Head of Strategic Sales, EMEA in London

Head of Strategic Sales, EMEA in London

London Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Paddle

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead Paddle's EMEA sales team and drive strategic growth in the SaaS market.
  • Company: Join Paddle, a leading payments infrastructure provider for digital product companies.
  • Benefits: Enjoy unlimited holidays, remote work options, and a strong focus on personal development.
  • Other info: Embrace a diverse and inclusive culture where every voice matters.
  • Why this job: Be at the forefront of transforming payment solutions for ambitious tech companies.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in leading sales teams and driving revenue growth in SaaS.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

Paddle offers digital product companies a completely different approach to their payment infrastructure. Instead of assembling and maintaining a complex stack of payments-related apps and services, we’re a Merchant of Record for our customers. That means we take away 100% of the pain of payment fragmentation. It’s faster, safer, cheaper, and, above all, way better. We’re backed by investors including KKR, FTV Capital, Kindred, Notion, and 83North and serve over 6000 software sellers in 245 territories globally.

The Opportunity: Paddle is entering its next chapter of growth, and we're looking for a strategic sales leader to own it in EMEA. This is not a management role for the faint-hearted. We're looking for someone who has seen great, built great, and can walk the walk - an operator who can align the team around a compelling vision for how Paddle wins in the upmarket segment, and then roll up their sleeves to make it happen alongside their team.

You will lead Paddle's Upmarket GTM motion across EMEA, working with some of the fastest growing SaaS, mobile app and AI scale ups such as n8n, Codeway and Runna. These are ambitious, high-velocity businesses navigating global expansion, monetisation complexity, and billing infrastructure decisions that will define their next decade of growth. You'll position Paddle as the strategic partner of choice at exactly that moment.

The Role: You will own and lead Paddle's EMEA Upmarket sales team, building up a team of 5 IC's comprising new business hunters and portfolio account farmers; winning net new logos & expanding a rich set of existing Paddle accounts where we hold partial wallet share but have significant runway to expand brand capture, increase share of wallet, and extend geographic ownership. You own the number. Bookings and revenue. Delivering it through the effective leadership of your team and your own direct, hands-on contribution. This role sits at the intersection of strategy, cross-functional choreography, & best in class execution. The best candidate will be someone who can operate at all three levels simultaneously, not just one.

What you'll do:

  • Develop and lead a Best-in-Class Upmarket GTM Motion: Design and execute a territory development strategy that maximises Paddle's presence across the highest-potential SaaS, mobile apps and AI scale ups in EMEA.
  • Act as the glue in a cross-functional go-to-market effort across marketing, events, partnerships, solution engineering, and executive sponsorship - ensuring every major deal has the full force of Paddle behind it.
  • Create repeatable, scalable playbooks for both new business acquisition and portfolio expansion.
  • Own the Number and Drive Performance: Take full accountability for EMEA Upmarket bookings and revenue targets.
  • Maintain a rigorous and forward-looking view of pipeline health, forecast accuracy, and deal velocity.
  • Be a hands-on contributor - running your own strategic deals in parallel with leading the team.
  • Develop & Coach the Craft of Strategic Value Selling: Coach and develop your team in multi-threaded, executive-level selling - moving conversations beyond product features to business outcomes and strategic partnership.
  • Drive great deal execution: structured qualification, strong commercial discipline, and decisive close plans.
  • Build a culture of continuous improvement, with a high bar for what 'great' looks like in discovery, storytelling, and negotiation.
  • Expand and Protect Paddle's Portfolio Accounts: Partner with your farming AEs, working closely with CSMs to identify and execute expansion opportunities within existing accounts - increasing share of wallet, geographic reach, and product adoption.
  • Serve as an executive sponsor on key accounts, building deep relationships with CFOs, CTOs, and Founders.
  • Work closely with Customer Success, Solutions Engineering, and Product to close the loop between what customers need and what Paddle builds.
  • Lead the Cross-Functional Revenue Team: Act as the connective tissue between Sales, Marketing, Events, Partnerships, and Exec leadership - ensuring EMEA Strategic sales moves as a coordinated, high-performance unit.
  • Represent the voice of the EMEA upmarket customer internally, feeding commercial insight into product roadmap and strategic decisions.
  • Deliver rigorous Quarterly Business Reviews that provide customers with actionable intelligence on pricing strategy, checkout optimisation, and tax compliance.

