How to apply for Head of Revenue (Commission-based): 4WARD.earth

About 4WARD.earth's Global Climate Network

4WARD.earth has built a trusted global network of 20,000+ climate, cleantech, ocean, and energy professionals across 90 cities and 100+ countries over 4.5 years. Unlike typical climate startups, it already has a strong community asset but lacks a commercial engine—this is a rare opportunity to build revenue from scratch on top of an established, engaged audience. Working here means directly accelerating decarbonization by connecting and monetizing a high-impact network.

About the role

As Head of Revenue, you will design and execute the commercial architecture for 4WARD.earth, starting with sponsorship and advertising across the newsletter, events, platform, and city hub network. This is a hands-on, commission-based role where you'll work directly with the founder and CMO to turn a 20,000+ member network into a sustainable revenue stream. It's ideal for a self-starting closer who thrives on building pipelines from zero and wants to make a tangible impact in climate tech.

A typical day

You'll spend your day prospecting and reaching out to potential sponsors and advertisers, crafting tailored pitches for 4WARD's newsletter, events, and platform. You'll also collaborate with the founder and CMO to refine offerings, track pipeline activity, and close deals, all while working remotely and managing your own schedule. Expect a mix of virtual meetings, email outreach, and strategic planning to build the commercial engine from the ground up.

Who 4WARD.earth's Global Climate Network is looking for

• Proven track record in B2B sales, sponsorship, or advertising sales, with experience closing deals and building pipelines from scratch—not just strategizing.
• Deep understanding of the climate, cleantech, or energy sectors, or demonstrated ability to quickly grasp complex technical topics and speak credibly to stakeholders.
• Self-motivated and entrepreneurial, comfortable working remotely with minimal oversight and motivated by commission-based compensation.
• Strong networker and relationship-builder, capable of leveraging existing connections and creating new ones across the climate ecosystem.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to craft compelling sponsorship packages and close high-value deals.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific deals you've closed, including revenue amounts and client names, to demonstrate your ability to generate sponsorship or advertising revenue.
• Showcase your understanding of 4WARD.earth's unique assets (newsletter, events, platform, city hubs) and propose initial ideas for monetizing them in your application.
• Emphasize your experience in climate, cleantech, or energy sectors—if you lack direct experience, explain how you've successfully sold into technical or mission-driven markets before.
• Address the commission-based structure head-on: express enthusiasm for a performance-driven role and provide examples of how you've thrived in similar compensation models.
• Demonstrate your ability to work remotely and independently by referencing past remote work successes and your self-starter mindset.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your proven ability to build revenue from zero, with concrete examples of pipelines you've created and deals you've closed.", "Why you're excited about 4WARD.earth's mission and specifically how you would approach monetizing their existing network assets.", 'Your familiarity with the climate/cleantech ecosystem and any relevant contacts or networks you could leverage.', 'Your comfort with a commission-based role and your motivation to drive results without a fixed salary.']

Research before applying

• Explore 4WARD.earth's website, newsletter, and social media to understand their brand voice, audience, and current offerings.
• Identify potential sponsors or advertisers in the climate tech space who would benefit from reaching 4WARD's network, and come prepared with ideas.
• Research the founder and CMO's backgrounds and public statements to understand their vision and priorities for the company.
• Look into competitors or similar networks in the climate space to see how they monetize and what gaps 4WARD could fill.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Walk us through a time you built a sales pipeline from scratch—what was your strategy, and what results did you achieve?
• How would you approach selling sponsorship packages for 4WARD.earth's newsletter and events to climate tech companies?
• What metrics would you use to track success in this role, and how would you report progress to the founder and CMO?
• Describe a time you faced rejection or a lost deal—how did you handle it and what did you learn?
• Given the commission-based structure, how do you stay motivated and prioritize your efforts to maximize revenue?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on strategy without demonstrating hands-on sales experience—this role requires a closer, not a planner.
• Ignoring the commission-based nature of the role or expressing hesitation about it, which suggests a lack of fit for a performance-driven environment.
• Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't reference 4WARD.earth's specific assets or mission, showing a lack of genuine interest.