Handshake
Strategic Account Executive
Edtech.com's Summary
- Drive new business by landing net new Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 employers.
- Manage end-to-end sales cycle including account planning, executive alignment, negotiation, and closing.
- Proactively build pipeline through outbound outreach and strong account planning skills.
- Close complex six-figure deals involving multiple stakeholders and longer sales cycles.
- 4+ years of SaaS closing experience, with 2+ years in enterprise or strategic customer sales.
- Strong ability to lead executive-level conversations and run a disciplined sales process independently.
- Willingness to travel regularly for in-person selling, customer events, and relationship-building.
- Bonus for experience selling HR tech, recruiting software, or workforce solutions into large enterprises.
- Offers equity, competitive compensation, 401(k) match, paid parental leave, health benefits, wellness stipend, learning stipend, flexible PTO, and other employee benefits.
- Works with a large customer base including 1 million+ employers and 1,600+ educational institutions.
Strategic Account Executive Full Description
About Handshake
Handshake was founded on a simple belief that everyone deserves a path to a great career, regardless of where they went to school or who they know. Today, we power 25 million job seekers, 1 million+ employers, and 1,600 educational institutions.
In 2025, we started Handshake AI and built the fastest-growing AI data business in history. We work directly with frontier AI lab researchers to create evaluations, publish benchmarks, and push the boundary of data. Weâve grown from $0 to ~$1B run rate and pay ~$60M to over 30K individuals every month.
Why join Handshake now:
Shape how every career evolves in the AI economy, at global scale, with impact your friends, family and peers can see and feel
Partner hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the worldâs top educational institutions
Work together with engineers, scientists, operators, and more from Palantir, Meta, Scale AI, and former YC founders
Build a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenue
The Role
Weâre hiring a Strategic Account Executive to join our Strategic New Business team, focused on landing net new Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 employers that do not yet partner with Handshake. This is a pure hunter role, built for a seller who thrives in high-visibility deal cycles, creates pipeline through proactive outreach, and can close complex six-figure partnerships with senior HR and business leaders.
You will inherit a defined book named accounts and own the full sales cycle end to end, from account planning and first meetings through executive alignment, negotiation, and close. You will operate with high autonomy and minimal support, and you will be expected to travel, host customers, and win in the room.
You Have
Must-Haves:
4+ years of SaaS closing experience, including 2+ years selling into enterprise or strategic customers
Proven track record of net new logo acquisition and consistent quota attainment (Presidentâs Club strongly preferred)
Experience closing complex six-figure deals with multiple stakeholders and longer sales cycles
Strong outbound and account planning skills, with comfort owning a defined book and building pipeline proactively
Ability to lead executive-level conversations, position value, and run a disciplined sales process end to end
High ownership and scrappiness, with comfort creating your own materials and running your own demos without heavy support
Strong forecasting hygiene and deal management discipline across monthly and quarterly rhythms
Willingness to travel regularly and engage in in-person selling, customer events, and relationship-building
Bonus Points:
Experience selling HR tech, recruiting software, or workforce solutions into Fortune 500 employers
Background as an enterprise AE with 2 to 5 years tenure looking to step up into strategic new business
Existing relationships with senior HR, TA, or early talent leaders at large employers
We Offer
Handshake delivers benefits that help you feel supported and thrive at work and in life.
The below benefits are for full-time US employees.
ð¯ Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing company
ð° Financial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coaching
ð¼ Family Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coaching
ð Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, $500 wellness stipend
ð Growth: $2,000 learning stipend, ongoing development
ð» Remote & Office: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office
ð Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex days
ð¤ Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses
Explore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.
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