Startup Sales Strategy Manager (Chicago)

To get the best candidate experience, please consider applying for a maximum of 3 roles within 12 months to ensure you are not duplicating efforts.Job CategoryOperationsJob DetailsAbout SalesforceSalesforce is the #1 AI CRM, where humans with agents drive customer success together. Here, ambition meets action. Tech meets trust. And innovation isn’t a buzzword — it’s a way of life. The world of work as we know it is changing and we're looking for Trailblazers who are passionate about bettering business and the world through AI, driving innovation, and keeping Salesforce's core values at the heart of it all.Ready to level-up your career at the company leading workforce transformation in the agentic era? You’re in the right place! Agentforce is the future of AI, and you are the future of Salesforce.Launchpad — our startups program — is growing, and with that growth comes the need to build the operational foundation that makes everything else possible. This is a high-impact, infrastructure-building role that sits at the intersection of strategy, data, and operations. You will work directly with the Head of Startups and collaborate closely with the broader Sales Strategy and Launchpad teams to design, build, and scale the systems, processes, and artifacts that power Launchpad's go-to-market motion.This is not a role for someone who wants to be handed a playbook. You'll be creating the playbook. You'll connect the dots between territory planning, forecasting dashboards, business plans, deal tracking, and GTM strategy — ensuring that the decisions we make in one area are reflected correctly across all others. You'll bring both operational rigor and strategic curiosity, and you'll embrace AI-native, agent-first ways of working to build processes that are efficient and scalable from day one.If you're someone who thrives in ambiguity, loves building structure from scratch, and wants to grow into a strategic leader — this is your role.ResponsibilitiesOperational Infrastructure & Process DesignBuild the foundational SOPs, governance frameworks, and operational systems for the Launchpad teamOwn and streamline key operational processes currently distributed across the team — including deal tagging, SDR program process management, territory management, and data workflowsOwn the tracking and reporting of team ACV attainment and target status, partnering with leadership to ensure accuracy in compensation modeling and performance metricsIdentify inefficiencies and redesign processes to be scalable, AI-native, and agent-friendlyEnsure that team processes connect coherently — so territory maps, forecasting dashboards, business plans, and GTM strategies reflect one consistent source of truthData, Dashboards & AnalyticsOwn the design and maintenance of Launchpad dashboards, including startup portfolio performance tracking, fundraising status monitoring, AOV reporting, and pipeline healthBuild and manage a structured data architecture for our startup universe — connecting total addressable startup data to Launchpad portfolio data, cross-referenced with big bets, event relationships, and business plansPartner with the Sales Strategy team to align Launchpad dashboards and reporting with the broader G4G (Go for Growth) planning cycle and Salesforce territory management standardsUse Salesforce CRM, Tableau, and related tools to produce reporting that drives real decisions — not just snapshotsStrategy Enablement & StorytellingBuild and maintain core team artifacts: internal strategy decks, walking packs, first call decks, and business plansTranslate data and operational insights into compelling narratives for senior Salesforce leadership and PE/VC partnersAct as a thought partner to the Head of Startups on how operational decisions connect to the broader team strategySupport the execution of the annual planning cycle in alignment with broader business cadenceCross-Functional CollaborationManage and evolve existing SDR program processes — building on established foundations to drive scalePartner with the team on data collection, forecasting models, and territory mapping to ensure dashboards reflect ground truthWork with the Launchpad team to connect marketing contacts, event data, and startup relationships into a coherent view of the ecosystemBuild strong working relationships across Sales Strategy, Finance, Marketing, and Operations to bring the best internal resources to the Launchpad teamRequired Experience5–8 years of experience in Sales Strategy, Sales Operations, Business Operations, Strategy & Operations, or a related field — ideally within enterprise tech or a high-growth environmentDeep familiarity with Salesforce CRM — including how territories, dashboards, reporting, and data structures connect and interact; understanding of G4G, territory management, and operational planning cyclesStrong data skills — ability to design and build dashboards, synthesize large datasets into actionable insights, and communicate findings clearly to senior stakeholders. Advanced analytics experience — Tableau, SQL, or similar strongly preferred.Exceptional storytelling and communication skills — you can turn complex operational data into a crisp, executive-ready narrativeDemonstrated experience building operational processes and SOPs from scratch, not just inheriting and maintaining existing onesStrong program and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams across a distributed teamHigh tolerance for ambiguity; someone who can take directional strategy and translate it into concrete systems and execution plansA growth mindset — someone who is actively thinking about how their operational work ladder up to strategic outcomes, and who wants to grow into a strategic leadership role over timeSelf-starter with strong work ethic and leadership qualities aligned with Salesforce's core valuesAI-curious and tool-forward — you default to asking how can we make this scalable and automated? before building something manuallyDesired ExperienceExperience at a top-tier consulting firm, investment bank, or in a Sales Strategy/RevOps role at a fast growing AI native startupFamiliarity with the venture capital or startup ecosystem — understanding of how VC firms operate, what portfolio company growth looks like, and how enterprise software fits inExperience building internal enablement materials, training programs, or GTM infrastructure for sales teamsDegree in Economics, Finance, Business, Computer Science, or a related field from a strong institution*LI-YUnleash Your PotentialWhen you join Salesforce, you’ll be limitless in all areas of your life. Our benefits and resources support you to find balance and be your best, and our AI agents accelerate your impact so you can do your best. Together, we’ll bring the power of Agentforce to organizations of all sizes and deliver amazing experiences that customers love. Apply today to not only shape the future — but to redefine what’s possible — for yourself, for AI, and the world.AccommodationsIf you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or the recruiting process, please submit a request via this Accommodations Request Form.Please note that Salesforce uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help our recruiters assess and evaluate candidates’ resumes and qualifications throughout the recruiting process. Humans will always make any candidate selection and hiring decisions. Please see our Candidate Privacy Statement for more information about how we use your personal data and your rights, including with regard to use of AI tools and opt out options.Posting StatementSalesforce is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a policy of non-discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. What does that mean exactly? It means that at Salesforce, we believe in equality for all. And we believe we can lead the path to equality in part by creating a workplace that’s inclusive, and free from discrimination. Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal. Any employee or potential employee will be assessed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications – without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, age, disability, veteran or marital status, political viewpoint, or other classifications protected by law. This policy applies to current and prospective employees, no matter where they are in their Salesforce employment journey. It also applies to recruiting, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, assessment of job performance, discipline, termination, and everything in between. Recruiting, hiring, and promotion decisions at Salesforce are fair and based on merit. The same goes for compensation, benefits, promotions, transfers, reduction in workforce, recall, training, and education.In the United States, compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, job level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, and benefits. Salesforce offers a variety of benefits to help you live well including: time off programs, medical, dental, vision, mental health support, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, 401(k), and an employee stock purchasing program. More details about company benefits can be found at the following link: to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance and the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, Salesforce will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.At Salesforce, we believe in equitable compensation practices that reflect the dynamic nature of labor markets across various regions.

The typical base salary range for this position is $123,100 - $186,300 annually. In select citi]]> <