Sales Director DACH

Energy Exemplar, a global leader in energy market simulation and analytical software, is seeking a high-performing Sales Director to spearhead its expansion across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH). This is a pivotal role for an enterprise sales professional who enjoys the challenge of "hunting" for new business and is comfortable navigating the intricacies of the European energy sector.

As an organisation that provides complex decision-support tools, Energy Exemplar requires someone who can move beyond transactional selling. You will be expected to influence senior stakeholders, demonstrate the commercial value of high-end modelling software, and guide prospective clients through sophisticated procurement processes.

About the role

Operating remotely within the DACH region, you will be the primary engine for new-logo acquisition. Your focus will be on identifying energy organisations that require cutting-edge simulations to navigate the current complexities of the power grid, renewable energy integration, and market transitions.

The role demands a strategist who can balance the art of prospecting with the rigour of sales forecasting. You won’t just be responding to leads; you will be responsible for creating them through outbound initiatives, networking, and a deep understanding of the local energy landscape. Because the software is highly technical, you will often act as the bridge between the client’s C-suite and Energy Exemplar’s internal technical specialists, ensuring that the value proposition is clearly communicated and supported by data.

What you’ll do

Success in this position requires a proactive approach to territory management and a relentless focus on closing deals. Your core activities will include:

• **Pipeline Generation:** Proactively building a robust funnel through executive outreach, industry events, and targeted prospecting.
• **Strategic Engagement:** Managing the full sales lifecycle, from the initial cold discovery call through to complex contract negotiations and final signatures.
• **Stakeholder Management:** Engaging with senior decision-makers to help them understand how your software can solve their most pressing energy modelling challenges.
• **Technical Coordination:** Partnering with technical experts to run tailored demonstrations that address specific client needs.
• **Sales Discipline:** Maintaining a clean and accurate CRM pipeline, providing reliable forecasts to leadership, and executing a territory plan that prioritises high-value accounts.

What they’re looking for

Energy Exemplar is looking for a seasoned hunter who can demonstrate a consistent history of meeting or exceeding aggressive revenue targets. You must possess the professional maturity to handle long, high-stakes sales cycles.

• **Regional Fluency:** Native-level proficiency in German and fluent English are essential, as you will be negotiating with executives across the DACH region.
• **Industry Expertise:** A proven background in enterprise software sales is a must, ideally with experience selling into the energy or utilities sector.
• **Complex Selling Skills:** Demonstrated ability to manage multi-layered enterprise deals that involve multiple stakeholders and technical layers.
• **Educational Foundation:** A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Economics, Business, or a related field.
• **Mobility:** A willingness to travel regularly throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to meet clients and attend industry conferences.

For South African professionals with international experience, this role offers a rare opportunity to represent a global software firm within the heart of the European energy market. In the local SA context, roles involving international market management typically offer high base salaries often denominated in foreign currency, alongside performance-based commission structures. If you have a background in energy engineering or software sales within the SA renewable energy sector, this transition represents a significant step into high-level global business development. Success in such a role often paves the way for regional directorships or leadership positions within global enterprise technology firms.

• Proven enterprise software sales hunter with a strong record of winning new logos and achieving targets.
• Experience selling complex software, ideally into the energy sector.
• Ability to build a pipeline through proactive prospecting.
• Success in leading complex enterprise sales cycles involving executive stakeholders.
• Familiarity with the DACH energy landscape.
• Fluency in German and English.
• Willingness to travel regularly across the region.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Engineering, or related discipline.