Strategic Account Executive, UKI

We are looking for an experienced sales professional, ideally with open source experience, who will be selling into UKI major accounts. The ideal candidate has been a part of the sales efforts for other early-stage enterprise products in an entrepreneurial setting. The Strategic Account Executive will be integral to our growth plan and in acquiring new Strategic accounts. Kong's Account Executive will be the primary point of contact and the face of Kong for our prospects.

Responsibilities

Sell the Kong Enterprise Platform to major enterprise customers; Meet individual quota and objectives; Take ownership of your territory, including understanding and navigating enterprise procurement processes, contract structures, and buying criteria, ensuring pipeline accuracy based on evidence, and working opportunities to closure; Provide account leadership and direction in the pre- and post-sales process, maintaining a deep understanding of enterprise business objectives, and contribute to analysis on wins/losses; Ability to travel to customer and partner sites as required (30% - 50%); Any additional tasks required by manager

Requirements

Experienced sales professional selling into UKI major accounts; Experience in sales efforts for other early-stage enterprise products in an entrepreneurial setting; A true desire to see customers and organizations benefit from the investment they make with Kong; 10+ years of experience in selling enterprise software; Proven track record of hitting targets within major accounts; Ability to leverage established relationships within target accounts and utilize proven sales techniques for success; Effective communicator and strong interpersonal skills, capable of building trust with key enterprise stakeholders and digital transformation leaders; Excellent negotiation, presentation, and closing skills within complex enterprise buying environments; Motivated, driven, and results-oriented

Nice to have

Experience with open source, APIs, and/or infrastructure software; Experience with fast-growing startups; Familiarity with enterprise procurement frameworks and complex deal structures