Head of Revenue (Commission-based): 4WARD.earth

Build the commercial engine behind the world's largest independent climate and energy ecosystem. 💚

At 4WARD.earth, we've spent 4.5 years building something genuinely rare: a trusted global network of 20,000+ climate, cleantech, ocean, and energy professionals across 90 cities and 100+ countries. The asset is built. The commercial layer isn't. That's the job.

We're looking for a commercially driven, self-starting Head of Revenue to build and own 4WARD's revenue from the ground up, starting with sponsorship and advertising and expanding from there. This is for someone who has sold before, closed before, and knows how to build a pipeline from zero. Not a strategist. A closer.

🎯 About This Opportunity

You'll work directly with 4WARD's founder and CMO to design and execute the commercial architecture the network has never had. Your primary mandate is sponsorship and advertising revenue across 4WARD's newsletter, events, platform, and city hub network, with latitude to identify and build additional revenue streams as traction develops.

Time commitment: Full primary focus required. This is not a side project role.

Location: Remote, with preference for candidates in Europe or the Americas.

Compensation: Commission-based (20 to 25% of revenue generated), retainer triggered at defined monthly revenue threshold, equity stake with four-year vesting and 12-month cliff.

1️⃣ Sponsorship and Advertising Sales

4WARD's primary commercial opportunity in the near term is monetising its newsletter reach, event network, and platform audience through brand partnerships and sponsorships.

You will:

🎯 Build and manage a sponsorship pipeline from zero across ESG software, green finance, climate recruitment, and energy sectors

📧 Own outreach, follow-up, and closing for all sponsorship and advertising deals

📊 Develop tiered sponsorship packages across newsletter, events, city hubs, and digital placements

🤝 Manage existing and new brand partner relationships end to end

💰 Hit and exceed monthly revenue targets you help define

2️⃣ Commercial Architecture and Revenue Diversification

Sponsorship is the starting point, not the ceiling. As traction develops, you'll have latitude to identify and activate additional revenue streams.

You will:

🔍 Identify the highest-value near-term revenue opportunities beyond sponsorship

🏗️ Design and test premium membership, jobs board, or corporate access products

📈 Build repeatable commercial processes and sales playbooks the team can scale

🧩 Work with the CMO and platform team to align commercial products with audience data

📋 Report weekly on pipeline, conversion, and revenue trajectory

3️⃣ Partnership and Corporate Revenue

4WARD's network of 1,380+ climate investors and 20,000+ professionals is a significant commercial asset for corporates seeking access, intelligence, and deal flow.

You will:

🏢 Develop corporate membership and ecosystem access products for enterprise buyers

🤝 Build and close commercial partnerships with corporates, accelerators, and innovation teams

📑 Structure and negotiate revenue-generating partnership agreements

🌍 Identify and activate co-commercial opportunities across 4WARD's 90 city hub network

🔗 Connect commercial pipeline to 4WARD's existing consulting and advisory revenue base

🌟 What You'll Gain

🌱 Genuine equity ownership in a built global asset at an early commercial stage

💸 Uncapped commission on all revenue you generate, with a retainer trigger as performance builds

🌍 Access to a global network of 20,000+ climate and energy professionals to build from

🤝 Direct working relationship with the founder and senior team

⏳ A clear path to CRO as the commercial engine scales

📋 What We're Looking For

Background and experience:

• Proven track record closing B2B sponsorship, media, or partnership deals - ideally in media, events, SaaS, or ecosystem platforms

• Experience building a sales pipeline from zero rather than inheriting an existing book

• Comfortable working commission-only in the near term with significant equity upside

• Strong written outreach and deal communication skills

• Existing network in climate, cleantech, ESG, or adjacent sectors is a strong plus

Key skills and qualities:

🎯 Commercial: You close deals. Not strategy decks about deals. Actual closed deals.

🔨 Builder mentality: You've started pipelines from nothing and made them produce.

📞 Persistent: Follow-up is a skill. You have it and you use it without being told.

🧠 Strategic: You can identify the highest-value opportunity in a noisy landscape and focus there.

🌱 Mission-aligned: You care about what 4WARD is building, not just the commission.

💚 Compensation and Benefits

This is a commission-based role with meaningful equity upside for the right person:

20 to 25% commission on all revenue personally generated, uncapped for the first two years

Monthly retainer triggered once recurring revenue hits a defined threshold

Equity stake of 1 to 2% vesting over four years with a 12-month cliff, with milestone-based acceleration tied to revenue targets

Direct access to 4WARD's full network, data room, and commercial infrastructure from day one

A clear path to Chief Revenue Officer as the commercial function scales

🌍 Apply to Join as Head of Revenue

👉 Apply here: https://4ward.earth/volunteer

Accelerating decarbonization through global, collaborative climate tech innovation and networking.