Director of Sales, Europe

Planet, a trailblazer in the aerospace industry, is seeking a high-level commercial leader to head their sales operations across the European theatre. This role is pivotal for a company that leverages a massive constellation of imaging satellites to provide actionable, empirical data to a global audience. By turning space-based insights into cloud-based solutions, Planet supports various industries, and they are now looking to solidify their footprint within the European government, national security, and defense sectors.

About the role

As the Director of Sales for Europe, you will serve as the strategic engine behind the company’s expansion within the continent’s defense and intelligence landscape. The position requires a leader who is as comfortable navigating high-stakes government procurement frameworks as they are managing the day-to-day operations of a high-performance sales organization. You will be responsible for defining the regional Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy, ensuring that Planet’s advanced satellite data solutions align perfectly with the complex needs of European defense ministries and intelligence agencies.

This is a remote position that demands a high degree of autonomy, executive presence, and the ability to influence C-suite decision-makers. You will be the primary link between Planet’s technical capabilities and the urgent needs of national security clients, requiring both a sharp business acumen and a solid understanding of how commercial space technology integrates into broader security missions.

Success in this role depends on your ability to combine rigorous pipeline management with the creative engineering of capture strategies. You will act as a coach and mentor, fostering a culture of accountability and professional excellence within your regional team. Key responsibilities include:

• Executing a data-driven GTM strategy to accelerate revenue growth across national security and defense sectors.
• Maintaining strict pipeline discipline, providing leadership with transparent and highly accurate revenue forecasts.
• Developing high-impact narratives that connect Planet’s data offerings to the specific objectives of government decision-makers.
• Recruiting, mentoring, and retaining top-tier talent, ensuring your team remains a leader in the defense-domain commercial space.
• Collaborating closely with internal pre-sales and solutions engineering teams to ensure technical alignment and seamless deal execution.
• Fostering strong cross-functional communication to maintain deal velocity and organizational harmony.

What they're looking for

Planet is searching for a seasoned leader who brings a blend of commercial grit and government-sector expertise. Candidates must possess:

• A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience, with at least 6 years spent in formal leadership or supervisory roles.
• Proven success in building, scaling, and managing high-performing, geographically distributed sales teams.
• Deep-rooted familiarity with complex European government and defense procurement processes.
• An existing, established network at the C-suite level within European defense ministries and intelligence agencies.
• Strong technical literacy regarding how commercial technology serves modern defense missions.
• Exceptional communication skills, with professional working proficiency in English.

For South African professionals looking at this remote opportunity, roles of this calibre—managing regional portfolios for global tech-heavyweights—typically attract highly competitive compensation packages, often pegged to global benchmarks in USD. This is an ideal progression for individuals with experience in high-level government contracting or defense industry management who wish to shift into the rapidly growing NewSpace sector. As international tech companies continue to lean into remote leadership models, this role represents a premier opportunity to influence global security policy while operating from a home office, provided you possess the requisite high-level networking connections within the European theatre.

• 8+ years of relevant work experience and 6+ years supervisory/leadership experience.
• Ability to recruit, mentor, and retain top-tier talent.
• Deep experience establishing pipeline discipline and accurate revenue forecasting.
• Extensive background navigating complex government and defense procurement frameworks.
• An established, C-level network across Defense Ministries and Intelligence Agencies.
• Deep understanding of the role of commercial technology in defense missions.
• Success collaborating across internal matrixed teams to align capabilities with regional opportunities.
• Professional working proficiency in English.