At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sales operations across EMEA and APAC, driving planning, forecasting, and reporting.
- Company: Join Chainguard, a fast-growing tech company with a global reach.
- Benefits: Enjoy equity options, unlimited PTO, remote work, and comprehensive health coverage.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with international teams and grow your career in a high-growth setting.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in a dynamic environment while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in sales operations and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 99000 - 121000 £ per year.
Chainguard’s international business is past the proving stage — the teams, the motion, and the early wins are in place across both EMEA and APAC. We’re looking for a Director, Sales Operations to run the operational engine behind it. You’ll lead our existing sales operations team and own the planning, forecasting, territory design, reporting, and process rigor that keep a multi-country, multi-segment, multi-timezone business running at speed.
You’ll act as the direct revenue operations partner to our GVP, EMEA, our RVP, APAC, and their VPs, reporting into our global Revenue Operations leader — inheriting global standards and systems and adapting them for the realities of selling across UK&I, DACH, the Nordics, France, Benelux, Southern Europe, the Middle East, ANZ, Japan, India, and ASEAN. This is a role for someone who wants to own two regions end-to-end while staying tightly connected to a global function.
- Lead, coach, and develop the existing Sales Operations team supporting EMEA and APAC — set priorities, raise the bar on quality, and grow the team as both regions scale.
- Serve as the direct revenue operations partner to the GVP, EMEA, and the RVP, APAC, and their leadership teams — the single point of accountability for planning, forecasting, reporting, and operational decision support across both regions.
- Sit in both the EMEA and APAC leadership rhythms: attend and shape leadership meetings, staff meetings, and QBRs, and bring the data and recommendations that let the GVP, the RVP, and their leaders make calls quickly and confidently.
- Extend that partnership down the org to regional VPs and front-line managers, while acting as the EMEA and APAC voice inside the global GTM Operations function.
- Own annual and in-year territory design across both regions — carve equitable, data-backed territories spanning UK&I, DACH, Nordics, France, Benelux, Southern Europe, the Middle East, ANZ, Japan, India, and ASEAN, accounting for language, entity, segment, and account-potential differences.
- Run capacity and coverage modeling for EMEA and APAC: headcount plans, ramp assumptions, quota allocation, and productivity targets tied to the company financial plan — including how a maturing EMEA business and an earlier-stage APAC business warrant different assumptions.
- Own the forecast cadence for both regions — weekly pipeline inspection, forecast calls, roll-up accuracy, and the narrative that goes to global sales and finance leadership.
- Deliver the operating reporting rhythm for both regions: weekly performance, monthly business reviews, QBRs, and EMEA and APAC inputs to Board materials — surfacing the trends that materially affect the growth trajectory.
- Own pipeline health and funnel analytics end-to-end: conversion rates by stage, segment, region, and country; source and campaign contribution; win/loss patterns; and the levers behind each.
- Drive data integrity and hygiene standards in Salesforce and the broader GTM stack across both regions — account ownership, hierarchy, segmentation, and reporting fields that hold up under scrutiny.
- Partner with global GTM Operations on system and process changes, ensuring EMEA and APAC requirements are represented and that regional adaptations don’t fragment the global architecture.
- Support sales compensation execution for both regions in partnership with global Sales Ops and Finance — plan rollout, quota letters, and accurate, on-time attainment reporting.
- Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, BDR, Customer Success, Finance, and Legal to remove friction from the EMEA and APAC GTM process.
- Maintain governance and rules of engagement across EMEA and APAC teams and segments, and arbitrate cleanly when coverage or credit questions arise.
- Bring region-specific operational requirements — data residency, GDPR and APAC privacy regimes, and local entity and currency considerations — into process and reporting design in partnership with Legal and Finance.
Benefits:
- Equity/stock options
- Unlimited PTO
- Remote work with flexible coworking and team meetup opportunities
- Home office and internet stipend
- 100% health/dental/vision insurance coverage for you and your family
Requirements:
- Hands-on, expert-level Salesforce fluency — reporting, data models, process design, and the judgment to know what belongs in the CRM and what doesn’t — is a must.
- Comfort with international operating complexity: multiple currencies, legal entities, languages, data privacy regimes, and a working day that spans EMEA and APAC timezones.
- Willingness to travel across EMEA and APAC and to the US for QBRs and planning cycles (~25%).
- Working knowledge of the modern GTM stack (Salesforce, Outreach, Gong, HubSpot, CPQ, Sigma/Tableau/Looker) and a strong aptitude for picking up new tools.
