Sales Director

About HIT Strategies
HIT Strategies is a rapidly growing polling, messaging, and strategic research firm that uses innovative research methods to understand, communicate with and mobilize some of the hardest to reach communities in society. Women, millennials (+ gen-z), and minorities are irreversibly shifting voting and consumer patterns in America. At HIT Strategies, we apply our lived experiences at the intersections of society to explore and empower these communities so our partners can realize the full potential of rapid diversification in America.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of our mission. As the leading millennial and minority-owned public opinion research firm, our team must reflect the country's incredible diversity. Therefore, we especially encourage applications from people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, and groups underrepresented in political research.

Sales Director
A progressive Washington, DC research firm is seeking a Sales Director to add its expanding sales team. The Sales Director will serve as the face of HIT Strategies to prospective clients: understanding their needs, explaining how HIT Strategies’ offerings can best solve their problems, and then handing them off to HIT research team once they’ve been brought onboard. They will have significant opportunities to expand their role and responsibilities, contribute to the company's overall strategy, and help build out the sales team as the company grows. The Sales Director will also have the opportunity to work on everything including leading pitch meetings, prospecting new leads, negotiating contracts, and helping to build the team's internal processes. This role enhances the HIT experience through the client lifecycle.

The Sales Director is part of a team including a Sales Operations Analyst, Sales Associate, and Client Success Manager. This Sales Director will also work closely with the founders to build a replicable system for selling research to new types of clients, tailoring HIT Strategies’ pitch, and setting goals.

A strong candidate will successfully self-manage towards defined sales goals and other quantitative objectives. In addition, a strong candidate understands research concepts and can communicate them clearly to non-technical audiences. Further, the Sales Director can synthesize quantitative information and match client needs to HIT Strategies’ products and services. An ideal candidate has the ability and desire to grow a new business line in an environment with progressive values. We work closely with high-profile political organizations and candidates, so interest in electoral politics, social activism, and advocacy work is required in this role.

Responsibilities
Reasonable accommodations may be requested to fulfill essential responsibilities.

• Strategically manage the sales department including:
  • Setting sales OKRs and sales metrics to closely measure sales activity and reach sales targets
  • Managing and developing the sales team
  • Ensuring client satisfaction and culture of customer service
  • Crystalizing HIT’s value proposition and instilling it interdepartmentally
  • Advise partners on the strategic direction of the company
• Serve on the leadership team representing the sales function
• Manage a comprehensive book of business to increase revenue through direct sales and partnerships with advocacy groups, agencies, and research firms
• Become an expert in the company’s offerings, and contribute to the development and expansion of the revenue strategy
• Develop a system of collecting client intelligence that makes HIT smarter about addressing their pain points, motivations, and objectives
• Share insights with the team about client problems and new feature ideas
• Direct and manage the sales lifecycle to include lead identification, prospecting, pitching, contracting and transitioning the client to the client success team
• Research and develop new business opportunities through in-person events, outbound pitches, and inbound requests
• Develop and constantly update HIT product and service catalog to align with the needs of our clients/prospects
• Present to prospective clients, including participating in and leading meetings
• Oversee the development and management of a CRM that tracks prospects and automates touches and contact activities
• Develop sales materials, including client proposals, marketing documents, and case studies
• Understand client needs and collaborate with internal teams to scope pricing quotes and requirements 
• Prepare and review client agreements
• Coordinate Interdepartmental collaboration and communication, product development, product delivery

Qualifications

• 5-10 years of sales and business development experience to include:
  • Demonstrated success achieving $5m-$10m revenue goal in research, policy, or similar industries
  • Experience producing client-ready sales materials including memos and presentations
    
  • Experience successfully building buy-in from clients and teammates
  • Experience working in politics with campaigns or advocacy organizations
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Familiarity with the survey research field and its methods
• Possess an understanding of the U.S. political landscape
• Experience using a CRM and Microsoft Office 365 products

Salary and Benefits

• Annual salary range: $115,000 DOE + commission capped at $100,000 annually
• Healthcare with up to 80% of employee healthcare premiums covered
• Life and AD&D insurance
• Short term and long term disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program & Employee Discount Program
• Unlimited paid time off
• Year-end bonus based on performance
• Home office reimbursement capped at $1,500
• Utilities reimbursement capped at $1,500
• Professional development
• 401(k) plan