Data Security Sales Specialist- Bay Area

Socket.dev; California (MO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work environment

Wellness days

Global collaboration opportunities

Job summary

Proofpoint is seeking a Data Security Sales Specialist to join the Enterprise Named NorthWest team, based in Northern California. You will partner with account teams to grow the Data Security footprint across existing customers and new opportunities, guiding customers through cloud transformations, AI risk, and regulatory compliance.

You will act as a strategic advisor, delivering consultative solutions across DLP, DSPM, IRM/ITM, and AI security, while working with sales engineers to demonstrate

Qualifications

• Proven success selling Data Security solutions into Enterprise and Strategic accounts.
• Experience with Data Loss Prevention (DLP), DSPM, IRM/ITM, Cloud/SaaS Data Protection, SSE/SASE, AI Security, AI Governance, or AI Risk Management.
• Strong understanding of modern data security challenges across cloud, SaaS, AI, and hybrid enterprise environments.
• Ability to engage executive stakeholders and articulate business value and technical differentiation.
• Exceptional discovery, presentation, relationship-building, and consultative selling skills.
• Strong strategic account planning, territory management, and forecasting capabilities.
• Ability to thrive in a matrixed environment and build trust across cross-functional stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Build strong relationships across customer organizations and within Proofpoint to drive opportunities from discovery through close.
• Partner with core account teams to expand Proofpoint’s Data Security footprint within existing customers while identifying and capturing net-new opportunities.
• Lead customers and core sellers through the Data Security sales cycle utilizing industry best practices and Proofpoint’s proven methodologies for evaluating modern data security platforms.
• Act as a strategic advisor to customers navigating data security challenges related to cloud transformation, insider risk, regulatory compliance, and AI adoption.
• Drive conversations around Data Security for AI, helping organizations secure sensitive data used by Generative AI applications, AI copilots, SaaS AI capabilities, and emerging agentic workflows.
• Collaborate with Sales Engineers to develop account strategies, deliver impactful demonstrations, facilitate workshops, and execute proof-of-value and proof-of-concept programs.
• Partner with the channel ecosystem to expand market share and accelerate Data Security growth across the region.
• Develop and execute strategic account plans focused on pipeline generation, customer expansion, competitive displacement, and long-term platform adoption.
• Drive ongoing enablement of Proofpoint’s Data Security portfolio across the sales organization through training sessions, office hours, sales updates, role plays, and territory-specific support.
• Maintain accurate pipeline management, forecasting, and opportunity progression through Salesforce, and related sales tools.

Skills

Enterprise sales

Strategic accounts

Executive engagement

Consultative selling

Data security

AI security

Cloud security

SaaS security

Relationship-building

Tools

Salesforce

CRM

Job description

About Us:

Proofpoint is a global leader in human- and agent-centric cybersecurity. We protect how people, data, and AI agents connect across email, cloud, and collaboration tools. Over 80 of the Fortune 100, 10,000 large enterprises, and millions of smaller organizations trust Proofpoint to stop threats, prevent data loss, and build resilience across their people and AI workflows. Our mission is simple: safeguard the digital world and empower people to work securely and confidently. Join us in our pursuit to defend data and protect people.

How We Work:

At Proofpoint you’ll be part of a global team that breaks barriers to redefine cybersecurity guided by our BRAVE core values:

Bold in how we dream and innovate

Responsive to feedback, challenges and opportunities

Accountable for results and best in class outcomes

Visionary in future focused problem-solving

Exceptional in execution and impact

Department Overview

The Data Security Specialist team at Proofpoint is an exciting, fast-growing organizationcomprisedof passionate, talented professionals dedicated to helping customers protect their mostvaluable asset: Data. As one of Proofpoint’s key growth engines, the team supports a world-class customer base and drives adoption of an industry-leading Data Security platform and solutions spanning Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Data Security Posture Management (DSPM), Insider Risk Management, SaaS Data Protection, and Data Security for AI capabilities. As organizations increasingly embrace Generative AI and AI-powered business workflows, the Data Security team plays a critical role in helping customers innovate securely whilemaintainingvisibility, governance, and control over sensitive information.

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced Data Security Sales Specialist to align with ourEnterprise Named NorthWestteam.Must reside in Northern California. Reporting to the Director of Data Security Specialists, you will partner closely with Proofpoint’s core sales organization to drive growth across the region. Acting as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert, you will help customers develop and execute modern data security strategies that address evolving risks across cloud, SaaS, insider threats, and AI-driven environments. As organizations accelerate the adoption of AI, you will guide customers in protecting sensitive data, reducing AI-related risk, and enabling innovation securely through Proofpoint’s Data Security platform.

In this role, you will act as a strategic Data Security Specialist, partnering with account teams to develop, influence, and advance data security opportunities. You will bring consultativeexpertiseto customer conversations, collaborate with partners, sales leadership, and technical teams, and help align Proofpoint’s data security capabilities to customer priorities, risk reduction goals, and measurable business outcomes.

Your Day-to-Day

• Build strong relationships across customer organizations and within Proofpoint to drive opportunities from discovery through close.
• Partner with core account teams to expand Proofpoint’s Data Security footprint within existing customers whileidentifyingand capturing net-new opportunities.
• Lead customers and core sellers through the Data Security sales cycleutilizingindustry best practices and Proofpoint’s proven methodologies for evaluating modern data security platforms.
• Act as a strategic advisor to customers navigating data security challenges related to cloud transformation, insider risk, regulatory compliance, and AI adoption.
• Drive conversations around Data Security for AI, helping organizations secure sensitive data used by Generative AI applications, AI copilots, SaaS AI capabilities, and emerging agentic workflows.
• Collaborate with Sales Engineers to develop account strategies, deliver impactful demonstrations,facilitateworkshops, and execute proof-of-value and proof-of-concept programs.
• Partner with the channel ecosystem to expand market share and accelerate Data Security growth across the region.
• Develop and execute strategic account plans focused on pipeline generation, customer expansion, competitive displacement, and long-term platform adoption.
• Drive ongoing enablement of Proofpoint’s Data Security portfolio across the sales organization through training sessions, office hours, sales updates, role plays, and territory-specific support.
• Maintainaccuratepipeline management, forecasting, and opportunity progression through Salesforce, and related sales tools.

What You Bring to the Team

• Proven success selling Data Security solutions into Enterprise and Strategic accounts.
• Experience with one or more of the following solution areas: Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Data Security Posture Management (DSPM), Insider Risk Management (IRM/ITM), Cloud and SaaS Data Protection, Security Service Edge (SSE)/SASE, AI Security, AI Governance, or AI Risk Management.
• Strong understanding of modern data security challenges across cloud, SaaS, AI, and hybrid enterprise environments.
• Ability to engage executive stakeholders and articulate both business value and technical differentiation.
• Exceptional discovery, presentation, relationship-building, and consultative selling skills.
• Strong strategic account planning, territory management, and forecasting capabilities.
• Ability to thrive in a matrixed environment and build trust across cross-functional stakeholders.
• #LI-KJ1

Why Proofpoint?

At Proofpoint, we believe that an exceptional career experience includes a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Here are just a few reasons you’ll love working with us:

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive benefits
• Career success on your terms
• Flexible work environment
• Annual wellness and community outreach days
• Always on recognition for your contributions
• Global collaboration and networking opportunities

Our Culture:

Our culture is rooted in values that inspire belonging, empower purpose and drive success-every day, for everyone.

We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. If you need accommodation during the application or interview process, please reach out to [e-mail].