Account Executive

LocaliQ; Des Moines (IA); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Uncapped commission

401(k) with company match

Hybrid/remote flexibility

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

LocaliQ, backed by USA TODAY Network, seeks an Account Executive in Des Moines, IA to own the full sales cycle from prospecting to close. You will develop tailored marketing strategies, build strong client relationships, and drive growth across a territory in a hybrid, client-facing role.

You will hunt for new business while growing existing accounts, coordinating with post-sale teams to optimize campaigns and deliver measurable results.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of B2B sales experience with success in new business development or account growth.
• Ability to run a full-cycle, consultative sales process—from discovery through proposal, negotiation, and close.
• Strong prospecting skills across phone, email, social, networking, and relationship-based outreach.
• Experience using CRM and sales tools with disciplined pipeline management and follow-up.
• Comfort learning and discussing digital marketing solutions such as search, social, display, and video.

Responsibilities

• Build a consistent prospecting cadence to develop a strong pipeline.
• Manage and grow a territory balancing new business development, client retention, and account expansion.
• Lead discovery conversations to understand business goals, marketing challenges, and growth opportunities.
• Build and present data-informed marketing proposals connecting strategy, tactics, and budget to client goals.
• Own the full sales cycle—from initial outreach through close—while maintaining CRM activity, pipeline, and forecasting.
• Partner with internal teams to support strong client outcomes.

Skills

B2B sales

Full-cycle sales

Prospecting

CRM

Communication

Tools

Microsoft Office

AI tools

Job description

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a diversified media company with expansive reach at the national and local level dedicated to empowering and enriching communities. We seek to inspire, inform, and connect audiences as a sustainable, growth focused media and digital marketing solutions company. Through our trusted brands, including the USA TODAY NETWORK, comprised of the national publication, USA TODAY , and local media organizations, including our network of local properties, in the United States, and Newsquest , a wholly-owned subsidiary operating in the United Kingdom, we provide essential journalism, local content, and digital experiences to audiences and businesses. We deliver high-quality, trusted content with a commitment to balanced, unbiased journalism, where and when consumers want to engage. Our digital marketing solutions brand, LocaliQ , supports small and medium-sized businesses with innovative digital marketing products and solutions. USA TODAY Co. open roles are featured on various external job boards. To connect with us, visit www.usatodayco.com

Account Executive – Outside Sales

Territory-Based | Hybrid | Client-Facing Market Role

Company:LocaliQ, powered by the USA TODAY Network
Location: Outside Sales, territory-based role in the Des Moines, IA area | Hybrid (home office with client/prospect visits as needed)

About LocaliQ

At LocaliQ, part of USA TODAY Co., we help businesses grow by bringing together advanced marketing technology, trusted audience reach, and the expertise to turn it into results. In this role, you’ll work at the intersection of digital marketing and one of the most trusted media networks in the country—helping businesses connect with customers across the full marketing funnel.

You’ll partner with clients to understand their goals, build strategies that combine performance-driven digital solutions with the reach of the USA TODAY Network, and deliver measurable outcomes. This is an opportunity to be part of a team that doesn’t just sell products. We bring together the right mix of solutions to drive real business growth.

About the Role

Our Account Executive role is a consultative, relationship-driven sales position for someone who loves owning the full sales cycle—from net-new prospecting through long-term account growth—and who thrives in both hunting and managing client relationships.

In this role, you will actively hunt for net-new business, while also managing, growing, and expanding an ongoing book of clients. You’ll create tailored marketing strategies, guide businesses from first conversation through ongoing performance discussions, and continually identify opportunities to deepen partnerships over time. You’ll act as a trusted marketing partner—not a transactional seller—balancing new business development with retention, upsell, and account expansion to drive long-term client value.

Our Account Executive role is partnered with a post-sales team that manages campaign performance, optimizes results, and prepares reporting. Additional support resources are available, including the Data and Insights team, Client Strategists, and other product-specific resources.

In your first 90 days, you’ll gain confidence in LocaliQ’s solutions, tools, and sales approach while building meaningful prospecting and discovery habits. By the end of this period, you’ll be owning your territory and sales cycle end-to-end, with the support and coaching needed to set you up for long-term success.