- Proven ability to support multiple regional leaders at once with different levels of business maturity, without defaulting to whichever one is loudest.
- A track record of running a forecast cadence that sales leadership trusts, with measurable improvement in forecast accuracy, is a must.
- Demonstrated success as the trusted operations partner to senior revenue leaders (GVP/VP/GM level) — able to earn a seat in the leadership rhythm, tell them what they need to hear, and be relied on for the numbers.
- Experience with SQL or building data models directly is a plus but not required.
- Demonstrated ownership of multi-country international territory design, quota allocation, and capacity planning is a must — EMEA experience is essential, APAC exposure is a strong plus.
- Self-starter who flourishes in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and can hold multiple priorities without dropping any.
- Proven experience managing and developing a sales operations team is a must.
- Strong analytical foundation: able to break ambiguous problems into concrete components and land on a defensible recommendation.
- Deep Sales, Revenue, or GTM Operations experience, including significant time in high-growth Enterprise B2B SaaS, is a must.
- Excellent communicator who can move between a front-line manager’s pipeline question and an executive-level narrative without changing the underlying facts.
- Experience operating as a regional leader inside a globally managed function — comfortable inheriting standards, pushing back where they don’t fit, and not fragmenting the system.
- Public sector or regulated-industry GTM operations experience is a plus but not required.
Director of Sales Operations (EMEA & APJ) employer: Chainguard
At Chainguard, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to thrive. As a Senior Solutions Architect, you will not only have the opportunity to lead impactful projects in the realm of open source security but also benefit from continuous professional development and a supportive team environment. With the flexibility of remote work and a commitment to employee growth, Chainguard is an excellent employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in technology.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Sales Operations (EMEA & APJ)
✨Leverage Your Network
In sales and business development, who you know can often be as important as what you know. Get involved with local networking events or industry meetups to connect with key players. Don't be shy—share your passion for the field and let folks know you're on the lookout for opportunities!
✨Show Your Skills Through Real-World Results
When targeting a full-time role like Director of Sales Operations (EMEA & APJ) at Chainguard, presenting tangible results from your previous sales experience can set you apart. Bring along case studies or examples of how you've closed deals or expanded accounts, and don't forget to showcase your problem-solving prowess. It’s all about quantifying your success!
✨Engage with Sales Communities
Dive deep into online sales communities, like Sales Hacker or LinkedIn groups dedicated to sales professionals. Engaging in discussions and sharing insights can boost your visibility and might just put you on the radar of hiring managers looking for fresh talent in business development.
✨Direct Applications Matter
While we all know the online application route, consider sending direct applications to companies you admire, including Chainguard. Tailor your message to explain why you’re drawn to them and how you can contribute as a Director of Sales Operations (EMEA & APJ). Sometimes, a personal touch can grab attention faster than a generic application!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Sales Operations (EMEA & APJ)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Those Sales Skills:In your CV and cover letter, highlight any previous sales or business development experience you have. Use numbers and examples to showcase your achievements – did you exceed sales targets or bring in new clients? Make those accomplishments shine!
Tailor Your Message for Chainguard:When writing your cover letter, make sure to tailor your message specifically for Chainguard. Show that you know the company’s mission and how your skills align with their goals in the sales landscape. This personalised touch will grab their attention!
Keep It Professional Yet Engaging:Sales is all about relationships, so while you want to maintain professionalism in your application, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. Engage the reader and demonstrate your enthusiastic approach to sales and business development!
Proof of Performance:Include any relevant certifications or training you’ve undertaken in sales or negotiation tactics. If you’ve attended workshops or courses, list these to showcase your commitment to professional development. This extra touch can set you apart from the competition!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chainguard
✨Know Your Sales Methodologies
Brush up on popular sales methodologies like SPIN Selling or Challenger Sales. Being able to discuss these techniques and how you've applied them will show Chainguard that you understand the role and can hit the ground running in the sales game.
✨Demonstrate Your Deal-Making Skills
Prepare to share stories from your past experiences where you closed deals, overcame objections, or started new client relationships. We want to show Chainguard that you’re not just about numbers but also about building lasting connections in business development.
✨Prepare for Role-Play Scenarios
In a full-time sales interview, don’t be surprised if they throw in a role-play exercise to test your pitching skills. Practising how you would pitch a product or handle an objection will help us shine in this simulation—think of it like a dress rehearsal for your future sales calls!
✨Align Your Goals with the Company’s Vision
Take a moment to reflect on how your career ambitions align with Chainguard’s objectives. When we articulate how our personal growth ties in with the company’s goals, it shows commitment and a genuine interest in contributing to their success.