About the role
About Handshake
Handshake was founded on a simple belief that everyone deserves a path to a great career, regardless of where they went to school or who they know. Today, we power 25 million job seekers, 1 million+ employers, and 1,600 educational institutions.
In 2025, we started Handshake AI and built the fastest-growing AI data business in history. We work directly with frontier AI lab researchers to create evaluations, publish benchmarks, and push the boundary of data. We’ve grown from $0 to ~$1B run rate and pay ~$60M to over 30K individuals every month.
Why join Handshake now:
Shape how every career evolves in the AI economy, at global scale, with impact your friends, family and peers can see and feel
Partner hand-in-hand with world-class AI labs, Fortune 500 partners and the world’s top educational institutions
Work together with engineers, scientists, operators, and more from Palantir, Meta, Scale AI, and former YC founders
Build a massive, fast-growing business with billions in revenue
About The Role
As an Public Sector Account Director, you will be crucial in building and closing deals within the State & Local Government (SLG) sector. You will develop and nurture relationships with key stakeholders, identify opportunities, and drive the sales process from lead generation to deal closure across your named accounts. This role requires in-depth knowledge of the hiring needs and challenges of large and medium-sized SLG employers and an acute understanding of how they function and the human capital challenges they face. It will also require strategic thinking, relationship building, and a strong focus on achieving revenue targets. You will:
Develop and cultivate deep relationships with senior executives within prospective human capital departments, among other key stakeholders
Meet or exceed annual quota by generating sufficient volume of high-quality meetings with SLG and its large departments and agencies
Understand a department or agencies’ business drivers, challenges and pain points
Navigate SLG procurement processes and contracting
Schedule, manage and run large department meetings with senior economic buyers within high-value SLG Departments
Generate well-qualified pipeline and revenue to achieve 100% of annual quota attainment
Lead participation in industry events to drive new business development
Coordinate large-scale efforts across various departments to drive enterprise-wide agreements
Utilize Salesforce.com on a daily basis to manage activity, leads, follow-up and pipeline
You Have
Proven knowledge of SLG government procurement process and contracting
5+ years of Account Executive experience selling Saas based solutions into the SLG space
Success in pitching and closing six-figure deals
Experience navigating and building relationships within large departments and agencies within the SLG
Proven ability to negotiate large government contracts while developing off-cycle pipeline and new lead generation
Excellent customer-facing skills and ability to manage a room of senior government officials
Ability to navigate complex contract structures
A strong history of quota attainment and excellent performance
Experience preparing account plans and business value narratives
Proven ability to collaborate successfully with a go-to-market team
We Offer
Handshake delivers benefits that help you feel supported and thrive at work and in life.
The below benefits are for full-time US employees.
Ownership: Equity in a fast-growing company
Financial Wellness: 401(k) match, competitive compensation, financial coaching
Family Support: Paid parental leave, fertility benefits, parental coaching
Wellbeing: Medical, dental, and vision, mental health support, $500 wellness stipend
Growth: $2,000 learning stipend, ongoing development
Remote & Office: Internet, commuting, and free lunch/gym in our SF office
Time Off: Flexible PTO, 15 holidays + 2 flex days
Connection: Team outings & referral bonuses
Explore our mission, values, and comprehensive US benefits at joinhandshake.com/careers.
Aplyr's read
Handshake is a dynamic career networking platform connecting students with employers, ideal for tech-savvy individuals passionate about bridging education and career opportunities.
What's promising
- •Handshake's focus on student-employer connections addresses a specific niche in the recruitment market.
- •Recent roles emphasize innovation in AI and technology, suggesting a forward-thinking work environment.
- •The platform's growth offers opportunities in diverse fields from software engineering to strategic management.
What to watch
- •Competition from established recruitment platforms may challenge Handshake's market position.
- •Rapid expansion might strain resources and affect company culture.
- •Limited public information about employee satisfaction and internal career development.
Why Handshake
- •Handshake specifically targets the student demographic, setting it apart from general job platforms.
- •The company's integration of AI in recruitment processes highlights a commitment to technological advancement.
- •Handshake's partnerships with educational institutions enhance its credibility and reach within the student community.
Aplyr’s read is generated by AI from public sources. Was it useful?
About Handshake
Handshake is a career networking platform designed to connect students and employers, facilitating job opportunities and internships.
