How to apply for Sales Manager (m/w/d) – B2B Partner Channel

About 1KOMMA5°

1KOMMA5° is a European climate-tech scale-up founded in 2021 that integrates photovoltaics, heat pumps, EV charging, and dynamic electricity tariffs into a single CO2-neutral building solution. With over 65 locations and 1,500 employees across Europe and Australia, it combines decentralized clean energy hardware with an IoT platform called Heartbeat to optimize energy use automatically. Working here means joining a fast-growing, mission-driven company that is actively rolling out the energy transition rather than just talking about it.

About the role

As a Sales Manager for the B2B Partner Channel, you will own and grow relationships with installation partners, craft businesses, and channel resellers who deploy 1KOMMA5° products and services. You will be the bridge between the company's energy technology portfolio and external sales partners, driving revenue through enablement, co-selling, and pipeline development. This role is remote in the US, so you will need to be a self-starter who can build a partner ecosystem from the ground up while collaborating with European headquarters.

A typical day

A typical day might start with a pipeline review call with the European channel team, followed by virtual partner meetings to onboard a new installer or co-develop a sales campaign. You could spend the afternoon creating enablement materials, analyzing partner performance data, or traveling to a partner site for a training session. Expect a mix of strategic planning, relationship building, and hands-on support to help partners succeed with 1KOMMA5°'s products.

Who 1KOMMA5° is looking for

• 3–5+ years of B2B sales or channel management experience, ideally in renewable energy, HVAC, solar, or building technology sectors.
• Proven track record of recruiting, onboarding, and growing partner networks that generate recurring revenue.
• Strong understanding of decentralized energy systems (PV, heat pumps, storage, charging) and the ability to translate technical value into partner-friendly sales narratives.
• Comfortable working remotely across time zones with a European HQ, and willing to travel to partner sites and industry events across the US.

Tips for this application

• Highlight any experience you have with partner/channel sales in energy, construction, or home improvement — 1KOMMA5° cares more about your ability to enable partners than about generic SaaS sales.
• Quantify your partner recruitment and revenue results (e.g., 'onboarded 25 installers, generating $2M in annual partner-sourced revenue') because this role is measured on channel growth.
• Show familiarity with 1KOMMA5°'s product suite (Heartbeat, Dynamic Pulse, PV, heat pumps) in your application — mention how you would position these to US partners.
• Address the remote-US context directly: explain how you will build relationships with European colleagues and US partners despite time-zone differences.
• If you have experience with craft businesses (Handwerk) or installer networks, emphasize it — 1KOMMA5°'s model depends on strong local craft partnerships.

What to cover in your cover letter

Emphasize your ability to recruit and enable B2B partners in the energy or building technology space, with concrete metrics. Show that you understand 1KOMMA5°'s decentralized energy ecosystem and can articulate why partners would benefit from joining it. Demonstrate cultural alignment with a fast-scaling, mission-driven climate tech company, and outline a 30-60-90 day plan for building the US partner channel. Finally, address how you will collaborate effectively with a European headquarters while operating remotely in the US.

Research before applying

• Study 1KOMMA5°'s acquisition strategy and its portfolio of acquired craft businesses to understand how the partner channel fits into the broader ecosystem.
• Research the US residential and commercial energy market, including incentives like the Inflation Reduction Act, to speak credibly about partner opportunities.
• Learn about Heartbeat and Dynamic Pulse in detail — understand how they differentiate 1KOMMA5° from competitors like Tesla Energy or Sunrun.
• Look into 1KOMMA5°'s recent funding rounds, expansion plans, and leadership team to tailor your questions and show genuine interest.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you identify and prioritize potential B2B partners (installers, craft businesses, energy consultants) in the US market for 1KOMMA5°?
• Describe a time you turned a underperforming partner into a top performer — what specific actions did you take?
• How do you explain the value of Heartbeat and Dynamic Pulse to a partner who is skeptical about smart energy management?
• What KPIs would you use to measure the health of the B2B partner channel, and how would you report them to European leadership?
• How would you handle a partner who is technically capable but struggles with sales, and what enablement resources would you create?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on direct sales experience without demonstrating channel or partner management skills — this role is about enabling others to sell, not selling directly.
• Ignoring the technical nature of the products; candidates who cannot discuss PV, heat pumps, or energy management will struggle to gain partner trust.
• Applying with a generic resume that doesn't mention renewable energy, construction, or partner ecosystems — tailor your materials to show industry fit.