Strategic Account Executive - Federal Accounts

Everyone is welcome at Handshake. We know diverse teams build better products and we are committed to creating an inclusive culture built on a foundation of respect for all individuals. We strongly encourage candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized or underrepresented groups to apply.

Your impact

At Handshake, we create opportunities for all students and recent graduates to have equal access to meaningful jobs and internships. We’re looking for a seasoned Account Executive with a proven track record of success selling into the federal government to join our team - working with employers in the federal sector nationwide to influence and expand their early talent recruiting strategy. We are dedicated to providing innovative solutions to our clients and maintaining a strong presence in the federal sector. As we expand, we seek a motivated and results-driven Account Executive to join our dynamic sales team.

Job Description

As an Account Executive for Federal Accounts, you will be crucial in building and closing deals within the federal sector. You will develop and nurture relationships with key stakeholders, identify opportunities, and drive the sales process from lead generation to deal closure across your accounts. This role requires in-depth knowledge of the hiring needs and challenges of large and small federal agencies and an acute understanding of how they function. It will also require strategic thinking, relationship building, and a strong focus on achieving revenue targets.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow large government contracts while continuously pipelining new, relevant opportunities
• Meet or exceed annual quota by generating high volume of meetings with the federal government and its large departments and agencies
• Understand a department or agencies’ business drivers, challenges and pain points
• Navigate the federal acquisition processes and contracting
• Schedule, manage and run large department meetings with senior economic buyers within the federal government
• Create proposals, executive briefings, and seasonal business reviews for HR and business leaders at Federal agencies
• Generate scalable pipeline and revenue to achieve 100% of annual quota attainment
• Lead participation in industry events to drive new business development
• Coordinate large-scale efforts across various departments to drive enterprise-wide agreements
• Utilize Salesforce.com on a daily basis to manage activity, leads, follow-up and pipeline
• Execute new sales activities in support of our market pursuit when requested

Qualifications

• Proven knowledge of federal acquisition process and contracting
• 5+ years of Account Executive experience selling Saas based solutions into the Federal government
• Success in pitching and closing large six and seven-figure deals
• Experience navigating and building relationships within large departments and agencies within the federal government
• Proven ability to negotiate large government contracts while developing off-cycle pipeline and new lead generation
• Proven success selling enterprise-wide solutions
• Excellent customer-facing skills and ability to manage a room of senior government officials
• Ability to navigate complex contract structures
• A strong history of quota attainment and excellent performance
• Experience preparing account plans and business value narratives
• Proven ability to collaborate successfully with a go-to-market team

Compensation range

• $270,000 - $300,000 OTE

For cash compensation, we set standard ranges for all U.S.-based roles based on function, level, and geographic location, benchmarked against similar stage growth companies. In order to be compliant with local legislation, as well as to provide greater transparency to candidates, we share salary ranges on all job postings regardless of desired hiring location. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including geographic location as well as candidate experience and expertise, and may vary from the amounts listed above.

About us

Handshake is the #1 place to launch a career with no connections, experience, or luck required. The platform connects up-and-coming talent with 750,000+ employers - from Fortune 500 companies like Google, Nike, and Target to thousands of public school districts, healthcare systems, and nonprofits. This Series F fundraise and valuation of $3.5B will fuel Handshake’s next phase of growth and propel our mission to help more people start, restart, and jumpstart their careers.

When it comes to our workforce strategy, we’ve thought deeply about how work-life should look here at Handshake. With our Hub-Based Remote Working strategy, employees can enjoy the flexibility of remote work, whilst ensuring collaboration and team experiences in a shared space remains possible. Handshake is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Denver, New York, London, and Berlin and teammates working globally.

Check out our careers site to find a hub near you!

What we offer

At Handshake, we'll give you the tools to feel healthy, happy and secure.

Benefits below apply to employees in full-time positions.

• 💰 Equity and ownership in a fast-growing company.
• 🍼 16 Weeks of paid parental leave for birth giving parents & 10 weeks of paid parental leave for non-birth giving parents.
• 💝 Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision policies including LGTBQ+ Coverage. We also provide resources for Mental Health Assistance, Employee Assistance Programs and counseling support.
• 💻 Handshake offers $500/£360 home office stipend for you to spend during your first 3 months to create a productive and comfortable workspace at home.
• 📚 Generous learning & development opportunities and an annual $2,000/£1,500/€1,850 stipend for you to grow your skills and career.
• 💰 Financial coaching through Origin to help you through your financial journey.
• 🛜 Monthly internet stipend and a brand new MacBook to allow you to do your best work.
• 🚃 Monthly commuter stipend for you to expense your travel to the office (for office-based employees).
• 🥗 Free lunch provided twice a week across all offices.
• 🤝 Referral bonus to reward you when you bring great talent to Handshake.

(US-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)

• 🏦 401k Match: Handshake offers a dollar-for-dollar match on 1% of deferred salary, up to a maximum of $1,200 per year.
• 🏝 All full-time US-based Handshakers are eligible for our flexible time off policy to get out and see the world. In addition, we offer 8 standardized holidays, and 2 additional days of flexible holiday time off. Lastly, we have a Winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off.
• 🍼 Lactation support: Handshake partners with Milk Stork to provide a comprehensive 100% employer-sponsored lactation support to traveling parents and guardians.

(UK-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)

• 🏦 Pension Scheme: Handshake will provide you with a workplace pension, where you will make contributions based on 5% of your salary. Handshake will pay the equivalent of 3% towards your pension plan, subject to qualifying earnings limits.
• 🏝 Up to 25 days of vacation to encourage people to reset, recharge, and refresh, in addition to 8 bank holidays throughout the year.
• 🤝 Regular offsites each year to bring the team together + opportunity to travel to our HQ in San Francisco.
• 🛍️ Discounts across various high street retailers, cinemas and other social activities exclusively for Handshake UK employees.

(Germany-specific benefits, in addition to the first section)

• 🏝 25 days of annual leave + we have a Winter #ShakeBreak, a one-week period of Collective Time Off across the company.
• 🤝 Regular offsites each year to bring the team together + opportunity to travel to our HQ in San Francisco once a year.
• 🧘 Urban sports club membership offering access to a diverse network of fitness and wellness facilities.
• 🛍️ Discounts across various high street retailers, cinemas and other social activities exclusively for Handshake Germany employees.

For roles based in Romania : Please ask your recruiter about region specific benefits.

Looking for more? Explore our mission, values and comprehensive US benefits at