Sales Director - Africa

Ziff Davis; United States; Remote; USD 80,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Sales Director to drive market growth in Southern & Eastern Africa. This pivotal role involves building relationships within the connectivity ecosystem, expanding revenue streams, and executing strategic initiatives. The ideal candidate will leverage their extensive experience in enterprise sales and SaaS solutions to deliver impactful results. Join a collaborative team that values innovation and excellence, and contribute to a mission of enhancing connectivity for all. If you're ready to make a significant impact in a fast-paced environment, this opportunity is for you.

Benefits

Competitive Compensation

Paid Time Off

Best Hardware and Software

Flexible Work Environment

Qualifications

• 10+ years in enterprise sales or business development, preferably in telecom or technology.
• Proven success in meeting sales targets in Africa, with B2B and B2G experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead business development and account growth efforts across the region.
• Create compelling value propositions demonstrating the impact of solutions.

Skills

Enterprise Sales

Business Development

Commercial Leadership

SaaS-based Solutions

Negotiation Skills

Data-driven Approach

Fluency in English

French Proficiency

Job description

Description Position at Ookla

Ookla is a global leader in connectivity intelligence, offering unparalleled network insights through the combined expertise of Speedtest, Downdetector, RootMetrics, and Ekahau. Ookla’s datasets blend crowdsourced and controlled, public and private collection methods, QoS and QoE metrics, and more to unlock correlations and actionable insights—helping organizations optimize networks, enhance digital experiences, and create better connected experiences for end-users.

Our team is a group of passionate individuals inspired by possibility. We seek team members who love solving problems, are motivated by challenges, and enjoy turning clever ideas into exceptional products. Working with us means using Ookla’s solutions to advance our mission of better connectivity for all.

We are hiring a Sales Director for our Southern & Eastern Africa Sub-Region to play a pivotal role in executing Ookla’s market development growth strategy across the region. This senior role is ideal for a dynamic, highly driven professional skilled in building trusted relationships, expanding revenue streams, and working at the intersection of sales, strategy, and technology.

In this role, you will:

• Lead business development and account growth efforts across the region, identifying new opportunities and deepening existing client engagement.
• Develop meaningful relationships within the connectivity ecosystem, including telecom operators, ISPs, regulators, and strategic partners.
• Deliver business results through data-driven consultative selling, value articulation, and strong execution.
• Create sales enablement assets such as case studies, pitch materials, and best practices.

We value a flexible, collaborative, and growth-oriented work environment where individuality, impact, and passion for excellence are celebrated.

Expectations for Success

1. Drive revenue growth and market share through strategic customer engagement and new business development.
2. Develop and execute comprehensive account and territory plans with strategic growth initiatives.
3. Create compelling value propositions demonstrating the impact of Ookla’s solutions.
4. Actively oversee all stages of the sales cycle from lead generation to closure.
5. Successfully sell SaaS-based network performance and analytics solutions, with a strong understanding of business strategy.
6. Exhibit leadership capabilities, inspiring teams and aligning stakeholders to achieve goals.
7. Leverage an established network within the telecommunications ecosystem.
8. Fluency in English required; French proficiency is a strong advantage.
9. Be highly collaborative, effective in fast-paced, cross-functional environments.
10. Willing to travel across Africa (50–70%) for client and partner engagement.

Responsibilities & Experience

We are looking for the right person, not a specific list of requirements. If your life experience has prepared you for similar challenges, we want to hear from you.

• 10+ years in enterprise sales, business development, or commercial leadership roles, preferably in telecom, technology, or network performance sectors.
• Proven success in meeting or exceeding sales targets in Africa, with a good grasp of B2B and B2G engagement models.
• Experience selling SaaS-based network intelligence, analytics, or performance solutions.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Existing network in the South-East African telco and connectivity ecosystem.
• Ability to develop and implement account plans, strategies, and growth roadmaps.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills; fluency in English; French is a plus.
• Data-driven, outcome-oriented, with a structured approach to pipeline development, forecasting, and reporting.
• Willing to travel extensively across Africa (50–70%).
• Team player with an entrepreneurial mindset and high accountability.

Benefits

We care about our people and our work. Our benefits include competitive compensation, paid time off, and the best hardware, software, and tools to support your work. Visit our Built In Seattle page for more about working at Ookla. Benefits vary by location.

If you’re passionate about this role, we welcome your application. We value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer. Read our latest diversity report here.