Account Executive - Portfolio

Cisco•Chicago, IL

1d•$212,600 - $291,900

About The Position

The Account Executive - Portfolio manages a defined territory of premier accounts in the Chicagoland area, builds long-term strategic relationships with C-suite executives, and drives revenue growth. The role orchestrates the end-to-end sales cycle, from prospecting and qualifying opportunities through proposing solutions tailored to customer business goals. It applies expertise in secure networking—including switching, wireless, routing, and firewalls—to communicate Cisco’s value and differentiation. The Account Executive analyzes CRM data and market trends to forecast sales commitments and develop enhancement plans that reduce workflow bottlenecks. Working with Portfolio Solution Engineers and other technical and cross-functional teams, the role delivers competitive networking solutions, expands Cisco’s portfolio footprint, achieves measurable customer outcomes, and maintains account retention. The candidate must reside in Chicagoland or be willing to travel to customers there.

Requirements

5+ years of direct selling experience.
Experience managing complex sales cycles for customers in high segmentation tiers, such as Key or Premier accounts.
Experience selling core secure networking technologies, including switching, wireless, routing, and firewalls.
Proficiency in using CRM tools for funnel management and sales forecasting.
Experience engaging with C-suite executives and senior-level management to influence purchasing decisions.
Must reside in Chicagoland or be willing to travel to customers in Chicagoland.

Nice To Haves

Ability to negotiate using a consultative approach to address complex customer objections and secure commitments.
Expertise in analyzing market dynamics and competitive landscapes to deliver compelling product demonstrations and value-added insights.
Strong strategic planning skills, including a track record of leading account planning and designing customer-first strategies.
Experience collaborating with cross-functional internal teams, including RevOps, Finance, Procurement, and IT.
Skill in translating technical product dependencies and performance into transformative solutions for high-value business leaders.

Responsibilities

Manage a defined territory of premier accounts and build long-term strategic relationships with C-suite executives.
Orchestrate the end-to-end sales cycle, including prospecting, qualifying deals, and proposing solutions that address customer business goals.
Use expertise in secure networking technologies, including switching, wireless, routing, and firewalls, to communicate Cisco’s market differentiation and value proposition.
Analyze CRM data and market trends to forecast sales commitments accurately.
Co-create enhancement plans to reduce workflow bottlenecks.
Deliver measurable customer outcomes, expand the portfolio footprint, and maintain high account retention rates.
Collaborate with Portfolio Solution Engineers and specialized technical teams to deliver competitive networking solutions.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance, subject to plan eligibility rules.
401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution.
Paid parental leave.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
Basic life insurance.
Paid holidays and a floating holiday for non-exempt employees.
Paid birthday day off, year-end holiday shutdown, and personal wellness days.
Vacation time or flexible vacation time off, depending on employee classification.
Sick time off, with up to 80 hours of unused sick time carried forward.
Additional paid time away may be requested for critical or emergency family issues.
Optional 10 paid volunteer days per full calendar year.
Sales-plan employees earn performance-based incentive pay; quota-based incentive compensation has no cap after performance exceeds 100% attainment.