Founding NYC Sales Director

Encord is the universal data layer for AI that helps 300+ AI teams train and run models on the right data. Our platform indexes, curates, annotates, and evaluates data across the full AI lifecycle, from development through production. Trusted by Woven by Toyota, AXA, UiPath, Zipline, and more.

We're an ambitious team of 100+ working at the frontier of AI and have raised $60M in Series C funding from Wellington Management, CRV, Next47 and Y Combinator.

The role

We're opening our brand-new NYC office and looking for a founding Sales Director to lead US revenue growth. This is a rare opportunity to join as one of the first quota-carriers at a hyper-growth AI infrastructure startup — reporting directly to the Head of Global Sales and working alongside the co-founders. When successful, you'll build and lead the US commercial team.

What You'll Do

• Own and drive US revenue growth — taking the product to market and scaling to $millions in ARR
• Navigate complex, full-cycle enterprise and mid-market sales with leading tech businesses, from fast-growing startups to Fortune 500s
• Manage your pipeline end-to-end: prospecting, discovery, negotiation, and closing
• Partner with the Head of Global Sales on GTM strategy, ICP expansion, and new verticals — with a clear path to owning a geography, sector, or team within 12 months
• Become the best person in the company at pitching and explaining our product
• Represent Encord externally — at industry events, in senior customer relationships, and across the broader AI ecosystem
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, and Customer Success to shape the roadmap and inform go-to-market decisions
• Step up wherever needed: marketing, events, community, onboarding — this is a founding team role

• You're ambitious, competitive, and deeply invested in your career
• You're happiest when working hard and solving challenging problems — you know it requires dedication and some sacrifice, but you think it's worth it
• You want to rise faster than a conventional path allows and you're willing to roll up your sleeves to make it happen
• You've consistently performed in the top percentile of whatever environment you've been in — academia, business, sport, or sales
• You're entrepreneurial and want to be part of building a business, not just executing a playbook
• You're looking for a company that gives you the growth and learning opportunity to become a future leader

• 7–12 years of experience in GTM roles at B2B SaaS companies, with several years as a high-performing quota carrier
• Strong commercial intuition with the ability to build rapport and influence at all levels — from junior operators to CTOs
• The gravitas to sell to senior leadership (e.g. CTOs) or the ability to get there quickly
• Track record of top-percentile performance in sales, academia, sport, or any competitive environment you've entered
• Hunger to become exceptional at sales, with an eye toward future leadership

• Competitive salary, commission, and meaningful equity in a high-growth startup
• Clear, accelerated growth — founding team opportunity with a path to leading the US commercial org
• Strong in-person culture: 3–5 days/week in our brand-new NYC office
• 18 paid vacation days + federal holidays, and flexible PTO to fully recharge
• Annual learning & development budget
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
• Frequent travel across the US, London, and Europe
• Bi-annual company offsites, twice-weekly team lunches, and monthly socials