Bay Area Private Aviation Sales Leader

Thrive Aviation; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 250,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

Arulean Air LLC is seeking a VP Sales to lead the Bay Area private aviation sales effort, cultivating relationships with high-net-worth individuals and corporate clients while driving pipeline growth and closing high-value contracts.

The ideal candidate brings deep Bay Area tech/VC connections, can articulate the time-efficiency value of private aviation, and will own territory strategy, pricing coordination with the CSO, and collaboration with Inside Sales and Marketing to accelerate growth.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive sales experience in a high-value, relationship-driven environment
• Minimum 3 years of direct client-facing sales in private aviation, fractional ownership, charter brokerage, luxury real estate, financial services, or comparable luxury/HNWI market
• Proven track record of consistently meeting or exceeding individual revenue quotas
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with C-suite executives, startup founders, venture capitalists, and high-net-worth individuals
• Existing network within the Bay Area technology and finance community strongly preferred

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a portfolio of HNWI and corporate client relationships within the Bay Area territory
• Conduct consultative, solution-oriented sales — presenting private aviation as a productivity and time-efficiency tool, resonating with ROI-driven and data-oriented tech/VC clients
• Make initial contact with leads handed off from Inside Sales within 24 hours
• Build and expand relationships through personal networking, industry events, and Arulean Air's affinity partnerships
• Nurture long-term client relationships to drive retention, renewals, and referrals
• Own and deliver individual territory revenue and pipeline targets
• Maintain a disciplined sales cadence: prospecting, lead follow-up, proposal development, negotiation, and close
• Keep the territory pipeline consistently healthy across volume, quality, and velocity
• Log all client touchpoints, deal stages, and forecast data in CRM with accuracy and timeliness
• Report pipeline, progress, and challenges to Head of Sales in weekly 1-on-1s
• Prepare and deliver compelling proposals and presentations to prospective clients
• Negotiate high-value contracts with sophistication and integrity
• Articulate the performance, features, and competitive advantages of both program aircraft, the HondaJet HA-420 (light jet) and the Bombardier Challenger 3500 (super-midsize)
• Coordinate with CSO on program content, pricing, and competitive positioning as needed
• Leverage deep knowledge of Bay Area affluent market segments: technology, venture capital, biotech, finance, and startup ecosystems
• Tailor messaging and value propositions to tech-savvy prospects who prioritize ROI, data, and efficiency
• Identify and pursue new prospect pools through industry-specific networking and strategic partnerships
• Maintain current knowledge of key Bay Area airports and regional travel patterns
• Monitor competitive activity within the territory and report insights to Head of Sales and CSO
• Head of Sales: Weekly 1-on-1s for pipeline review, territory strategy, and key deal consultation
• CSO: Coordinate on program content, pricing, and competitive responses
• Inside Sales: Receive lead handoffs; record contact results and prospect temperature in CRM for feedback loop
• Marketing Manager: Co-plan Bay Area local events and provide prospect insights to inform campaign design
• CEO: Request executive-level support for key client meetings through Head of Sales
• Strictly comply with company disclosure restrictions — do not disclose undisclosed program details even to clients
• Maintain ethical sales practices and uphold Arulean Air's brand standards in every client interaction
• Escalate unclear or sensitive client questions to Head of Sales or CSO immediately

Skills

Consultative Selling

Relationship Building

Negotiation

Product Knowledge

CRM Discipline

Communication

Self-Direction

Market Knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Arulean Air LLC is seeking a VP Sales to lead the Bay Area private aviation sales effort, cultivating relationships with high-net-worth individuals and corporate clients while driving pipeline growth and closing high-value contracts.

The ideal candidate brings deep Bay Area tech/VC connections, can articulate the time-efficiency value of private aviation, and will own territory strategy, pricing coordination with the CSO, and collaboration with Inside Sales and Marketing to accelerate growth.