Senior Head of Sales (SMB) (London)

Join Proton and build a better internet where privacy is the default. Proton is one of Europe’s fastest growing scale-ups, serving more than 100 million users around the world. Our mission is to build a more ethical and responsible alternative to Big Tech services, with a focus on end-to-end encryption, privacy, open-source and ease-of-use.

As Proton's Senior Head of Sales (SMB), you will be a key leader responsible for building, shaping, and executing a comprehensive sales strategy from scratch, covering both inbound, outbound and channel sales. This role is ideal for a seasoned sales leader who is comfortable in a hands-on environment, ready to inspire a team, and prepared to engage directly in strategic deal-making as well as operational tasks.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and Lead a Sales Team: Establish, grow, and manage a team of Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) and Account Executives (AEs). Guide team members to achieve ambitious goals through coaching and closing skill gaps while fostering an empowering, collaborative culture.
• Develop Sales Strategy: Design and implement both inbound and outbound SMB sales strategies to achieve growth targets. Set clear objectives and actionable plans to drive high-quality leads and successfully close deals.
• Ownership of Sales Operations: Take full responsibility for the entire sales cycle, from lead generation to deal closure, with a particular emphasis on building consistent top-of-funnel inflow and high conversion rates.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making: Track and analyze sales performance metrics, reporting on KPIs, forecasting accurately, and identifying areas for optimization.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Marketing, Customer Support, and Product teams to align sales efforts with wider organizational objectives.

Your Profile

• Experience and Expertise: 10+ years of proven sales experience with a track record of leading B2B sales teams, ideally within a SaaS environment.
• Hands-On Leadership: Strong hands-on approach with the ability and willingness to support team operations directly.
• Market and Customer Insight: Deep understanding of target markets and audience behaviour.
• Tech-Savvy with Sales Tools: Proficient in CRM systems and other sales-related tools.
• Communication and Collaboration: Exceptional communication skills that ensure clear, precise, and constructive feedback.

Must-Have Hard Skills

• Sales Leadership: Proven experience in leading sales teams targeting small and medium-size businesses.
• Ownership of the Sales Funnel: Comfortable leading the entire sales funnel.
• Data and Metrics Proficiency: Strong analytical skills to create and interpret reports.
• CRM Proficiency: Experience with CRM systems and other sales tools.

Soft Skills

• Disciplined and Motivated: Highly driven with a strong sense of purpose.
• Empowering and Coaching Orientation: Passion for developing team members.
• Creative Problem Solving: Openness to experimenting with novel approaches.
• Feedback-Oriented and Coachable: Actively seeks feedback and strives for continuous improvement.
• Adaptable: Able to quickly adjust to new challenges.
• Collaborative Mindset: Works well with cross-functional teams.

Why Proton:

• Work with the best – Hiring at Proton is extremely selective.
• Grow with us – We provide opportunities for rapid career advancement.
• Do work that matters – Proton’s services are at the forefront of defending freedom and democracy.
• Be part of a movement – Proton is not just world-class products and services; we are also leaders of a broader community-driven movement.
• Benefits – In addition to flexible working hours and career growth support, Proton offers other benefits such as free lunch at the office.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Proton, we believe diversity drives innovation and strengthens our mission to provide privacy as a default for all. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals feel valued and empowered.