Hire Head of Sales
Sales leaders who coach closers, not build slide decks
Contingency search for first sales leaders at VC-backed startups. Hire a coach for a small team, not a VP who needs an org that does not exist yet.
Bottom line
Vektor helps Series A and Series B teams hire a first Head of Sales when you need coaching for a small AE team, not a full enterprise GTM rebuild. We vet for player-coach signal and stage fit. Pay nothing until start, with a 90-day replacement guarantee.
- Player-coach profile for teams of roughly 3 to 8 sellers
- Delay this seat until AE motion and early team exist
- Vetted for coaching and close credibility, not title chasing
- Pay on start; 90-day replacement guarantee
FAQ
When is it too early for a Head of Sales?
If founders still close most revenue and you have fewer than a few AEs, hire another closer first. A leader without a team burns cash and calendar.
What do you screen for?
Ability to coach early AEs, run forecast hygiene, and still jump on critical deals. We look for stage-fit leadership, not enterprise process theater.
Is retained search required?
Not always. Many early Head of Sales seats work on contingency with clear SLAs. Retained fits rarer C-level mandates.
What happens if the leader is a miss?
If they leave for performance or fit within 90 days of start, we run a replacement search at no additional placement fee.
What does a Head of Sales search cost?
Fees are negotiated from a 20% floor of first-year base salary, paid only when the candidate starts. No retainer unless the mandate is a rare C-level search.
Are you a Los Angeles recruiting firm?
Yes. Vektor Talent is based in Los Angeles and hires early sales leaders for VC-backed startups across the U.S. and Canada.
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