Founding Account Executive

📋 Description

• • This is a rare opportunity to join a fast-growing AI-powered recruiting technology startup as their first dedicated closer.
• • You'll own the full sales cycle end-to-end — from discovery through signature — for mid-market and enterprise deals.
• • Working directly alongside the founding team, you'll not only carry the number but build the playbook, shape pricing and positioning, and lay the foundation for a sales organization you'll eventually lead.
• • Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
• • Own the complete sales cycle — discovery, demo, negotiation, and close — for mid-market and enterprise customers
• • Self-source pipeline through both warm and cold outbound, as well as inbound qualification
• • Build and continuously refine the closing playbook, including pricing strategy, objection handling, and deal stage definitions
• • Partner directly with the founding team to shape go-to-market strategy and positioning
• • Drive expansion revenue and upsell opportunities within the existing customer base
• • Hire and mentor BDRs as the sales organization scales
• • Dealbreakers
• • 2–6 years of experience as an Account Executive at a high-velocity startup or in finance, with a consistent track record of beating quota
• • Full-cycle sales ownership: you've sourced, run, and closed your own deals — not exclusively worked handed-off pipeline
• • Proven cold outbound success, including at least one significant deal sourced entirely through cold outreach
• • Required
• • Experience closing mid-market and enterprise deals with complex, multi-stakeholder sales cycles
• • Experience building and documenting sales processes, playbooks, or methodologies from scratch
• • Experience managing expansion revenue or upsell opportunities within existing accounts
• • Experience hiring, training, or managing SDRs or junior sales staff
• • Track record of rapid promotion or accelerated career progression within sales
• • Nice to Have
• • Experience working directly with founders or C-suite on go-to-market strategy and pricing decisions
• • Prior startup founding experience, significant competitive achievement, or a demonstrated history of tackling difficult objectives
• • Familiarity with recruiting, talent, or HR technology verticals
• • COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
• • Base salary: $130,000 – $180,000 USD annually (OTE will exceed base)
• • Early-stage equity participation
• • Direct exposure and collaboration with the founding team
• • Opportunity to build and lead the sales org as the company scales
• • LOCATION
• • This role is on-site in San Francisco, CA. Remote work is not available. Visa sponsorship is not offered.