We believe in using space to help life on Earth.This constellation delivers an unprecedented dataset of empirical information via a revolutionary cloud-based platform to authoritative figures in commercial, environmental, and humanitarian sectors. We are both a space company and data company all rolled into one.Customers and users across the globe use Planet's data to develop new technologies, drive revenue, power research, and solve our world’s toughest obstacles.As we control every component of hardware design, manufacturing, data processing, and software engineering, our office is a truly inspiring mix of experts from a variety of domains.We have a people-centric approach toward culture and community and we strive to iterate in a way that puts our team members first and prepares our company for growth. Planet is a global company with employees working remotely world wide and joining us from offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.About the Role: Based in London, the Director NATO & Nordics will be responsible for leading our regional sales organization, driving Planet’s Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy, and accelerating revenue growth across national security, defense, and government sectors.As a people manager and business leader, you will own the regional revenue target, drive executive alignment, and establish disciplined pipeline governance to ensure forecast predictability. You will be responsible for building, mentoring, and coaching a team of direct reports—fostering a culture of accountability, operational excellence, and continuous professional development. In addition to team development, you will architect large-scale strategic programs, lead high-stakes commercial negotiations, and scale partner ecosystems to penetrate priority markets. The ideal candidate is an accomplished sales leader with deep defense domain expertise and a track record of managing high-performing teams across Alliance structures and Northern European markets. You will bring an established executive network spanning NATO HQ, allied Defense Ministries, Armed Forces Commands, Intelligence Agencies, and key European Prime Contractors/System Integrators. Combining strategic commercial acumen with an understanding of collective defense and national security priorities, you will position Planet as a trusted capability provider for mission-critical operations.This is a full-time, hybrid role which will require you to work from our London office 3 days per week.Forecast Governance & Predictability: Maintain rigorous pipeline hygiene (Salesforce.com) and deliver accurate, data-driven revenue forecasts to executive leadership through disciplined deal inspection and pipeline management.Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing sales team, establishing a culture of accountability, operational excellence, and continuous professional development.Train and inspect direct reports on core sales methodologies and capture frameworks (e.g., MEDDPICC, Shipley), coaching them on deal qualification, stakeholder mapping, and win strategies.Talent Bench & Scaling: Proactively recruit, onboard, and retain elite commercial and defense-domain talent to build a solid talent bench as the regional footprint expands.Cross-Functional Matrix Alignment: Orchestrate seamless collaboration across internal matrix teams including Government Affairs, Product, Engineering, and Field Marketing to align corporate capabilities with regional market opportunities.Technical & Post-Sales Win Alignment: Partner closely with Pre-Sales/Solutions Engineering to secure technical wins, and collaborate with Post-Sales teams to ensure flawless customer onboarding, retention, and long-term expansion.Deal Cadence & Executive Escalation: Communicate deal velocity transparently across internal business units, mobilizing executive sponsorship and cross-functional support when needed to de-risk complex pursuits.What You Bring:8+ years of relevant work experience and 6+ years supervisory / leadership experience, with a track record of driving revenue growth, building high-performing teams, and consistently exceeding multi-million-dollar individual and team quotas.Ability to recruit, mentor, and retain top-tier talent, instilling a high-accountability culture and coaching direct reports through complex, multi-year deal cycles.Deep experience establishing pipeline discipline, accurate revenue forecasting, and thorough deal inspection using Salesforce.com and modern sales methodologies (e.g., An established, C-level network across Defense Ministries, Intelligence Agencies, Allied Commands, and European Defense Primes / System Integrators.Deep understanding of how commercial technology and advanced data feeds support Allied posture, sovereign defense, intelligence, and ISR missions.Success collaborating across internal matrixed teams (Government Affairs, Product, Engineering, Legal) to align corporate capabilities with regional opportunities.A strategic, self-directed leader with commercial judgment, adept at leading teams through dynamic, high-growth, or startup-like market environments.Professional working proficiency in English, the language of the company.What Makes You Stand Out:5+ years of progressive sales leadership and enterprise business development experience within the defense, national security, or government technology sectors, with a track record of building high-performing teams and consistently exceeding revenue targets.Experience managing complex, multi-year deal cycles, with the ability to lead sales teams through disciplined capture frameworks, pipeline governance, and accurate revenue forecasting.Professional proficiency in a Nordic language (Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Danish) is a plus for engaging senior government ministers, military command leadership, and internal executives.This posting may be removed earlier than projected if a suitable pool of applications has been received. S. export-controlled information at Planet under an export license issued by the Bureau of Industry and Security. S. and German/EU export-controlled information, and as such, employment (or hiring of a contractor) is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by German, EU, or U.These offerings are dependent on employment type and geographical location, based upon applicable law or company policy.Paid time off including vacation, holidays and company-wide days off Employee Wellness Program Home Office ReimbursementMonthly Phone and Internet ReimbursementTuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn LearningEquity Volunteering Paid Time OffCompensation:The expected starting gross salary range for this role is listed below. This position may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or equity.We’re dedicated to helping the whole Planet, and to do that we must strive to represent all of it within each of our offices and on all of our teams. That’s why Planet is guided by an ultimate north star of Belonging—dreaming big as we approach our ongoing work. We don’t just fill positions, we aspire to fulfill people’s careers, most excited about folks who are motivated by our underlying humanitarian efforts. Planet is committed to building a community where everyone belongs and we invite people from all backgrounds to apply. Planet is an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Accommodations: Planet is an inclusive community and we know that everyone has their own needs. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation during the hiring process, please reach out to accommodations@planet.Privacy Policy: By clicking "Apply Now" at the top of this job posting, I acknowledge that I have read the Planet Data Privacy Notice for California Staff Members and Applicants, and hereby consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of my personal information as described therein.Privacy Policy (European Applicants): By clicking "Apply Now" at the top of this job posting, I acknowledge that I have read the Candidate Privacy Notice GDPR Planet Labs Europe, and hereby consent to the collection, processing, use, and storage of my personal information as described therein.As such, with the candidate's consent, select interviews may be recorded and include a "Planet AI Notetaker" for transcription and summarization purposes. Candidate AI Policy: Planet embraces Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, and we encourage its responsible use. Large Language Models (LLMs), deep fake technology, etc.—If an AI tool or similar technology is desired as an accommodation, please contact accommodations@planet.Violation of this policy may result in disqualification of your application.
Head of Worldwide Commercial Sales Field in London employer: Planet Labs
At Planet, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a people-centric culture and prioritises employee growth. With a hybrid work model based in vibrant cities like Berlin and London, we offer competitive benefits including wellness programmes, tuition reimbursement, and opportunities for equity volunteering, all while working towards our mission of using space to improve life on Earth. Join us to be part of a diverse team dedicated to innovation and making a meaningful impact in the world.
