How to apply for Director of Sales, Middle East

About Planet

Planet operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history and delivers that data through a cloud platform. It is both a space company and a data company, serving commercial, environmental, humanitarian, and government users. Employees work remotely worldwide or from offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.

About the role

This director leads the regional sales organization for the Middle East. The focus is on national security, defense, and government accounts. The role owns the go-to-market strategy for the region and is accountable for accelerating revenue growth there.

A typical day

The job posting does not describe a daily routine, so ask about it in the interview. Expect a remote role with calls across Middle East and global time zones, work on regional pipeline and forecasts, and direct engagement with government and defense customers. Ask how much travel the role requires.

Who Planet is looking for

• Has led a regional sales organization, not just carried an individual quota, in the Middle East.
• Has sold into national security, defense, or government buyers in the Middle East and understands their procurement cycles.
• Can build and execute a go-to-market plan for a data or software product, not only hardware.
• Is comfortable working remotely with a global team and can travel across the region as needed.

Tips for this application

• Name the Middle East countries you have sold into and the specific government or defense accounts you have closed.
• Quantify revenue growth you have delivered in the region, with deal sizes and sales-cycle length.
• Explain how you have sold data or cloud platforms, since Planet sells satellite data via a cloud platform, not just imagery.
• State your language skills and your right to work or travel status in the region, since the role is remote and covers multiple countries.
• Reference Planet's constellation and platform by name in your materials to show you understand the product you would sell.

What to cover in your cover letter

Your record of leading a regional sales team in the Middle East. Your experience selling to national security, defense, or government buyers. A concrete go-to-market plan you executed and the revenue result. Why satellite data as a product fits your sales background.

Research before applying

• Planet's satellite constellation and the cloud platform customers use to access the data.
• Planet's existing customers and case studies in government, defense, and national security.
• Procurement rules and buying cycles for defense and government agencies in the Middle East countries you would cover.
• Planet's remote-first structure and which office or time zone you would report into.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would build a go-to-market plan for national security and defense accounts across the Middle East.
• A specific regional deal you led from first contact to close, including the procurement process.
• How you would manage a distributed sales team across multiple Middle East countries.
• How you would position Planet's satellite data and cloud platform against competitors in the region.
• How you would forecast and report regional revenue to global leadership.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without naming specific Middle East countries or accounts you have sold to.
• Describing sales experience only in commercial sectors when the role centers on national security, defense, and government.
• Treating the role as an individual contributor job when it requires leading a regional sales organization.