Strategic Account Executive

joinhandshake.com; United States; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in a fast-growing company

401(k) match and financial coaching

Parental leave and fertility benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Job summary

Handshake is seeking a Strategic Account Executive to join our Strategic New Business team, focused on landing net-new Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 employers not yet partnered with Handshake. This is a pure hunter role with high-visibility cycles, building pipeline through proactive outreach and closing complex six-figure partnerships with senior HR and business leaders.

You will inherit a defined book of named accounts, own the full sales cycle from initial meetings through executive alignment,

Qualifications

• 4+ years of SaaS closing experience, including enterprise or strategic customers.
• Proven track record of net new logo acquisition and meeting quotas (President’s Club preferred).
• Experience closing complex six-figure deals with multiple stakeholders and long sales cycles.
• Strong outbound and account planning skills, owning a defined book and building pipeline.
• Ability to lead executive-level conversations, articulate value, and run a disciplined sales process.

Responsibilities

• Inherit a defined book of named accounts and own the full sales cycle from planning to close.
• Travel to engage customers, host events, and win in-person negotiations.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to align on strategy and proposals.
• Maintain forecasting hygiene and manage deals across monthly/quarterly rhythms.

Skills

SaaS closing

Enterprise selling

Quota attainment

Outbound prospecting

Executive negotiations

Job description

ABOUT HANDSHAKE

Handshake was founded on a simple belief that everyone deserves a path to a great career, regardless of where they went to school or who they know. Today, we power 25 million job seekers, 1 million+ employers, and 1,600 educational institutions.

In 2025, we started Handshake AI and built the fastest-growing AI data business in history. We work directly with frontier AI lab researchers to create evaluations, publish benchmarks, and push the boundary of data. We’ve grown from $0 to ~$1B run rate and pay ~$60M to over 30K individuals every month.

Why join Handshake now:

• Shape how every career evolves in the AI economy, at global scale, with impact your friends, family and peers can see and feel
• Partner hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the world’s top educational institutions
• Work together with engineers, scientists, operators, and more from Palantir, Meta, Scale AI, and former YC founders
• Build a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenue

THE ROLE

We’re hiring a Strategic Account Executive to join our Strategic New Business team, focused on landing net new Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 employers that do not yet partner with Handshake. This is a pure hunter role, built for a seller who thrives in high-visibility deal cycles, creates pipeline through proactive outreach, and can close complex six-figure partnerships with senior HR and business leaders.

You will inherit a defined book named accounts and own the full sales cycle end to end, from account planning and first meetings through executive alignment, negotiation, and close. You will operate with high autonomy and minimal support, and you will be expected to travel, host customers, and win in the room.

YOU HAVE

Must-Haves:

• 4+ years of SaaS closing experience, including 2+ years selling into enterprise or strategic customers
• Proven track record of net new logo acquisition and consistent quota attainment (President’s Club strongly preferred)
• Experience closing complex six-figure deals with multiple stakeholders and longer sales cycles
• Strong outbound and account planning skills, with comfort owning a defined book and building pipeline proactively
• Ability to lead executive-level conversations, position value, and run a disciplined sales process end to end
• High ownership and scrappiness, with comfort creating your own materials and running your own demos without heavy support
• Strong forecasting hygiene and deal management discipline across monthly and quarterly rhythms
• Willingness to travel regularly and engage in in-person selling, customer events, and relationship-building

Bonus Points:

• Experience selling HR tech, recruiting software, or workforce solutions into Fortune 500 employers
• Background as an enterprise AE with 2 to 5 years tenure looking to step up into strategic new business
• Existing relationships with senior HR, TA, or early talent leaders at large employers

WE OFFER

Handshake delivers benefits that help you feel supported and thrive at work and in life.

The below benefits are for full-time US employees.

• Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing company
• Financial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coaching
• Family Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coaching
• Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, $500 wellness stipend
• Growth: $2,000 learning stipend, ongoing development
• Remote & Office: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office
• Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex days
• Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses

Explore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers http://joinhandshake.com/careers.