Storage Sales Specialist

Job description

The Storage Sales Specialist is the primary Subject Matter Expert for Storage and related products.

 Responsible for driving storage sales in an assigned territory, industry, or account(s).

Demonstrates solid understanding of the features and benefits in the area of evolving storage technical solutions as well as how HPE solutions are differentiated from the competition.

Maintains an outside-in view, stays abreast of competitors, leverages HPE's opportunities and mitigates challenges.

Exercises deep expertise of end to end data solutions leveraging the HPE storage portfolio and ecosystem of partners.

Effectively uses references to craft a story that makes complex technologies seem simple & understandable for our customers.

 Actively hunts for solution opportunities in acquisition and development accounts to pursue new business.

 Actively generates customer interest and links business & financial benefits with technology.

Brings a services-led approach to build stickiness through consultative engagements and financial constructs.

Laser focused on the channel to forge relationships, provide enablement of key technologies, and co-sell to end-users.

Responsible for the close plan for storage-related opportunities.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for sales of storage products and solutions in assigned territory, industry or accounts.
  
  
• Actively prospects new storage opportunities.
  
  Discovers or cultivates opportunities for storage solutions within existing accounts.
  
  
• Manages, coordinates and drives sales activities.
  
  Builds sales pipeline and drives opportunities to successful closure by effectively using internal sales tools.
  
  Executes pursuit plans as appropriate.
  
  
• Formulates and expands solutions to generate additional product or service attachments and up sell to increase revenue.
  
  
• Build sales readiness and reduces client learning curve through effective knowledge transfer in storage.
  
  
• Coordinates supporting sales activities related to pipeline hygiene through account managers, Presales, channel partners and other relevant stakeholders.
  
  
• Effectively uses internal sales tools for maintaining a healthy pipeline and the account plan in a timely fashion.
  
  
• Collaborates across the HPE teams to deliver a consistent approach to developing business, including account planning for end to end solutions.
  
  
• Negotiates profitable deals so the company can expand opportunities based on existing business and increase the company's footprint and revenue in storage.
  
  
• Establishes a professional and consultative relationship with the client by developing an intermediate understanding of the unique business needs of the client within the industry.
  
  Works with the client up to the IT management level.
  
  
• Interfaces with both internal and external/industry experts to anticipate customer needs and facilitate solutions development.
  
  
• Focuses on and works with the channel to forge relationships, provide enablement of key technologies, and co-sell to end users.
  
  
• Coordinates marketing campaigns (digital/new techniques) associated with storage to ensure successful launches, alignment with the account strategy, and the maintenance of campaign momentum.
  
  
• Supports deal closure in partnership with relevant internal stakeholders, including account managers and channel partners.
  
  

Education and Experience:

• University or Bachelor's degree preferred.
  
  
• Demonstrated achievement of progressively higher quota, interfaces with diverse business customers.
  
  
• Typically 2-5+ years of sales experience.
  
  
• Storage related sales experience preferred.
  
  

Knowledge and Skills:

Storage Specialist- Sales Acumen & Behaviors:

• Possesses expertise to be able to assess solution feasibility from a technical and business perspective, to determine qualify-in/qualify-out status.
  
  
• Uses expertise to negotiate profitable deals, so that the company can expand opportunities based on existing business and increase footprint and revenue in storage.
  
  
• Demonstrates hunter mentality to actively pursue solution opportunities in acquisition and development accounts, and to pursue new business.
  
  
• Possesses the ability to independently articulate the technical solution and the commercial benefits to the client.
  
  
• Possesses knowledge and expertise to conceptualize and articulate well-targeted solutions in storage, from proposal to contract sign-off.
  
  
• Possesses knowledge of digital and modern methods to connect and sell.
  
  

Technology Focus:

• In depth knowledge about storage, service, cloud, solution and differentiators between own offerings and what competitors offer.
  
  
• Understands the outside-in view and possesses solid knowledge of industry trends.
  
  Stays abreast of competitors and key partner/ISV solutions, including both traditional and emerging vendors.
  
  Leverages HPE's opportunities and mitigates challenges.
  
  
• Proactively uses knowledge in the storage specialty to help customers make IT business decisions.
  
  

Solutions Acumen:

• Applies specialized storage technical product/service/solution knowledge in working with account teams to screen and prioritize multiple leads for feasibility.
  
  
• Partnering Acumen
• Understands how and when to engage different types of partners effectively, and is able to map the right partner to an opportunity.
  
  

Leadership:

• Solid communication and presentation skills (for presenting within IT at the manager level).
  
  
• Shows positive behaviors and an approachable demeanor when dealing with others.
  
  
• Understands how changing requirements and unintended consequences impact success, and builds contingencies to manage these factors.
  
  
• Willing to take calculated risks in line with the vision from senior leadership.
  
  

Other:

• Possesses adequate understanding of financial acumen.
  
  Grows the business and achieves overall financial metrics (revenue, gross margin, retention, cost control).
  
  

Impact/Scope:

• Account size ranges; may work in a Small-Medium, Enterprise, or Corporate Segment; varied sales cycle.
  
  
• Average size quota.
  
  

Complexity:

• Participates in general sales strategy; defines specific sales plans with manager.
  
  
• Independently sells a storage product/solution.
  
  
• Selling role may be transactional and/or demand generation focused.
  
  
• May work with and leverage external partners to deliver sale.
  
  
• May interface with any level in customer organization; focused mainly on specialist buyers, e.g. IT.
  
  

Required Skill Profession

Other General