Account Executive

TheLinkU; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

TheLinkU is seeking an Account Executive based in Houston to lead business development for NIL and Rev Gen partnerships tied to the University market. You will own the full sales cycle, carry an annual quota, and source, pitch, and close net new NIL and Rev Gen opportunities for local and regional brand partners.

You will build relationships with university stakeholders, athletes, and local businesses, while collaborating with internal teams to ensure smooth onboarding and execution.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of B2B sales experience, preferably in sports, SaaS, marketing or NIL related fields
• Proven track record as a new business hunter with quota ownership
• Experience selling to multiple stakeholders in complex decision environments
• Strong communication, negotiation and closing skills

Responsibilities

• Own the full sales cycle from prospecting through close
• Prospect and close net new accounts across local and regional brand partners
• Drive outbound pipeline generation through cold outreach and local market activation
• Build and manage a pipeline of local and regional brand partners tied to the University market
• Build and maintain relationships with university athletes, athletic department stakeholders, collectives, and local businesses
• Identify, pitch, and close NIL and Rev Gen partnerships using a consultative approach
• Activate TheLinkU's national partnerships within the University market
• Lead meetings with prospective partners and guide them through the partnership lifecycle
• Negotiate and execute agreements aligning incentives across athletes, brands, and university
• Collaborate with Marketing, Operations, Client Success, and Product for onboarding and execution
• Represent TheLinkU at campus meetings and local events
• Maintain accurate pipeline management and reporting in CRM
• Consistently meet or exceed revenue quota and sales targets

Skills

B2B Sales

New Business Development

Prospecting

Negotiation

Relationship Building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

About TheLinkU

TheLinkU is a leading NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) technology and revenue platform built to help universities, student-athletes, and brands unlock compliant, scalable revenue opportunities in today's evolving collegiate sports landscape.

We provide the infrastructure, national partnerships, and execution model needed to drive sustainable NIL and above the cap revenue, while maintaining transparency, compliance, and operational efficiency.

Our Revenue Generation (Rev Gen) model supports universities and athletes from partnership development through contract execution and payment distribution. Our Account Executives are the engine that activates this model at the local level.

Position Overview

We are seeking an Account Executive based in Houston, Texas to lead business development efforts within the University of Houston market. This is a closing role.

As an AE, you'll own the full sales cycle from prospecting through close, carry an annual revenue quota, and serve as a new business hunter responsible for sourcing, pitching, and closing NIL and Rev Gen partnership opportunities tied to the University. Your individual revenue quota will be tied directly to the University market growth, and your ability to build trust, influence decision makers, and generate measurable revenue will directly impact student athletes, the university ecosystem, and TheLinkU's national growth strategy. This is a high visibility role within a fast moving and evolving industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the full sales cycle from prospecting through close
• Prospect and close net new accounts across local and regional brand partners
• Drive outbound pipeline generation through cold outreach, networking, and local market activation
• Build and manage a pipeline of local and regional brand partners tied to the University market
• Build and maintain strong relationships with the University student athletes, athletic department stakeholders, collectives, and local and regional businesses
• Identify, pitch, and close NIL and Rev Gen partnership opportunities using a consultative sales approach
• Activate TheLinkU's national partnerships within the University market
• Lead meetings with prospective partners and guide them through the full partnership lifecycle
• Negotiate and execute agreements that align incentives across athletes, brands, and the university
• Collaborate with internal teams (Marketing, Operations, Client Success, Product) to ensure seamless onboarding and execution
• Represent TheLinkU at on campus meetings, local business events, and industry gatherings
• Maintain accurate pipeline management and reporting within CRM tools
• Consistently meet or exceed individual revenue quota and sales targets

What We're Looking For

• 2+ years of B2B sales experience preferred (sports, SaaS, marketing, financial services, or NIL related experience a plus)
• Existing relationships with the University athletics and the local business community
• Proven track record as a new business hunter with experience owning a quota and closing net new accounts
• Strong understanding of or passion for college athletics and the University ecosystem
• Proven ability to sell to multiple stakeholders and navigate complex decision making environments
• Confident communicator with strong negotiation and closing skills
• Results oriented and comfortable in a high growth, performance driven environment
• Self motivated with the ability to operate independently while collaborating cross functionallyFlexible schedule (standard hours approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with variability based on client and athletic schedules)
• Bachelor's degree preferred but not required
• Must be based in or near Houston, TX

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.