Account Executive - Chicago

Black Kite

$180K — $210K *
Technical Services
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3+ years of full-cycle sales experience in SaaS, cybersecurity, data, or analytics
  • Experience selling to security or risk leadership at the SMB or commercial level
  • Consultative selling approach focused on solving customer problems
  • Strong regional network in Chicago and the Midwest
  • Ability to manage a high-velocity sales pipeline across multiple opportunities
  • Skilled in navigating multi-stakeholder deals
  • Clean Salesforce hygiene and strong organizational discipline
  • Effective communicator with executive-level audiences
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Responsibilities

  • Own the full sales cycle for new business across Chicago and the Midwest
  • Develop and maintain a healthy pipeline of qualified SMB opportunities
  • Engage with security and risk leadership as well as operational buyers
  • Collaborate with regional channel partners for co-selling
  • Maintain accurate sales forecasting and opportunity documentation in Salesforce
  • Work closely with cross-functional teams to advance deals
  • Provide feedback to Marketing and Product based on prospect conversations

Benefits

  • Competitive base salary with uncapped commission and accelerators
  • Sales support including SDR coverage and a knowledgeable Sales Engineering team
  • Leadership team that is accessible and invested in professional development
  • Performance-based bonuses and equity opportunities
  • Flexible healthcare options
  • Paid time off and retirement savings plans
Full Job Description
THE OPPORTUNITY

As a Commercial Account Executive covering Chicago and the Midwest, you own the full sales cycle for small and mid-sized businesses in your territory - from first outreach to closed deal. You'll bring Black Kite's third-party cyber risk management platform to security and risk leaders who need a smarter way to manage vendor exposure, and you'll do it with the backing of a product that genuinely differentiates. This is the right role if you're a hunter who thrives in a high-velocity, consultative sales environment and wants to grow with a category leader.

  • A defined territory with real whitespace - the Midwest commercial segment is an active growth priority for Black Kite
  • A product that solves a real, board-level problem - third-party cyber risk is not a nice-to-have; it's a regulatory and business imperative
  • Full sales support: SDR coverage, marketing pipeline contribution, and a Sales Engineering team that knows the product cold
  • A leadership team that is accessible, data-driven, and invested in your development
  • Competitive base + uncapped commission with accelerators above quota


WHAT YOU'LL OWN

  • Full sales cycle ownership: prospect, qualify, advance, and close net-new business across the Chicago/Midwest territory
  • Pipeline development: build and maintain a healthy, active pipeline of qualified SMB opportunities through outbound prospecting, channel partnerships, and marketing-sourced leads
  • Executive engagement: navigate and sell into security and risk leadership (CISO, CIO, Head of TPRM) as well as operational buyers
  • Channel collaboration: partner with regional channel partners to co-sell and expand market coverage across the territory
  • Forecast accuracy: maintain clean, current opportunity documentation in Salesforce and deliver reliable forecast reporting to leadership
  • Cross-functional partnership: work closely with Sales Engineering, Marketing, and Customer Success to move deals forward and set customers up for long-term success
  • Feedback loop: bring field intelligence back to Marketing and Product - your conversations with prospects shape how Black Kite goes to market

WHAT YOU BRING

  • 3+ years of full-cycle sales experience in SaaS, cybersecurity, data, or analytics - with a track record of hitting or exceeding quota
  • Experience selling to security or risk leadership (CISO, CIO, CRO, Head of TPRM/TPCRM) at the SMB or commercial level
  • Consultative selling approach: you lead with the customer's problem, not the product pitch
  • Strong regional network in Chicago and the broader Midwest - existing relationships with end-users or channel partners is a plus
  • Comfortable managing a high-velocity pipeline across multiple simultaneous opportunities
  • Skilled at navigating multi-stakeholder deals and building relationships across levels of an organization
  • Clean Salesforce hygiene and strong organizational discipline
  • Clear, confident communication - written, verbal, and in front of an executive audience
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience

PREFERRED

  • Prior experience in the cybersecurity or third-party risk management space
  • Familiarity with TPCRM, vendor risk, or compliance-driven sales cycles
  • Established relationships with MSSPs, VARs, or regional channel partners in the Midwest
  • Experience using sales engagement tools (Outreach, Salesloft, or equivalent) alongside Salesforce

The expected total compensation range for this role is $180,000-$210,000 (base pay + commission). Compensation at Black Kite extends well beyond base pay - our total rewards program includes performance-based bonuses, equity, flexible healthcare options, paid time off, and retirement savings. This range reflects a nationwide market spectrum and will vary based on qualifications, role scope, complexity, and location.

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