Account Executive - U.S. Commercial

lwtsquad; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan with matching contribution

Flexible vacation policy

Performance-based incentive pay

Job summary

A leading technology company in Chicago is seeking an experienced Account Executive to manage a growth target and expand client relationships. The role demands strong sales acumen and strategic planning skills. Ideal candidates will have over 5 years of sales experience and a background in technology. This position comes with excellent benefits and a supportive work environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience selling, prospecting, and growing an account base.
• Strong technical and business knowledge to understand customer drivers.
• Ability to articulate Cisco product and business strategies.

Responsibilities

• Manage a growth target using a channel marketing model.
• Identify new sales opportunities and expand relationships.
• Ensure seamless communication and collaboration to meet client objectives.

Skills

Sales experience

Customer relationship management

Strategic planning

Negotiation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience

Tools

Sales CRM software

Job description

Overview

(US ONLY) The application window is expected to close on: 10/16/25

Desired location is Chicago, IL

Meet the Team

Is technology your passion? Do you want to work for a company where you can see your ideas come to life? Where people consistently work with industry leaders and knowledge experts that will help craft your future and career? Want a company that has excellent benefits, strong employee programs, and a fantastic PTO policy right from the beginning? Look no further than Cisco!! We have built a dynamic and fun atmosphere to deliver value to our customers, partners and Cisco. We work hard, play hard and have fun doing it! We take pride in our work and our collective success is dependent upon teamwork, both internally and externally.

Your Impact

As an Account Executive at Cisco, you’ll manage a growth target for an assigned territory using a channel go to market distribution model. You will target market opportunities by segment and use available resources to aggressively pursue opportunities while also showing sales penetration within a targeted list of accounts. You will have a "hunter" mentality, while at the same time exhibiting strategic sales savvy and building strong relationships with customers. You will sell in a matrixed environment that requires a customer-first approach all the while establishing an outcome where everybody wins.

• You will play a pivotal role in growing the company's revenue by identifying new sales opportunities and expanding relationships with existing clients
• By understanding client needs and delivering tailored solutions, you will improve customer satisfaction and foster long-term partnerships
• Through strategic account planning and execution, you will help improve Cisco's visibility and reputation in the market.
• You will serve as a vital link between customers and internal teams, ensuring seamless communication and collaboration to meet client objectives
• By providing insights from customer interactions and market trends, you will contribute to the development and refinement of effective sales strategies

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience selling, prospecting and growing an account base.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience
• Excellent track record of success leading a large territory, demand generation, partner development, strategic account planning, forecasting, quota attainment, communicating business transformational solutions via sales presentations, short-term, mid-term, and long-term opportunity management.

Preferred Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree in technology related fields or marketing/management
• You have the ability to deliver business value to both End Users and Partners
• You have strong technical and business knowledge with complimentary skills to understand the customers’ business drivers and then align them to Cisco solutions
• You demonstrate the necessary skills to negotiate issues with peers, partners and customers using a Win/Win philosophy
• You're an ambitious self-starter with ability to articulate Cisco product and business strategies and create the demand to complete the deal
• You possess the following traits: passion, integrity, trust, leadership, discipline and execution.

Why Cisco?

At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint. Simply put – we power the future.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.

Message to applicants applying to work in the U.S. and/or Canada:

When available, the salary range posted for this position reflects the projected hiring range for new hire, full-time salaries in U.S. and/or Canada locations, not including equity or benefits. For non-sales roles the hiring ranges reflect base salary only; employees are also eligible to receive annual bonuses. Hiring ranges for sales positions include base and incentive compensation target. Individual pay is determined by the candidate's hiring location and additional factors, including but not limited to skillset, experience, and relevant education, certifications, or training. Applicants may not be eligible for the full salary range based on their U.S. or Canada hiring location. The recruiter can share more details about compensation for the role in your location during the hiring process.

U.S. employees have access to quality medical, dental and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with a Cisco matching contribution, short and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance and numerous wellbeing offerings.

Employees receive up to twelve paid holidays per calendar year, which includes one floating holiday (for non-exempt employees), plus a day off for their birthday. Non-Exempt new hires accrue up to 16 days of vacation time off each year, at a rate of 4.92 hours per pay period. Exempt new hires participate in Cisco’s flexible Vacation Time Off policy, which does not place a defined limit on how much vacation time eligible employees may use, but is subject to availability and some business limitations. All new hires are eligible for Sick Time Off subject to Cisco’s Sick Time Off Policy and will have eighty (80) hours of sick time off provided on their hire date and on January 1st of each year thereafter. Up to 80 hours of unused sick time will be carried forward from one calendar year to the next such that the maximum number of sick time hours an employee may have available is 160 hours. Employees in Illinois have a unique time off program designed specifically with local requirements in mind. All employees also have access to paid time away to deal with critical or emergency issues. We offer additional paid time to volunteer and give back to the community.

Employees on sales plans earn performance-based incentive pay on top of their base salary, which is split between quota and non-quota components. For quota-based incentive pay, Cisco typically pays as follows:

.75% of incentive target for each 1% of revenue attainment up to 50% of quota;

1.5% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 50% and 75%;

1% of incentive target for each 1% of attainment between 75% and 100%; and once performance exceeds 100% attainment, incentive rates are at or above 1% for each 1% of attainment with no cap on incentive compensation.

For non-quota-based sales performance elements such as strategic sales objectives, Cisco may pay up to 125% of target. Cisco sales plans do not have a minimum threshold of performance for sales incentive compensation to be paid.

At Cisco, we're revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era - and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint. Simply put - we power the future.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you'll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.