Strategic Account Executive

About Astound Astound is a leading provider of internet, WiFi, mobile, and TV services, dedicated to connecting communities and empowering lives through innovative technology. We keep businesses connected with dependable fiber infrastructure and internet solutions backed by award‑winning service, helping organizations thrive in an increasingly connected world. We invest in our people through personalized training, coaching, and a supportive work environment that fosters growth and opportunity. Our commitment to excellence extends beyond infrastructure and includes a robust benefits package. A Day in the Life of the Strategic Account Executive – GEMS The Strategic Account Executive – GEMS is responsible for driving revenue growth and long‑term relationships within the Government, Education, Medical, and Strategic sectors. This role focuses on high‑value, complex telecommunications solutions, including voice, data, cloud, and managed services, tailored to the unique needs of public and institutional clients. Responsibilities Develop and execute strategic account plans for key GEMS clients. Identify opportunities for upselling and cross‑selling services tailored to each vertical. Proactively call assigned customers to coordinate periodic business reviews as defined by customer. Build strong, long‑term relationships with decision‑makers, procurement teams, and technical stakeholders. Act as the single point of contact for assigned accounts. Actively manage upcoming contract expirations and track/report renewal success rate. Serve as the primary contact and key point of escalation for post‑sale issues that arise and own communication to customer through final resolution. Consultatively sell complex solutions including fiber, wireless, IP networking, VoIP, unified communications, security, and cloud services. Lead the RFP/RFI process, ensuring competitive and compliant proposals. Negotiate contracts in alignment with client requirements and company policy. Review existing contracted services and ensure customer has copies of contracts, circuit IDs and key personnel contact information for support departments within Astound (NOC, Billing and Care). Stay informed on GEMS sector trends, procurement cycles, funding mechanisms (e.g., E‑Rate, government grants), and compliance requirements. Engage internal stakeholders and collaborate with sales representative to assist as needed for installation updates and general customer follow‑up. Provide periodic updates to leadership detailing best practice on customer experience initiatives needed to guarantee positive outcome for customer and Astound. Meet or exceed quarterly and annual sales targets, including new revenue, renewals, and retention KPIs. Travel quarterly and/or periodically within footprint for customer meetings. Other duties as assigned. Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience in sales. Minimum 8 years track record of success selling to large business with technical solution. 5+ years’ experience in systems selling, consultative sales techniques, and account planning including account profiling, account positioning strategy, customer needs analysis, sales opportunity development, service improvement planning, and long‑range account management strategies. Demonstrated success in telecommunications and internet sales to end‑user customers, including strategic and large business customers and government accounts using relationship management and system sales concepts. Ability to sell to C‑level executives within an organization. Professional business acumen in funnel management and forecasting in a CRM environment. Product knowledge of both switched and dedicated services, as well as associated end‑user and carrier applications. Salesforce or CRM experience preferred. Operational understanding of telecommunications ordering, provisioning, and billing processes. Working knowledge of general marketing principle tools and processes as well as reviewing complex legal documents; including master service agreements, service level agreements and non‑disclosure agreements. Skills necessary for decision making and maintaining customer retention. Strong interpersonal skills. Detail‑oriented and highly organized with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Benefits 401(k) retirement plan, with employer match. Medical, dental, vision, life and STD insurance. Paid Time Off/Vacation: Starting at 80 hours per year, and increases based on tenure. Floating Holiday: 40 hours per year. Paid Holidays: 7 days per year. Paid Sick Leave: Astound allows a number of paid sick hours per calendar year and varies based on state and/or local laws. Tuition reimbursement program. Employee discount program. Compensation Base salary range: $90,000 plus opportunities for bonus, benefits and commission. Targeted commissions at full attainment are $42,000 annually. Total compensation offers the potential for significant upside above targeted earnings for those who overachieve their sales targets. Equal Opportunity Employment Astound is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to cultivating an inclusive workplace where employees feel valued, respected, and empowered. Discrimination of any kind has no place here. We provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship, or other status or characteristic protected by applicable law. For San Francisco candidates, we will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Change Ordinance. #J-18808-Ljbffr