What are the responsibilities and job description for the Founding Account Executive position at Talentfoot Executive Search and Staffing?
A pioneering AI compliance company is transforming how HR technology vendors build trust in an increasingly regulated landscape. Operating as the independent monitor for AI hiring systems, this venture-backed startup has achieved remarkable organic growth, scaling from 4 to 40 customers in under a year without a dedicated salesperson. With 75% of customers based in the US despite launching from the UK, the company has been pulled into the American market by sheer demand, a powerful signal of genuine product-market fit. Backed by notable investors including Playfair Capital, the company is building the trust layer for AI systems while maintaining a thoughtful, resourceful approach to growth. As they establish their Austin presence and prepare to scale systematically from 40 to over 120 customers by end of 2026, they are seeking their first Founding Account Executive to operationalize a proven founder-led motion and define the future of their go-to-market engine.
Position Overview
This is an exceptional opportunity to join as the first sales hire at a company with genuine product-market fit, warm referrals, and a 50% inbound pipeline. Unlike most founding AE roles that require heavy cold outbound in ambiguous markets, you will inherit a proven sales motion with high-intent prospects, strong customer references, and a product that is simple to demo and fast to onboard. You will own a critical vertical in HR Tech vendors while working closely with the CEO on tier one opportunities, giving you direct visibility into company strategy and decision-making. With a two to four week sales cycle, minimal procurement barriers, and customers who actively promote working with the company to win their own deals, you will have the rare advantage of a network effect driving demand. This role offers clear paths to Enterprise Account Executive or Sales Manager positions as the company scales, with meaningful equity participation in a rapidly growing business that is building something sustainable and impactful in the AI compliance space.
Position Responsibilities
Position Qualifications
Talentfoot Overview
Talentfoot Executive Search specializes in future proofing organizations by securing forward-thinking leaders across sales, marketing, eCommerce, product, data, operations, finance, and technology with a track record of accelerating growth, innovation and profitability. Since 2010, we've partnered with more than 2,500 companies and lead the industry with a 98% client success rate. Learn more at Talentfoot.com
Position Overview
This is an exceptional opportunity to join as the first sales hire at a company with genuine product-market fit, warm referrals, and a 50% inbound pipeline. Unlike most founding AE roles that require heavy cold outbound in ambiguous markets, you will inherit a proven sales motion with high-intent prospects, strong customer references, and a product that is simple to demo and fast to onboard. You will own a critical vertical in HR Tech vendors while working closely with the CEO on tier one opportunities, giving you direct visibility into company strategy and decision-making. With a two to four week sales cycle, minimal procurement barriers, and customers who actively promote working with the company to win their own deals, you will have the rare advantage of a network effect driving demand. This role offers clear paths to Enterprise Account Executive or Sales Manager positions as the company scales, with meaningful equity participation in a rapidly growing business that is building something sustainable and impactful in the AI compliance space.
Position Responsibilities
- Run full-cycle sales from discovery through close, managing a pipeline of 25 to 35 deals at varying stages with deals averaging 15K to 20K in annual recurring revenue
- Take ownership of tier two and tier three vendor deals independently while partnering with the CEO on major tier one opportunities with companies of 500 plus employees
- Convert a robust mix of inbound leads that comprise 50% of pipeline, event-driven leads at 20%, and build additional pipeline through strategic outbound prospecting and re-engagement of closed-lost accounts
- Conduct compelling product demonstrations showcasing audit reports and onboarding workflows, with CTO support available for deeper technical questions as needed
- Drive toward a 600K minimum annual revenue target with stretch goals up to 1M, leveraging a differentiated commission structure that rewards net new business development alongside inbound conversion
- Maintain rigorous pipeline hygiene and forecasting accuracy using Attio, ensuring clean data and predictable revenue projections
- Identify and suggest improvements to messaging, sales processes, and enablement tools as you learn what resonates most effectively with prospects
- Partner cross-functionally with product, engineering, and marketing teams to bring valuable customer insights into how the platform evolves and how the company positions itself
- Travel quarterly to US-based conferences and occasionally to London for team collaboration, serving as the on-the-ground presence in the Austin market
- Support future renewals and expansions as the customer base matures, building foundation for long-term customer success and growth
Position Qualifications
- A proven track record of 3 to 8 years in full-cycle SaaS sales with consistent quota attainment and the ability to manage 20 to 30 plus deals simultaneously
- Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail with demonstrated ability to run a clean, accurate pipeline and deliver reliable forecasts
- Entrepreneurial mindset with genuine excitement about fast-paced, early-stage environments where building and improving processes is part of the daily work
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with eagerness to contribute ideas beyond the sales function to product development, customer onboarding, and marketing initiatives
- Proactive, curious, and hungry approach to professional growth with ambition to evolve into bigger roles such as Enterprise AE or Head of Sales as the company scales
- Comfortable engaging with both business leaders and technical stakeholders, translating complex compliance concepts into clear business value
- Based in Austin or willing to relocate, with ability to work in office three days per week and authorization to work in the United States
- Experience selling into HR Tech vendors, staffing agencies, or adjacent markets where understanding of hiring workflows and compliance considerations is valuable
- Familiarity with AI, machine learning, or regulatory technology, particularly in contexts involving fairness, bias mitigation, or compliance auditing
- Track record of success in early-stage companies where you wore multiple hats and helped define sales processes from the ground up
- Demonstrated ability to balance high-volume deal management with strategic account development and relationship building
- Experience working with or alongside technical teams, with ability to understand product nuances and translate them into customer-facing conversations
Talentfoot Overview
Talentfoot Executive Search specializes in future proofing organizations by securing forward-thinking leaders across sales, marketing, eCommerce, product, data, operations, finance, and technology with a track record of accelerating growth, innovation and profitability. Since 2010, we've partnered with more than 2,500 companies and lead the industry with a 98% client success rate. Learn more at Talentfoot.com