Account Executive

Powernaut; Town of Belgium (WI); On-site; USD 92,314 - 138,471; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Flexible working environment

Impact on climate transition

Job summary

Powernaut is seeking a Founding Account Executive to drive sales and revenue across the European energy market. As one of the first two commercial hires, you will take full ownership of the sales cycle and work closely with founders and marketing.

This role requires a proven track record in enterprise sales, with an entrepreneurial spirit ready to shape the commercial team's future. You will be driving significant deals while collaborating with multiple teams to ensure ongoing customer success.

Competitive compensation includes a salary of €80-120k, incentives, and stock options.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in enterprise sales or related field.
• Start-up or scale-up experience is a major plus.
• Strong track record in managing complex sales cycles.
• Existing understanding of the European energy landscape is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the sales cycle from hunting to closing.
• Identify and engage C-suite executives in the region.
• Build and manage a high-value pipeline in our CRM.
• Work with various teams on lead generation and customer satisfaction.

Skills

Enterprise sales

Solution selling

Sales acumen

Team player

Job description

Full-time Ghent, Belgium or Remote €80-120k fully loaded + uncapped commission (OTE €140-180k) + stock options

The Job

As Founding Account Executive at Powernaut, you join as one of our first two commercial hires, working directly alongside the founders and some of the sharpest people in the energy space. You'll help us scale Powernaut from its Belgian base into a European leader.

You take full ownership of the sales cycle, from hunting new business to closing deals. You'll work hand-in-hand with marketing to turn leads into conversations, and conversations into contracts. The role suits solution sellers who enjoy turning complex energy problems into clear, value-driven partnerships.

You'll operate with high autonomy, helping us open new markets while staying aligned with Powernaut's vision.

We're hiring two Founding Account Executives across our priority markets — Benelux, DACH and France. You'll own your region end-to-end. For exceptional profiles, we're open to discussing other markets where English works, such as the UK, Switzerland, Austria and the Nordics.

Here’s what your impactful role will entail:

Hunting & New Business: Identify and engage C-suite executives and key stakeholders in your region, building on the leads marketing provides. Use creative outreach to open doors.

Value Selling: Move beyond transactional sales. Diagnose client pain points and show how Powernaut helps them solve their problems.

Pipeline mastery: Build and manage a high-value pipeline in our CRM. Guide complex deals from prospecting and qualification through to contract negotiation and close.

Strategic collaborations: Work with Marketing on messaging and lead generation, with Product on field feedback into the roadmap, and with our Account Management and Delivery team to make sure customers get real value after signing.

Building the engine: Co-design the sales playbook — ICP sharpening, outbound motion, qualification, deal reviews — and make it repeatable for the salespeople who join after you.

Your day-to-day will be dynamic and impactful:

Proactively prospecting high-potential clients in your region with marketing support.

Designing and delivering tailored pitches that resonate with stakeholder needs.

Closing significant deals that align with Powernaut’s mission and revenue goals.

Coordinating with Account Management and Delivery to ensure a smooth hand-off after close.

Spotting and capitalising on upsell opportunities within your growing portfolio.

Where this can go

We’re building a commercial team that will grow well beyond these two hires. For the Founding AE who proves it in the field — consistent closing, sharp commercial judgement, and the instinct to make others better — there is a real path to leading the sales organisation: hiring, coaching and structuring the team as we scale across Europe.

We don’t hand out titles on day one; this is earned with results, not promised on paper. But if you’re a player-coach at heart and your ambition is to build and lead a sales org rather than just carry a quota inside one, this role is designed for you.

Your Profile

We’re looking for a driven, entrepreneurial spirit who is ready to make a tangible difference.

Requirements

Experience: Proven track record in enterprise sales, or a strong, demonstrable appetite to move into enterprise sales after success in a related field. Start-up or scale-up experience is a major plus.

Early-hire DNA (strong plus): You’ve been a first or early sales hire before, or you’ve scaled revenue from (near) zero and know what 0→1 selling demands. Bonus points if you’ve coached or mentored junior salespeople and enjoyed it.

Solution Selling: A strong track record in managing complex sales cycles, negotiation, and closing deals. You sell value, not features.

Sales acumen over energy literacy: Existing understanding of the European energy landscape is a plus, not a blocker. What we care about most is your sales acumen and your willingness to learn the technical and regulatory complexity of energy on the job. If you have never sold into energy before but have the appetite, please apply.

Language Skills: English is required. In addition, for the DACH region we require German; for France we require French. Other European languages are a strong bonus.

Team Player: You enjoy working alongside marketing, product, account management, and delivery teams. Sales is a team sport.

Location & Travel: Willing to work from our Ghent HQ at least once every three months to collaborate with the team in person. Frequent travel to clients across your region is expected.

What’s in it for you?

Impact: Your work will directly shape our growth trajectory, our sales culture and the commercial playbook every future hire will use.

Autonomy: The freedom to manage your own work and strategy, with the tools and support you need to excel.

Team: Become an integral part of a dynamic, expert team of quick-thinking, fast-acting individuals who are passionate about what they do.

Compensation: A competitive salary package with fixed and variable components (OTE), complemented by participation in our attractive stock option plan.

Purpose: The profound satisfaction of making a meaningful and lasting positive impact on our planet by accelerating the climate transition.

Environment: Work from the Wintercircus in Ghent, a hub that fits the spirit of a fast-growing, innovative startup.