Head of Sales and Partnerships

About Gateway Factory

Gateway Factory acts as a growth accelerator for deep-tech startups throughout Europe, integrating cutting-edge research, industrial partners, and international markets primarily within the Rhineland, North Rhine-Westphalia, and beyond.

Role Overview and Responsibilities

As Head of Sales, you will focus on acquiring new pilot projects and significantly expanding existing strategic partnerships that manage six-figure budgets. You will oversee the commercial revenues of Gateway Factory, mainly derived from sponsorships and innovation services, taking the lead in shaping the business model. Your role involves developing strategic sales channels, closing initial projects, and evolving these into long-term partnerships valued between €250,000 and €1 million.

• Accountable for meeting and managing sales targets across all customer segments.
• Designing tiered sponsorship and innovation service packages to support predictable upselling opportunities.
• Establishing a robust sales pipeline through both outbound and inbound initiatives, defining ideal customer profiles (ICP) by vertical.
• Implementing a "land-and-expand" strategy to grow existing accounts from entry-level engagements to strategic contracts over multiple years.
• Enhancing CRM systems, forecasting accuracy, reporting mechanisms, and developing scalable, transparent sales processes.
• Leveraging the university and industrial networks to strengthen partner ecosystems for sales activities.
• Potentially building and scaling a business development team as the business grows.

Candidate Requirements

Essential Qualifications:

• Several years of B2B sales experience involving complex, consultative offerings with lengthy sales cycles and multiple stakeholders.
• Proven success in establishing and growing customer relationships and key account management with deal sizes in the six-figure range.
• Experience selling to corporate entities and/or midsized businesses, ideally within innovation, consulting, partnership, or sponsorship settings.
• Demonstrated expertise in pipeline development, CRM management, and sales forecasting.
• Ability to operate strategically and hands-on, suited for a company in its growth phase.

Preferred Attributes:

• Understanding of deep-tech innovation and the startup ecosystem.
• Existing network in industry, economic development, or public sector organizations.
• Familiarity with sponsorship and recurring partnership models.

Benefits

• Possibility to exercise significant ownership, creative influence, and gain high visibility within the company.
• Flexible working hours within a culture founded on responsibility, openness, and trust.
• Modern "New Work" environments across Köln, Düsseldorf, and Aachen with current tools and methodologies.
• Supportive team environment offering professional, personal, and startup culture encouragement.

Application Details

If this opportunity excites you, please submit your CV along with a brief cover letter for consideration.