Founding Account Executive / GTM Lead - AI SaaS

We are searching for an ambitious and commercially astute Founding Account Executive/GTM Sales Lead to join a fast-growing, early-stage AI SaaS business. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced B2B technology salesperson to take ownership of the full sales cycle while helping to shape, develop and lead a growing sales function. You will combine hands-on new business development with strategic input, creating your own pipeline, leading complex sales conversations and closing new business. With significant influence over the company's go-to-market (GTM) strategy, sales processes and future growth, this role offers a genuine opportunity to build something rather than simply inherit an established playbook.

• £50,000 - £60,000 per annum, negotiable dependent on experience
• Uncapped commission
• Equity in a fast-growing technology business
• Based in Leeds - Hybrid working (3-4 office days per week)
• 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays
• Access to best-in-class software and tools to help you perform at your best
• Direct access to the Founder & product team, significant influence over sales strategy, processes and future growth, excellent scope for progression as the commercial function grows.

The Role

Working closely with the Founder, you will play a key role in executing and refining the company's go-to-market (GTM) strategy, combining hands-on new business development with strategic input to create pipeline, lead complex sales conversations and close new business.

This is not a position where you will simply manage inbound opportunities. You will be expected to pick up the phone, identify new markets and accounts, test different outbound approaches and maintain momentum throughout the sales process.

Alongside your individual sales responsibilities, you will help establish the processes, structure and messaging required to support a scalable sales function. You will also provide day-to-day direction to a Sales Development Representative and play an active role in the future development of the commercial team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the complete sales cycle, from initial prospecting and discovery through to negotiation and close.
• Build and maintain a high-quality pipeline through outbound activity, account research and wider growth initiatives.
• Conduct consultative discovery calls to understand how prospective customers currently identify, assess and manage commercial opportunities.
• Deliver tailored product demonstrations based on each prospect’s markets, workflows and commercial objectives.
• Build relationships with internal champions, commercial decision-makers and other stakeholders.
• Manage proposals, pilots, negotiations and contract discussions.
• Maintain accurate pipeline records, forecasts and clearly defined next steps.
• Develop outbound strategies for priority accounts, sectors and markets.
• Use modern CRM, prospecting, enrichment and sales intelligence tools to identify and prioritise opportunities.
• Work closely with the product team, sharing customer feedback and market intelligence.
• Support and provide direction to a Sales Development Representative.
• Help shape the company's GTM strategy, refining sales processes, messaging, target markets and commercial playbooks.
• Contribute to future recruitment and the continued development of the sales team.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for an entrepreneurial and commercially curious salesperson who is searching for more than another individual contributor role. You may already have some leadership experience, or you could be a successful Account Executive who has mentored colleagues, introduced new processes or led team activity and is now ready to take the next step. Either way, you must remain comfortable with hands-on selling and be motivated by the opportunity to help build a sales function from the ground up.

You will enjoy working autonomously, testing new approaches and taking responsibility for achieving results. You will also be naturally curious about businesses, able to understand different commercial models and confident translating customer challenges into relevant technology-led solutions.

Key Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience selling B2B SaaS, software, data or technology solutions.
• A successful track record of owning sales cycles and closing new business.
• Experience creating pipeline through outbound activity rather than relying entirely on inbound leads.
• Confidence conducting discovery calls and delivering software product demonstrations.
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to quickly understand how different businesses operate.
• Experience navigating multiple stakeholders throughout a sales process.
• Familiarity with modern go-to-market tools, including CRM, prospecting, sequencing, enrichment and sales intelligence platforms.
• The ability to introduce structure, improve processes and contribute to the development of an emerging sales function.
• A hands-on, self-starting approach with high levels of ownership and accountability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The confidence to operate effectively within a fast-moving startup environment where the sales playbook is still being developed.
• Candidates must have a permanent and unrestricted Right to Work in the UK, residing within a commutable distance of Leeds. Please note that our client cannot offer visa sponsorship.

Experience within an early-stage SaaS business or selling market intelligence, company data, workflow or sales intelligence software would be advantageous. An understanding of financial services, M&A, private equity, professional services or other data-intensive markets would also be beneficial, although this is not essential.

Our Client

Our client is an early-stage AI SaaS business developing an innovative platform that brings company discovery, market intelligence, contact data, commercial signals and pipeline workflows together in one place. The platform helps B2B teams identify which organisations to target, understand why they represent a relevant opportunity, find the right people to approach and collaborate around a shared commercial pipeline. Following early investment and customer growth, the business is now developing its commercial function and preparing for its next phase of growth.

If you have the required experience and are excited by the opportunity to build and influence an early-stage SaaS sales function, please apply today. Alternatively, for more information about the role, please contact Matt Pallister.

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