Federal Account Executive

Overview:

This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a company that has been at the forefront of AI and high-performance data storage innovation for over two decades. DataDirect Networks (DDN) is a global market leader renowned for powering many of the world's most demanding AI data centers, in industries ranging from life sciences and healthcare to financial services, autonomous cars, Government, academia, research and manufacturing.

"DDN's A3I solutions are transforming the landscape of AI infrastructure." – IDC 

“The real differentiator is DDN. I never hesitate to recommend DDN. DDN is the de facto name for AI Storage in high performance environments” - Marc Hamilton, VP, Solutions Architecture & Engineering | NVIDIA 

DDN is the global leader in AI and multi-cloud data management at scale. Our cutting-edge data intelligence platform is designed to accelerate AI workloads, enabling organizations to extract maximum value from their data. With a proven track record of performance, reliability, and scalability, DDN empowers businesses to tackle the most challenging AI and data-intensive workloads with confidence. 

Our success is driven by our unwavering commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and a team of passionate professionals who bring their expertise and dedication to every project. This is a chance to make a significant impact at a company that is shaping the future of AI and data management. 

Our commitment to innovation, customer success, and market leadership makes this an exciting and rewarding role for a driven professional looking to make a lasting impact in the world of AI and data storage. 

The US Federal Government Account Executive will work in the development of new National Institute of Health accounts in the geographic territory of Maryland, D.C., and Virginia. The Account Executive is required to be in front of the end user, if not selling directly, to build the relationship and share the DDN story. This position will be field based and involve travel approximately 30%-40% of the time. The job involves building and executing a strategic business plan for the territory, managing the territory and growing business through their own experience, including previously established relationships; so, a successful applicant must have strong industry contacts and a demonstrated success in personally closing business in the US Federal Government's National Institute of Health. Success involves a long and complex sales cycle, and the majority of sales go through channel partners; so strong contacts with related channels are a requirement.

Responsibilities for this role include but are not limited to:

• Drive new business through strong partner and customer contacts and industry knowledge.
• Create and maintain a customer pipeline, hitting revenue goals and growing the territory.
• Meets committed sales numbers on a quarterly basis.
• Building relationships with Channel and OEM partners to grow brand presence to end users.
• Establish executive level relationships, understanding the needs and language of customer’s specific business.
• Lead and coordinate complex, team selling efforts (with internal and external partners).
• Develop and maintain a strong partnership with all DDN staff, specifically with Sales Engineers and technical support staff.
• Develop a strong understanding of the customers’ technology infrastructure, strategy and business requirements.
• Partner with internal staff to create successful Proposals and Presentations in response to RFPs and other customer needs.
• Drive a territory strategy in alignment with DDN brand strategy.
• Accurately forecast sales figures and projections.
• Consistent communication with DDN Sales Leadership including sales reports.
• Manage accurate data and record keeping in SalesForce.com to increase customer satisfaction and brand penetration.
• Attend trade shows and other activities to raise DDN’s presence in the industry.
• Successfully negotiate with internal and external partners and end-user customers.
• Manage customer relationships post-sale, including a strategy to close repeat business

Qualifications for this role are:

• A BA or BS in a related field is required.
• Must have 6-10 years of sales experience in US Government, preferably the in Health and Human Services and National Institute of Health, with strong technical expertise including deep industry knowledge and contacts.
• A successful AE will be expected to drive business through their own experience, including previously established relationships.
• Clearances are a strong plus.
• Must consistently be top 25% of sales force in quota attainment.
• Must have experience negotiating large transactions personally and been instrumental in closing those deals.
• A demonstrated knowledge of DDN SAN/NAS appliance product lines is desired.

DDN has a very strong orientation towards these 4 characteristics and any successful employee will demonstrate these capabilities: 

Self-Starter - Takes independent action to identify and solve problems. Seeks out relevant information needed to make decisions. Gets involved with new initiatives. 

Success/Achievement Orientation - Delivers quality results consistently. Targets, achieves (or exceeds) measurable results. Sets challenging goals, focuses on critical priorities, and is accountable. 

Problem Solving - Recognizes problems and responds with a systematic assessment that identifies and addresses cause of issue. Practical, realistic, and resourceful. 

Innovative - Builds and improves key business processes that enhance the effectiveness of DDN. Generates new ideas, challenges the status quo, and solves problems creatively.

DataDirect Networks, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, sex stereotyping, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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