Sales Director, Public Sector (UKI)

Proofpoint; Reading; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits

Career success on your terms

Flexible work environment

Annual wellness and community outreach

Always on recognition

Global collaboration

Job summary

Proofpoint is seeking an experienced Sales Director to lead our Public Sector Enterprise Account Team across the UK. You will recruit, develop, and retain top talent while driving bookings and regional growth in public sector accounts.

You’ll engage CISO, CIO and CTO level stakeholders, shape strategy, forecast performance, and collaborate with Sales Engineering, Marketing, and Support to close deals and drive adoption.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in hyper-growth environments within Public Sector accounts
• Proven track record leading large enterprise sales teams and achieving bookings targets
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity and enterprise threat landscape
• Experience applying value-based sales methodologies (Force Management, Challenger Sales, MEDDIC)
• Ability to build and execute regional go-to-market plans and manage channel partners
• Excellent stakeholder management with CISO/CIO/CTO level executives

Responsibilities

• Lead the UK Public Sector Enterprise Account Team to achieve annual bookings targets
• Identify, grow and close new business at executive levels in Public Sector accounts
• Recruit, develop and retain a high-performing field sales team
• Collaborate with Sales Engineering, Professional Services, Marketing and Support to close deals and drive adoption
• Forecast, report on pipeline, and manage resources to maximize revenue growth
• Set regional strategy, ensure execution against plan, and build strong customer relationships

Skills

Public Sector sales

Team leadership

Strategic account management

Force Management

Challenger Sales

MEDDIC

Channel partnerships

Contract negotiations

Forecasting & analytics

Relationship building

Job description

England

Reading, England

Full time

R14696

About Us:

Proofpoint is a global leader in human- and agent-centric cybersecurity. We protect how people, data, and AI agents connect across email, cloud, and collaboration tools. Over 80 of the Fortune 100, 10,000 large enterprises, and millions of smaller organizations trust Proofpoint to stop threats, prevent data loss, and build resilience across their people and AI workflows. Our mission is simple: safeguard the digital world and empower people to work securely and confidently. Join us in our pursuit to defend data and protect people.

How We Work:

At Proofpoint you'll be part of a global team that breaks barriers to redefine cybersecurity guided by our BRAVE core values:

• Bold in how we dream and innovate
• Responsive to feedback, challenges and opportunities
• Accountable for results and best in class outcomes
• Visionary in future focused problem-solving
• Exceptional in execution and impact

The Role

We are seeking an experienced, proven, entrepreneurial Sales Director to lead our Public Sector, Enterprise Account Team covering the UK territory. You will be responsible for:

• Recruiting, developing, and retaining a highly talented field sales team
• Achieve annual Enterprise bookings quota with monthly and quarterly targets
• Within this role we need you to Identify, grow, and close new business at executive levels (CISO/CIO/CTO) in Public Sector accounts within the designated territory.
• Presenting compelling business cases to senior stakeholders both internally and externally
• Creating positive momentum in the cybersecurity market
• Implementing strategic growth within the region, setting the direction, and ensuring execution against plan.
• This is an exciting opportunity to play an integral part of a dynamic and fast-growing next generation security company, and you will have the opportunity to take the business to the next level.

Your day-to-day

• Lead sales for new and existing enterprise customers, consistently achieving or exceeding quarterly and annual revenue targets capturing market share
• Define and report on metrics to measure performance of sales activities, accurately forecast and present deal analysis
• Determine resource requirements, identify significant and profitable growth opportunities
• Develop and maintain client and partner relationships to increase business scalability
• Effectively support and manage contract negotiations facilitating resolution of major sales objections presented by customers
• Working with the EMEA leadership team provide insight on value proposition, positioning, local market knowledge and agree priorities for region and Public Sector market
• Recruit, lead, coach and inspire a talented team of senior sales executives
• Manage employee goal setting, performance assessments, career planning and development driving the adoption of solution selling
• Collaborate with Sales Engineering, Professional Services, Marketing and Support to close deals, drive revenue and adoption, and to meet and exceed customer satisfaction

What you bring to the team

• Experience in hyper growth, building out large organizations at scale, within the Public Sector (Central and Regional)
• Knowledge of the cyber security market and current threat landscape
• Familiarity and experience using consultative, value based sales methodologies (Force Management , Challenger Sales, MEDDIC, etc)
• Proven record of leading a successful new business sale team as well as a hunger for success beyond targets and sustained growth
• Channel-centric in approach to go-to-market and experience of working effectively within a direct sale led and Channel-led sales organisation
• Expert team builder, team player and leader who understands you win as a team, and has the ability to inspire and create loyalty, trust, and respect across not only their team, but also cross-functionally
• Commercial acumen and attention to detail, thinks strategically, but stays on top of tactical execution as well as the ability to lead a large and culturally diverse team in coordination with managers and through managers
• Able to create a business plan, build a strong business pipeline, accurately forecast and close business
• Existing influential customer relationships and able to understand the security threat landscape, and become the trusted advisor of the CSO

Why Proofpoint?

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits
• Career success on your terms
• Flexible work environment
• Annual wellness and community outreach days
• Always on recognition for your contributions
• Global collaboration and networking opportunities

Our Culture:

Our culture is rooted in values that inspire belonging, empower purpose and drive success-every day, for everyone.

We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. If you need accommodation during the application or interview process, please reach out to [e-mail] .

Proofpoint has been honored with six Best Places to Work Awards in 2024 by workplace culture leader Comparably, including Best Company Career Growth, Best Company Outlook, Best Global Culture, Best Engineering Teams, Best Sales Teams, and Best HR Teams.

We are the leader in human-centric cybersecurity. Half a million customers, including 87 of the Fortune 100, rely on Proofpoint to protect their organizations. We're driven by a mission to stay ahead of bad actors and safeguard the digital world. Join us in our pursuit to defend data and protect people.

Proofpoint is an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.

Find your network, your allies, and your biggest fans. We know that work is simply better when you're surrounded by people who inspire you—who share ideas, cheer you on, and genuinely want to see you succeed. That's why we offer social circles, sponsored networks, and connection points across teams and time zones-to help you find your people, build your community, and thrive together.

This isn't just a job—it’s a mission to protect people and defend data in a world that never slows down. We're building the future of human-centric cybersecurity, and that future belongs to all of us. We take ownership, move fast, and hold ourselves accountable—because that's what it takes to stay ahead. And we do it together, winning as one.

Be empowered to reach your full potential through meaningful challenges and personalized support—designed around you and your goals. Whether you're growing as a leader or leveling up from great to exceptional as an individual contributor, we're here to help you get there.

Proofpoint is an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.