Account Executive

Description

We're looking for an market leader who wants to own the Baton Rouge and surrounding regional markets and build a book of recurring managed services clients. Your main goal is closing managed services deals: monthly agreements for managed IT, security, application support and Managed Intelligence, our managed AI service. AI and app development projects open the door, and every proposal you write includes a managed services option. You'll get leads from our marketing, our business development team and our partners, including Microsoft, and you'll work them fast. But the best sellers in this market also build their own pipeline, are active in the community and are known by name. You'll do both.About SparkhoundSparkhound is an AI-forward technology company: we advise, we build, and we run what we build. For more than 25 years we've helped Gulf South organizations put technology to work, from strategy through the day-to-day.

• AI that does real work. AI strategy, governance and readiness, Microsoft Copilot and generative AI, and AI agents. One client's agents now process 82% of its benefit plan claims.
• Apps built for how you work.Custom and low-code applications on Microsoft 365, Power Platform and Azure. Recent work includes a Copilot Studio search assistant across 140,000+ product descriptions and a document and search platform that saves a client $200,000 a year.
• Managed services, now including AI. Managed IT, security and help desk backed by a 24/7 NOC, plus Managed Intelligence, our new service that runs a client's AI tools and agents month to month so they keep delivering after launch.

Headquartered in Baton Rouge, with offices in Birmingham and Houston. Big enough to deliver. Close enough for lunch. The people who design our clients' solutions are the same people who build and support them. Results, Not Regrets.What you'll do

• Work every lead fast. Contact new leads from marketing, our business development team and partners within one business day, and get a first meeting on the calendar within two weeks.
• Build your own pipeline. Prospect into Baton Rouge and surrounding regional areas for companies you choose, and grow at least 40% of your new pipeline yourself.
• Be known in the market. Take an active role in one or two local business or industry organizations, attend community and Microsoft events, co-host client lunch-and-learns and AI briefings, and share Sparkhound's point of view on LinkedIn.
• Lead with AI. Open conversations with AI: where it can save time and money, what it takes to get there, and how Sparkhound builds and runs it.
• Close managed services. Your main goal is new monthly recurring revenue: managed IT, security, application support and Managed Intelligence. Use AI and app development projects (AI agents, Copilot, custom and low-code apps, data and analytics) as door openers, and include a managed services option in every proposal.
• Run the full sales cycle.Discovery, solution shaping with our consultants and architects, proposals, pricing conversations and close.
• Turn every project into a relationship. Move door-opening projects into ongoing managed services agreements, and grow monthly services as clients add AI and apps.
• Keep a clean pipeline. Log activity in HubSpot and keep opportunities current in NetSuite so forecasts are honest.
• Bring the team in. Pull in our consultants, engineers and leadership at the right moments, and after an account's first six months hand it off cleanly to its delivery Experience Owner while you stay focused on new clients and new managed services.

What success looks like in your first year

• First 30 days: you know our offers and pricing, you've shadowed our sellers and consultants, and you've called every open opportunity you inherit.
• First 90 days: you own all new Baton Rouge leads, you've held at least 12 first-time meetings, you've joined at least one local organization, and you've closed your first deal.
• By mid-year: you have a healthy, real pipeline led by managed services deals, at least 40% of it self-generated, and partners and local business leaders know your name.
• By year end: you're at full quota run rate, with a growing base of clients on monthly managed services agreements.

Requirements

What you bring

• 5 to 10 years of B2B technology sales, with a track record of meeting quota.
• Experience selling IT services, managed services or cloud solutions, ideally with a Microsoft partner or MSP.
• A track record of closing recurring monthly services, using projects to open the door, and explaining the value of a managed relationship to a buyer.
• A consultative style: you ask good questions, listen, and can talk business outcomes with owners, CFOs, COOs and IT leaders.
• Speed and follow-through. You treat every lead like it matters and you never let one go cold.
• CRM discipline. HubSpot, Salesforce or similar; you keep your pipeline honest.
• Based in, or willing to relocate to, the Baton Rouge area.

Nice to have

• Experience selling Managed Services, AI, automation, custom software or Microsoft 365, Power Platform and Azure solutions.
• Comfort explaining AI to business leaders in plain terms: what it does, what it costs, and how it pays back.
• Experience working Microsoft co-sell or partner referrals.
• An existing network in Baton Rouge business or surrounding area, healthcare, banking, energy, construction or nonprofit communities.

Note: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. Duties may be added, removed, or modified at any time. 

All Sparkhound employees are expected to handle client and company data with care, follow our information security policies, complete required security training, and report any suspected incidents or policy violations promptly. Employees are also responsible for maintaining accurate documentation and following change management procedures when working in client environments.