Sales Manager

Sales Manager at What's Next AI

What's Next AI is an AI agency based in the Netherlands. We're a fast-growing team building AI solutions for businesses. Not talking about AI, but doing it: LLM integrations, AI agents, automation platforms. All in Python.

We're part of a larger group, but operate as our own team. Minimal meetings, maximum output, and you largely decide how you approach your work.

The Role

We're looking for a Sales Manager who can open doors, build relationships, and close deals for AI projects that actually make a difference for clients.

You work directly with our CEO. You own the pipeline: from first outreach to signed proposal. You're not selling a product off a shelf. You're selling custom AI solutions to Dutch mid-market companies, which means you need to understand what we build, ask the right questions, and translate client problems into opportunities.

This is a hunter role. You go after the right companies, get in the room, and make things happen.

What you'll do

• Own outbound: identify target companies, build prospect lists, and run outreach via LinkedIn, email, and your own network

• Qualify leads: understand the client's situation well enough to know whether there's a real opportunity

• Lead discovery calls and first meetings, together with or on behalf of the CEO

• Manage the sales pipeline in our CRM: keep it clean, move deals forward, flag blockers early

• Hand off qualified opportunities to the CEO for proposal and closing, or take the lead yourself as you grow into the role

• Build and maintain relationships with prospects even when the timing isn't right yet

• Feed back market signals to the team: what objections come up, what problems clients are trying to solve, what competitors are doing

Who you are

You know how to start a conversation and how to keep it going. You're not the type to wait for inbound. You pick up the phone, send the message, show up at the event. At the same time, you're sharp enough to know that pushing too hard kills deals. You read people well and you adjust.

You don't need to be a technical expert. But you need to be genuinely curious about AI and comfortable enough to have a credible conversation about what it can and can't do for a business.

What we're specifically looking for:

• 3-7 years of experience in B2B sales, business development, or account management

• Proven track record of hitting targets in a consultancy, agency, or solution-selling environment

• Experience selling to mid-market companies, ideally in the Netherlands

• Strong prospecting skills: you know how to build a pipeline from scratch

• Comfortable leading discovery conversations and translating client problems into commercial opportunities

• Familiarity with CRM tooling and a structured approach to pipeline management

• Love for AI tools and innovation

• Excellent Dutch and strong English

Nice to have:

• Experience selling technology, software, or consulting services

• An existing network in Dutch mid-market or relevant verticals

• Affinity with AI or automation, even if not technical

What we offer

• €3,500 - €5,500 gross per month, plus 8% holiday allowance and performance-based bonus

• 32-40 hour work week, your choice

• Hybrid working from Rotterdam, minimum 2 days in the office

• A team that builds real AI solutions, which gives you something genuinely worth selling

• Direct collaboration with the CEO: short lines, fast decisions, real ownership over your pipeline