4YFN Account Manager

GSM Association; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international telecom association is seeking a motivated Sales Account Manager to drive sales for its new event in Doha. Applicants should have substantial sales experience and a passion for the startup ecosystem. The role entails acquiring new business leads, managing client accounts, and collaborating with teams across different regions. A high level of fluency in English is a requirement, and knowledge of GCC business cultures is beneficial.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

Learning & development opportunities

Generous holiday allowances

Flexi-time and remote working

Qualifications

• Prior sales experience is required.
• Fluency in English; additional languages are a plus.
• Experience of working with GCC-based clients is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Acquire new business leads and manage accounts.
• Manage inbound sponsorship and exhibition requests.
• Provide weekly updates to the sales pipeline.
• Travel in the GCC area for lead generation.
• Generate sales from outbound and inbound leads.

Skills

Sales experience

Understanding of startups

Effective communication

Commercial insight

Time management

Tools

Salesforce

Sales Navigator

Job description

Department: Sales

Team: 4YFNSales

Location: Dubai or Doha

Position type: 12‑month rolling contract (temp‑to‑perm), full‑time

What the hiring manager says

“4YFN is the highly successful startup event of the GSMA co‑located with MWC Barcelona since 2021 and has witnessed substantial growth since its creation in 2014. Today we can proudly state that it is considered to be the leading international startup event in Europe bringing together the key elements of the startup ecosystem: founders, investors, corporates, public institutions and academic talent.”

In 2025, 4YFN has expanded to include 4YFN Shanghai and 4YFN Doha, both co‑located with MWC.

We are looking for a motivated, enthusiastic and autonomous Sales Account Manager for 4YFN Doha to join the 4YFN Sales team during an exciting growth period for the business to spearhead sales for our new event in the Gulf Cooperation Council area (GCC). The role will focus on selling both to corporates involved in startup incubation and open innovation and startup‑s in the digital technology field. The role can be based in Dubai or Doha and will involve close cooperation with the 4YFN sales team in Barcelona and event sales teams in London and Asia.

This role offers an opportunity for the individual to work within a larger organisation and experienced sales team, leveraging the GSMA assets, brand and member base whilst also being part of a smaller team allowing flexibility and autonomy. You will have the opportunity to work with some of the biggest global brands who are already existing clients and build on the reputation of 4YFN to identify and secure new ones.”

Richard Ferraro, 4YFN Sales Director

About the Team

The international 4YFN sales team based in Barcelona has grown to include six highly skilled sales professionals and manages a portfolio of over 200 clients from around the world, from AWS to the Japan External Trade Organisation, as well as early‑stage startups looking to participate in a global trade show for the first time.

About the Role

You are required to have prior sales experience and a demonstrable passion for startups and the tech startup ecosystem. Awareness of different business cultures and experience of selling to GCC‑based clients is an advantage.

You will be responsible for:

• Acquiring new business leads and account management of regional HQs of international corporations.
• Managing inbound sponsorship and exhibition requests for both startups and larger entities.
• Assisting in onboarding new clients to ensure they obtain the maximum value from their event participation.
• Identifying opportunities to cross‑sell and upsell sponsorship and exhibition space (including from 4YFN Doha to 4YFN Barcelona) and added‑value services to clients.
• Generating new business sales from both outbound leads (prospecting via Sales Navigator, attending local events, etc.) as well as inbound or marketing‑generated sales leads.
• Providing weekly updates to the sales pipeline, tracking of metrics underpinning the sales funnel and sharing customer feedback on product performance/quality.
• Providing reports on demand in response to new business opportunities.
• Troubleshooting any client issue proactively, liaising with marketing, operations, customer service and finance where necessary.
• Traveling primarily in the GCC area to attend third‑party events for lead generation purposes.

To achieve success in the role, the candidate will hit the agreed sales target for the event within the event deadline (November 2026).

About You

• You are passionate about growing the business and exceeding expectations.
• You understand and fully engage with your market, have a passion for sales and the startup ecosystem and can collaborate with all departments to generate deals not only for 4YFN but for all GSMA’s platforms in a consultative approach.
• You are a great communicator with commercial insight, effective time management and attention to deadlines. You should be fluent in English; additional languages are a plus but not essential. Experience of working with a lead generation process and Salesforce is a pre‑requisite.
• You are organized, deliver high‑quality service and achieve all targets from different stakeholders.
• As the role is physically located separate from the main 4YFN sales team, you will be expected to be experienced in working independently and to be self‑motivating.

What We Offer

Working at the GSMA offers you unparalleled access to the mobile industry. You will shape the direction of mobile, work on global solutions, genuinely fascinating and industry‑changing projects, and be part of a fast‑paced, rapidly evolving environment. In addition to architect‑designed offices and competitive compensation, our benefits include learning & development opportunities, generous holiday allowances, four additional days off for professional development and many others.

We care deeply about diversity, equity and inclusivity and aspire to be the best at it. Your well‑being and work/life balance is important, so flexi‑time and remote working are available to all staff. We encourage applications from all demographics to ensure equality, representation and connection.