Senior Director, Sales- DACH

The Senior Director, Sales — DACH is a senior first-line sales leadership role responsible for building and driving a high-performing team of Strategic Account Executives focused on net-new logo acquisition and expansion across enterprise accounts in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH). This leader owns a significant ARR target and is accountable for the full sales cycle — from pipeline creation through close — within the DACH region. This is a high-visibility, high-impact role that sits at the intersection of enterprise sales leadership and DACH market GTM strategy. You will translate Talkdesk’s business objectives into a regional execution plan, serve as a brand ambassador for the Talkdesk CX platform, and partner closely with Marketing, Product, Channel, and Customer Success to drive durable growth across this strategic European market. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Team Leadership & Coaching Lead and manage a team of DACH-based Strategic Account Executives focused on net-new and expansion opportunities across enterprise accounts in the region. Coach, mentor, and develop AEs to drive high-quality pipeline creation, deal execution, and quota attainment across DACH-specific buying cycles and regional market nuances. Foster a performance culture grounded in accountability, high empathy, and genuine investment in individual career progression. Partner with Sales Enablement to ensure the team is skilled on Talkdesk messaging, competitive positioning, and AI capabilities tailored to the DACH market. Revenue & Strategy Ownership Own regional DACH strategy and planning, ensuring customer retention, net-new growth, and expansion across core Talkdesk solutions — AI-powered contact center, customer experience automation, and workforce engagement management. Use a data-driven approach to territory design, forecasting accuracy, and pipeline development aligned to Talkdesk’s consumption-based pricing model, adapted for local business practices in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Translate Talkdesk’s business objectives into a regional DACH execution strategy, ensuring alignment with broader European and corporate goals. Build and maintain a healthy, predictable pipeline (3–4x coverage) and deliver accurate monthly and quarterly forecasts to senior leadership. Executive Engagement & Brand Actively engage with executive stakeholders at key DACH accounts; lead strategic sales meetings, attend QBRs, and build trusted long-term relationships across a localized enterprise client portfolio. Serve as a brand ambassador for Talkdesk, championing our CX vision and differentiating against CCaaS competitors across the DACH market. Represent Talkdesk at local industry events, conferences, and customer forums relevant to the DACH region. Cross-Functional Partnership Collaborate closely with Marketing, Product, Channel, and Customer Success to craft localized go-to-market campaigns, product feedback loops, and customer success programs tailored to the needs of the DACH enterprise customer base. Develop and maintain deep fluency in the Talkdesk solution portfolio — including AI/automation capabilities and key ecosystem integrations (CRM, WFM, and region-specific platforms) — as well as the broader European CCaaS landscape. Provide competitive intelligence and market feedback to Product, Marketing, and GTM leadership to inform roadmap, localized product requirements, and positioning decisions. QUALIFICATIONS Experience 5+ years in a senior customer-facing sales leadership role directly managing teams in the DACH region. Proven success leading teams selling to DACH enterprise accounts, with strong command of local, complex, multi-stakeholder buying cycles, European procurement processes, and regional data privacy requirements (e.g., GDPR). Experience working for a global B2B SaaS company that has scaled successfully through rapid growth, ideally establishing a strong foothold in Central Europe. Demonstrated track record of exceeding regional ARR targets, including net-new logo acquisition and expansion, in complex European enterprise environments. Experience with 6- and 7-figure ACV deal cycles; proficiency with enterprise sales methodologies (MEDDIC, MEDDPICC, or equivalent) preferred. Familiarity with CCaaS, CX technology, or adjacent platforms (UCaaS, AI/automation, WFM) strongly preferred. Language skills: Native-level or completely fluent written and spoken German, and professional fluency in English. Leadership & Team Building Excellent people management skills — high empathy, strong consideration for local workplace cultures, and genuine commitment to individual career progression. Experience building and scaling world-class local sales teams, including hiring, onboarding, and structured enablement across the DACH market. Demonstrated ability to coach AEs through complex, multi-threaded deals and develop talent at all levels of the team. Competencies Strong command of consumption-based and SaaS pricing models; ability to translate Talkdesk’s value proposition into compelling business outcomes for DACH enterprise clients. Understanding of the development and implementation of large-scale, mission-critical enterprise applications. Exceptional executive communication, presence, and relationship-building skills in both German and English business contexts. Ability to operate with speed and clarity in a high-growth, fast-moving environment across a dynamic regional market. YOU’LL THRIVE AT TALKDESK IF… You lead from the front — you’re in the deals, coaching in real time, and setting the standard for how the team sells in DACH. You hold yourself and others accountable without losing the culture — direct, fair, and outcomes-focused. You’re a builder — energized by growing a regional team, opening new accounts, and winning across the DACH market. You thrive in ambiguity and bring a clear point of view, even when the European regulatory and competitive landscape is complex or shifting. You operate with speed, cultural intelligence, and intellectual curiosity, and you don’t let regional nuances slow you down. Talkdesk is pioneering a new era of Customer Experience Automation (CXA), redefining how the world’s most admired brands interact with their customers through AI. Our global team of courageous innovators is customer-obsessed, building AI-first solutions that put empathy, trust, and transparency at the center of every interaction. We foster an inclusive culture where diverse perspectives drive our success and every voice belongs. Combining the stability of a global leader with the agility of a disruptor, Talkdeskers are empowered with the autonomy to drive meaningful impact, while giving back to the communities and environment around us. Talkdesk has been recognized as a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) and in the G2 Overall Grid® Reports for AI Agents and Contact Center. With seven consecutive years on the Forbes Cloud 100 and multiple AI Breakt