Regional Sales Lead, Middle East / North Africa

The Middle East/North Africa Sales Lead (MENA) at Planet will be responsible for growing the company's sales pipeline and book of business in the region. The ideal candidate should have a proven track record of selling in government and commercial accounts, with an extensive network and the ability to navigate procurement processes. They will be responsible for identifying, qualifying, negotiating, and closing large and medium-size deals, while also driving sales revenue targets. The role involves developing a pipeline of new sales leads, providing product demonstrations, and formulating appropriate business strategies. The MENA Sales Lead will play a crucial role in achieving sales targets and fostering customer relationships, while also collaborating with cross-functional teams and working closely with pre-sales and post-sales staff.

Develop a sales pipeline of strategic deals with government customers

Create narratives that are aligned with target customer priorities and resonate with decision makers

Achieve or exceed sales targets and goals

Work in close collaboration with cross-functional teams that support efforts and leadership

Run campaigns with the marketing team to attract and identify new opportunities

Work closely with a Sales Development Representative (SDR) to generate contacts and leads

Prospect and develop business relationships, close sales, and manage customer expectations

Collaborate with the Sales team in fostering customer relationships

Engage qualified prospects and guide them through the process of identifying a fit for Planet solutions and negotiating through agreement/contract/procurement obstacles

Manage the contracting and government procurement process

Work closely with pre-sales staff to demonstrate Planet products and services and achieve a technical win

Work closely with post-sales teams to ensure successful onboarding for new customers

Maintain an excellent level of pipeline hygiene using Salesforce.com

Collaborate and innovate as needed to create customer-facing presentations and proposals unique to the prospect and situation

• Proven track record of exceeding targets and developing and closing significant deals $1m+
• 8+ years experience selling to government customers including understanding the nuances of Government sales cycles and how to navigate through the process
• Consultative approach to solution selling with experience developing and closing large complex deals
• Bachelor's Degree or commensurate professional experience
• Excellent relationships across Government and the partner ecosystem in the region
• Excellent communication skills, minimum in English and Arabic
• Demonstrated success finding and winning business with Government and Commercial customers in the region, specifically with UAE, Oman, KSA, Bahrain.
• Deep understanding of the value of commercial imagery in support of the Planet's mission
• Self-starter, able to work independently under tight deadlines in start-up environment
• Strong judgment and decision-making skills
• Negotiation and persuasion skills
• Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills
• Experience with Salesforce.com or a similar CRM System
• 5+ years of related experience in geospatial software, imagery or technical sales required along with a demonstrated track record of success
• Vertical-specific expertise a strong plus (government, agriculture, commodities, energy, forestry, govt sales)
• Knowledge and network in Earth Observation / Remote Sensing, and / or Geospatial

Additional company winter holidays and regular global days off

Remote friendly work environment and flexible working hours

Contribution to our growth by offering equity options for employees

Giving back to the community - one day per quarter for charitable work

Learning and Tuition Reimbursement

Regular hack-weeks and meetup events to exchange knowledge

Home office budget

Employee Resource Groups providing empowering spaces for connection and mentorship