy, and resource stewardship rather than generic ROI metrics Platform Adoption Use Product Usage data and health signals to diagnose what's working and what isn't, then design targeted interventions that account for the change management constraints common in government environments Ask consultative questions to uncover workflow gaps and build enablement plans align with SLED procurement and training norms, driving lasting behavior change rather than short-term usage spikes Sales Collaboration Identify expansion opportunities through structured whitespace analysis, including cross-department and cross-agency growth potential, and bring well-qualified signals to your AE with a clear public sector business case Provide renewal forecasts well ahead of deadlines, accounting for the longer approval timelines typical in government accounts, flag risk early with a mitigation plan attached, and navigate budget-constrained commercial conversations with confidence Executive Presence Engage consistently with senior-level government and education stakeholders and communicate in terms that resonate in the public sector: compliance risk, audit efficiency, constituent accountability, and mission impact Equip internal executive sponsors with necessary context before high-stakes customer conversations, including relevant legislative, regulatory, or political backdrop when appropriate Risk & Issue Resolution Identify risk themes by analyzing health trends, engagement signals, and relationship dynamics proactively, with an understanding that public sector accounts often have limited internal IT or change capacity to absorb issues Own escalations from identification through resolution: document the root cause, coordinate across functions, and keep the customer informed throughout Operational Excellence Keep CRM records accurate and current, including renewal timelines, stakeholder maps, health scores, risk flags, and engagement recaps Share account patterns and SLED-specific insights with your team and AE partners to build collective knowledge of what works in this market Act as the connective tissue for your account: bring in Solution Success, Product Success, Data Management, and Support at the right moment, so specialist engagement feels seamless to the customer What You'll Need Minimum Qualifications 6+ years in B2B SaaS Customer Success, Account Management, or Consulting, with experience managing government, higher education, or public sector accounts Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience   Preferred Qualifications A