Principal Consultant - Technology Sales Leader

Relate Search; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Relate Search is seeking a Principal Consultant to build and lead its sales function across Cincinnati and Columbus. This player-coach role focuses on opening doors with CIOs, developing new-logo opportunities, and shaping a repeatable sales strategy while staying involved with clients.

As growth continues, there is potential to lead a team of Sales Consultants and expand into additional Midwest markets, with a hybrid in-office schedule in Cincinnati.

Qualifications

• Proven success in complex technical sales, consulting, or technology services.
• Hunter who can generate new-logo business and build relationships with CIOs and senior IT leaders.
• Experience leading sales professionals or designing a sales approach with metrics.
• Strong executive presence and communication for client presentations and events.
• Entrepreneurial, collaborative mindset with ownership in long sales cycles.
• Leadership potential to build and shape a growing sales organization.
• Career growth from player-coach to leading multiple Sales Consultants.
• Cincinnati-based role with regular in-office collaboration and flexible schedule.

Responsibilities

• Drive new-logo growth by prospecting independently using various channels.
• Lead client relationships from opportunity through discovery and vendor selection.
• Develop a repeatable sales plan, define metrics, and set team expectations.
• Collaborate with marketing, consulting, and vendors to create opportunities.
• Evolve from player-coach to leading Sales Consultant teams in the region.

Skills

Hunter mindset

Prospecting

Executive presence

Pipeline management

Job description

Relate Search has partnered with a growing IT consulting and technology services organization in their search for a Principal Consultant to help build and lead its sales function across the Cincinnati and Columbus markets. This is a unique player-coach opportunity for a true hunter who can open doors with CIOs and IT leaders, develop new-logo opportunities, and help shape a repeatable sales strategy while remaining actively involved with clients. You’ll partner closely with marketing, consulting, and technology vendors to move opportunities from initial conversations through discovery, strategy, and implementation. As the business continues to grow, this role will evolve into leadership responsibility for a team of Sales Consultants, giving you the opportunity to build a division rather than simply inherit one.

Responsibilities

• Drive new-logo growth by prospecting independently, leveraging existing relationships, client advocates, marketing-qualified leads, industry events, and the organization’s established marketing ecosystem.
• Lead the client relationship from initial opportunity through discovery, strategy, vendor selection, and transaction while partnering with technical consulting teams to develop the right solution.
• Build a repeatable sales approach by creating the sales plan, establishing metrics, defining team expectations, and holding Sales Consultants accountable for results.
• Partner with marketing, consulting, and technology vendors to convert events and market activity into qualified consulting opportunities and long-term client relationships.
• Shape the future sales organization by starting as a player-coach and ultimately leading the Cincinnati and Columbus Sales Consultant teams, with potential expansion into additional Midwest markets.

Qualifications

• Proven success in complex technical sales, consulting, or technology services, with experience across areas such as infrastructure, cybersecurity, networking, telecom, cloud, data, or AI.
• Demonstrated track record as a hunter who can generate new-logo business, independently prospect, build relationships with CIOs and other senior IT leaders, and develop a sustainable pipeline.
• Experience leading sales professionals or designing a sales approach, setting metrics, and holding teams accountable for performance.
• Strong executive presence and communication skills, with the ability to represent an organization through client presentations, industry events, speaking engagements, and thought leadership.
• Entrepreneurial, collaborative mindset with the ability to build something with visible ownership while taking a consultative, trusted-advisor approach to longer sales cycles.
• Leadership Opportunity: Build and shape a growing sales organization rather than step into a fully established structure.
• Career Growth: Opportunity to evolve from player-coach into leadership responsibility for multiple Sales Consultants across Cincinnati and Columbus.
• Flexible Environment: Cincinnati-based role with regular in-office collaboration and flexibility around the workday.

About Relate Search

Relate Search is a Woman, Minority, and LGBTQIA+ owned executive and professional search firm dedicated to connecting top talent with meaningful opportunity. With deep expertise across Supply Chain & Operations, Technology, Sales & Marketing, Human Resources, and Accounting & Finance we deliver customized, people-first recruiting solutions that drive lasting impact.

Equal Opportunity & Diversity Statement

Relate Search is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and are committed to building inclusive teams where everyone belongs. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.