Why This Role Stands Out:

• Competitive base salary with uncapped commission and strong earning potential
• President’s Club, contests, and recognition programs for top performers
• Consultative, full-cycle sales role with ownership from first conversation through long-term account growth
• Hybrid flexibility with autonomy to manage your schedule and territory
• Strong onboarding, coaching, and sales enablement to support a successful ramp
• Access to an extensive mix of digital and traditional marketing solutions, enabling consultative, end-to-end strategies tailored to each client’s growth objectives
• Career progression into senior sales and leadership roles
• Backed by marketing expertise, post-sale specialists, and industry-leading tools

What You Will Do

• Build a consistent prospecting cadence using cold calls, email, social outreach, networking, and in-person or virtual meetings to develop a strong pipeline.
• Manage and grow a territory by balancing new business development, client retention, and account expansion.
• Lead thoughtful discovery conversations to understand business goals, marketing challenges, and growth opportunities.
• Build and present data-informed digital and traditional marketing proposals that connect strategy, tactics, and budget to client goals.
• Own the full sales cycle—from initial outreach through close—while maintaining accurate CRM activity, pipeline management, and forecasting.
• Partner with internal account management, creative, and strategy teams to support strong client outcomes.
• Stay engaged post-sale through reporting, optimization, and performance conversations that support renewals and continued growth.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of B2B sales experience with success in new business development, account growth, or business development roles (experience level may vary by market and role level; Recruiter to update).
• Ability to run a full-cycle, consultative sales process—from discovery through proposal, negotiation, and close.
• Strong prospecting skills across phone, email, social, networking, and relationship-based outreach.
• Experience using CRM and sales tools with disciplined pipeline management and follow-up.
• Comfort learning and discussing digital marketing solutions such as search, social, display, and video (direct experience is a plus, not required).
• Excellent communication skills, business curiosity, and the ability to build credibility with diverse clients and stakeholders, influencing decisions through clear data-driven recommendations.
• Proficiency with CRM, Microsoft Office Suite, and AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity.
• Valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance

Who Thrives Here

High performers in this role are resilient, self-motivated, strategic and creative minded and competitive, with a strong drive to outperform and continuously take on greater impact. They are coachable and highly self-directed, comfortable initiating outreach, staying organized, asking thoughtful questions, and using data and tools to work efficiently. Energized by real-time results, they handle rejection well and maintain full ownership of their performance and trajectory.

• We believe high performance should be recognized and supported through compensation, development, and real opportunity to grow your skills.
• Competitive base salary + Uncapped commission opportunity
• 401(k) with company match
• Career progression opportunities
• Flexibility and autonomy in a hybrid/remote work environment (varies by role and market. Recruiter to update).
• High-performance culture with recognition, incentives, and President’s Club trips, etc.
• Comprehensive health, dental & vision coverage options and more
• Unlimited MTO time off, including paid holidays
• Structured onboarding to get you ramped fast
• Ongoing coaching from experienced leaders
• Access to industry-leading tools, resources, and marketing expertise
• Step into a territory where you can own the full sales cycle, bring smart marketing solutions to the table, and be recognized for the results you deliver.

#LOCALiQ

The annualized base salary for this role will range between $45,000 and $50,000. $75,000-$83,333 OTE. Uncapped commission with accelerators. Variable compensation is not reflected in these figures and based on the role, may be applicable. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, location, and union representation, if applicable.

USA TODAY Co., Inc. is a proud equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a diverse workforce. As such, we will consider all qualified applicants for employment and do not discriminate in connection with employment decisions on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, marital status, personal appearance (including height and weight), sexual orientation, family responsibilities, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions), education, genetic characteristics or information, political affiliation, military or veteran status or other classifications protected by applicable federal, state and local laws in the jurisdictions where USA TODAY Co. employs employees. In addition, USA TODAY Co., Inc. will provide applicants who require a reasonable accommodation, as a result of an applicant’s disability or religion, to complete this employment application and/or any other process in connection with an individuals’ application for employment with USA TODAY Co., Inc. Applicants who require such accommodation should contact USA TODAY Co., Inc.’s Recruitment Department at [e-mail] . Applicants must be authorized to work in the applicable location. Applications from outside these regions will be removed from our system after submission.