Account Executive-Midwest

About Us

SUSE is a global leader of enterprise open source software. By transforming community innovations into secure, sovereign and AI-ready solutions, SUSE empowers customers to escape vendor lock-in and regain control of their IT destiny. Through industry-leading Linux, Kubernetes, Edge and AI infrastructure solutions, SUSE delivers the flexibility to innovate everywhere—from the data center to multi-cloud and out to the edge. Only SUSE also manages many Linux and Kubernetes distributions. At SUSE, Choice Happens because we prioritize community, interoperability and relentless innovation. Discover how we power mission-critical resilience at www.suse.com. 

Job Description

Serves as the overall account lead (single point of contact) for numerous, large named accounts in an assigned country, geographic territory and/or industry; understands a client’s key business and IT challenges and requirements and is focused on driving value for the client, while maximizing revenue and margin for the company. Specializes in a value or volume specialty (computers, servers, storage, services, printers) with focus on growing the base business, complex solutions, and new business opportunities. Accounts may be managed remotely. Is supported primarily by presales and inside sales resources. These jobs focus on selling to customers, typically through work that occurs outside the company offices.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinates/Owns account plans for strategic commercial accounts in the account planning process
• Focuses on larger deals/opportunities and value and/or volume portfolio management, and selling a range of company products and solutions.
• Uses specialty to leverage existing opportunities and branch into more than one BU in the account.
• Establishes a professional working relationship (up to the executive level) with clients, and develops a core understanding of the unique business needs.
• Engages partners effectively to improve win rates on selective deals.
• Builds growth opportunities using the account planning process; actively manages planning process through scheduled reviews and updates.
• Generates leads for company volume products and certain value products and collaborates with other specialists or partners as needed.
• Responsible for achieving/managing quarterly, half yearly or yearly quota.
• Enters opportunities in pipeline tools and updates them weekly. Recommends and Implements Pipeline management practices.
• Sell solutions that include hardware, software and services.
• Build and deploy a territory account plan that includes working with partners, specialists.
• Ability to implement margin recovery activities/strategies in full ownership of the account or in partial ownership depending on account coverage.
• Acts as a first interface for international accounts in collaboration with members of global business teams, and local teams.
• Identifies customer requirements, matches with company capabilities and chooses the respective company supply chain accordingly (Direct or Indirect).
• Reviews and designs sales policy and strategy.

Education and Experience Required:

• University or Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Has deep knowledge of basic enhanced products, solution and service offerings as well as competitors' offerings.
• Extensive vertical industry knowledge and advanced degree of selling skills.
• Typically 5-8 years of experience as referenced above.
• Account management experience required.
• Experience in product specialty (computers, printers, servers, storage).

Knowledge and Skills:

• Broad understanding of the customer's needs; applies standard as well as creative solutions to meet those needs.
• Ability to coordinate internal and external partners to deliver appropriate solution sale.
• Able to interface with senior levels internal to the company and external client and partner groups.
• Knows when to adjust business plans based on account and industry segment opportunities.
• Use consultative selling skills to proactively help customer's with making IT business decisions.
• Partner organization intelligence aligned with partner management skills.
• Conceptualizes and articulates well-targeted solutions in area of specialty - from proposal to contract sign off.
• Ability to understand the customer's business issues and translate to the company's solutions.
• Ability to prioritize and drive strategic sales activity on a solution basis.
• Excels in competitive selling skills.
• Needs a good understanding of the channel and how to partner.

This position is subject to a background check(s), including criminal, credit, and/or employment references. The candidate is required to complete the background check(s) once an offer has been accepted. This will be conducted by SUSE’s external provider, where legally permitted.

For US Only - US Pay Transparency Disclaimer

If this role is filled in the United States of America, the starting base salary will be within the applicable pay range displayed below. In addition to base salary, this position may be eligible for a commission plan and a competitive benefits package. US benefits include comprehensive medical coverage, life and disability insurance, a 401(k) plan, an Employee Assistance Program, and generous paid time off and leave policies.

Final compensation will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, geographic location, internal equity, and budget. This pay transparency information applies to US-based roles only.

Base Pay Range Min & Max

Job

What We Offer 

We empower you to be bold, driving your career to create the future you want. We celebrate and reward your achievements.  

SUSE is a dynamic environment that is evolving rapidly, thus requiring agility, strong entrepreneurship and an open mind. 

This is a compelling opportunity for the right person to join us as we continue to scale and prosper.   

If you’re a big thinker, obsessed by execution and thrive in a dynamic environment in which you can tangibly create a lasting legacy, then please apply now!  

We give you the freedom to be yourself. You will work in a global community of unique individuals – like you – with different backgrounds, talents, skills and perspectives. A truly open community where everyone is welcome, has a voice and is encouraged to reach their full potential regardless of age, gender, race, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or any other characteristics.   

Sounds like the right fit for you? Click Apply to submit your resume. A recruiter will contact you if your skills match our current or any future positions. In the meantime, stay updated on the latest SUSE news and job vacancies by joining our Talent Community.

SUSE Values 

SUSE's culture is centered on four key values - Choice, Community, Trust, and Innovation - which are deeply integrated with our open source ethos. SUSE fosters a diverse and inclusive environment where our people are encouraged to be themselves.

Choice: 

We are continuously making choice happen 

We are accountable for our choices 

We never get complacent

Community: 

Nobody is smarter than everybody 

We embrace diversity of thought 

We are “open source first, upstream first” where collaboration benefits all

Trust: 

We are trusted to deliver with integrity 

We offer trust by default, and do not wait for it to be earned

We foster an environment where everyone trusts each other 

Innovation: 

We foster a culture of experimentation, and embrace change by challenging the norm

We are committed to continuous improvement, creativity and adaptability 

Ideas are great, but without execution they are just ideas