Strategic Account Executive – Aerospace & Defence (France)

Company Description

IFS is a billion-dollar revenue company with 7000+ employees on all continents. Our leading AI technology is the backbone of our award-winning enterprise software solutions, enabling our customers to be their best when it really matters–at the Moment of Service™. Our commitment to internal AI adoption has allowed us to stay at the forefront of technological advancements, ensuring our colleagues can unlock their creativity and productivity, and our solutions are always cutting-edge.

At IFS, we’re flexible, we’re innovative, and we’re focused not only on how we can engage with our customers but on how we can make a real change and have a worldwide impact. We help solve some of society’s greatest challenges, fostering a better future through our agility, collaboration, and trust.

We celebrate diversity and understand our responsibility to reflect the diverse world we work in. We are committed to promoting an inclusive workforce that fully represents the many different cultures, backgrounds, and viewpoints of our customers, our partners, and our communities. As a truly international company serving people from around the globe, we realize that our success is tantamount to the respect we have for those different points of view.

By joining our team, you will have the opportunity to be part of a global, diverse environment; you will be joining a winning team with a commitment to sustainability; and a company where we get things done so that you can make a positive impact on the world.

We’re looking for innovative and original thinkers to work in an environment where you can #MakeYourMoment so that we can help others make theirs. With the power of our AI-driven solutions, we empower our team to change the status quo and make a real difference.

If you want to change the status quo, we’ll help you make your moment. Join Team Purple. Join IFS.

Job Description

IFS is expanding its footprint in the French Aerospace & Defence market and seeks a senior strategic software business leader to drive growth across key accounts. You will work as part of both the IFS One Europe & LatAm team and the Global Aerospace & Defence team, collaborating closely across regional and global stakeholders.

IFS is independently recognised as a leading global supplier of enterprise software specifically designed for the A&D market, providing solutions for:

• Aerospace & defence manufacturing – supporting complex industrial programs
• Commercial aviation – delivering solutions for airlines and MRO providers
• Defence – enabling regulated programmes and military operations
• Fleet and asset management – optimising lifecycle performance
• Military logistics – supporting supply chain and readiness
• Services and performance-based logistics – driving efficiency and value

This position offers the opportunity to lead strategic new sales pursuits within the account set while also growing existing complex engagements. In addition, there is scope to extend IFS’s reach by developing relationships across the broader French defence and aerospace supply chain. The role is ideal for ambitious, commercially-driven leaders seeking to grow IFS’s presence in France.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, update, and own the Key Account Strategy for named strategic accounts
• Drive the end-to-end sales process, from customer engagement and understanding customer needs and buying processes, through to ownership of the RFI/RFP process
• Take overall responsibility for customer satisfaction, working closely with IFS service delivery and partner teams
• Coordinate with the Global Aerospace & Defence Team to build a strong internal collaboration network and secure appropriate support into the region
• Lead and coordinate ecosystem partners in support of complex A&D opportunities
• Engage with executive-level and state-adjacent stakeholders to secure alignment and drive strategic outcomes

Qualifications

Essential skills / experience

• Extensive experience selling large, complex enterprise software solutions
• Proven track record in enterprise sales at C-level with customers exceeding €1bn revenue
• Demonstrated success with large transactions and lengthy sales cycles in a fast-paced, consultative, and competitive market
• Sales experience within the defence, aerospace and/or government sector
• Strong knowledge of the Aerospace & Defence industry
• Strong oral and written business presentation skills
• Fluency in English (French strongly preferred)
• Proven ability to lead multi-functional teams and orchestrate complex partner ecosystems

Preferred skills / experience

• Enterprise software sales experience, preferably in a related industry
• Experience leading large, complex accounts and driving value-based outcomes
• Familiarity with regulated procurement environments and public-sector sales processes

Additional Information

We believe that coming together as a community, in person, is important for innovation, connection and fostering a sense of belonging. Our roles have the right balance of remote and in-office working to enable flexibility for managing your life along with ensuring a real connection with your colleagues and the broader IFS community.