What You'll Bring: A track record of building and leading high-performing sales teams in competitive, complex, enterprise or upmarket SaaS environments. Proven strategic closing experience in tech, SaaS, and/or billing/payments, with demonstrable success driving revenue growth across both new business and expansion motions. Deep segment fluency - you understand the world of web-native and app-native SaaS scale-ups: their growth pressures, their infrastructure decisions, and what makes Paddle's model genuinely differentiated. GTM architecture skills - you've built territory strategies, influenced pipeline generation, and run cross-functional go-to-market programmes at scale. Strategic value selling credentials - you sell business outcomes, not features. You understand how billing infrastructure decisions compound into bottom-line GMV impact. Operator mindset - you're as comfortable building a coaching framework for your team as you are running a complex, multi-stakeholder deal yourself. Collaborative leadership style - you excel at bringing together CS, Solutions Engineering, Marketing, and Legal to execute at the highest level.

Why This Role, Why Now? Paddle is uniquely positioned at the intersection of payments infrastructure, billing intelligence, and global compliance. For the fastest-growing SaaS companies in EMEA, the decision of how to monetise globally is one of the most consequential they'll make. This role puts you at the centre of those conversations, with a market-leading product, a world-class team, and the full backing of Paddle's leadership to build something exceptional.

Everyone is welcome at Paddle. At Paddle, we’re committed to removing invisible barriers, both for our customers and within our own teams. We recognise and celebrate that every Paddler is unique and we welcome every individual perspective. As an inclusive employer we don’t care if, or where, you studied, what you look like or where you’re from. We’re more interested in your craft, curiosity, passion for learning and what you’ll add to our culture. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t match every part of the job ad, especially if you’re part of an underrepresented group. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to better support you through the application process and in the workplace. We will do everything we can to support any accommodations needed. We’re committed to building a diverse team where everyone feels safe to be their authentic self. Let’s grow together.

Our Values: Paddle Together - “None of us, is as smart as all of us” Paddle Simply - “Simple can be harder than complex: you have to get your thinking clean to make it simple” Paddle for others - “We can realise our wildest dreams, so long as we help enough other people to realise theirs.”

Why you’ll love working at Paddle: We are a diverse, growing group of Paddlers across the globe who pride ourselves on our transparent, collaborative and respectful culture. We are a ‘digital-first’ company, which means you can work remotely, from one of our stylish hubs, or even a bit of both! We offer all team members unlimited holidays and 4 months paid family leave regardless of gender. We invest in learning and will help you with your personal development via constant exposure to new challenges, an annual learning fund, and regular internal and external training.

Head of Strategic Sales, EMEA in London employer: Paddle

Paddle is an exceptional employer that champions a transparent and collaborative culture, offering its employees the flexibility to work remotely or from stylish hubs. With unlimited holidays, generous family leave, and a strong commitment to personal development through continuous learning opportunities, Paddle fosters an environment where every individual can thrive and contribute to meaningful growth in the dynamic EMEA market.

Paddle

Contact Details:

Paddle Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Strategic Sales, EMEA in London

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 Head of Strategic Sales, EMEA at Paddle, 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 Paddle. Tailor your message to explain why you’re drawn to them and how you can contribute as a Head of Strategic Sales, EMEA. Sometimes, a personal touch can grab attention faster than a generic application!

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Strategic Sales, EMEA in London

Strategic Sales Leadership
GTM Strategy Development
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Revenue Growth Management
Account Management
Coaching and Development
Negotiation Skills

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 Paddle:When writing your cover letter, make sure to tailor your message specifically for Paddle. 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 Paddle

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 Paddle 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 Paddle 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 Paddle’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.