VP Sales — Bay Area
Company: Thrive Aviation
Role summary
VP Sales — Bay Area is a full-time role at Thrive Aviation in California, United States (on-site). Posted 2026-10-06. Experience level: 10+.
- Job title
- VP Sales — Bay Area
- Company
- Thrive Aviation
- Location
- California, United States
- Work arrangement
- on-site
- Employment type
- full-time
- Category
- Sales
- Experience level
- 10+
- Date posted
- 2026-10-06
Here's a fantastic opportunity to lead sales for a private aviation company in the vibrant Bay Area. This role is perfect for someone with a strong network and a knack for building relationships with high-net-worth and corporate clients, offering the chance to drive significant growth and close high-value deals.
Job description
Description
Arulean Air LLC is seeking a VP Sales to serve as the primary client-facing sales professional in the Bay Area territory. Per industry convention in private aviation, the "VP" title reflects client-facing seniority; the core mission of this role is direct relationship building with high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and corporate clients, driving pipeline growth, and closing high-value contracts. The ideal candidate brings deep connections within the Bay Area's technology, venture capital, and finance ecosystems and can articulate the value of private aviation through the lens of time efficiency and productivity — the language that resonates most with this market.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities
1. Client Acquisition & Relationship Management
Develop and manage a portfolio of HNWI and corporate client relationships within the Bay Area territory
Conduct consultative, solution-oriented sales — presenting private aviation as a productivity and time-efficiency tool, resonating with ROI-driven and data-oriented tech/VC clients
Make initial contact with leads handed off from Inside Sales within 24 hours
Build and expand relationships through personal networking, industry events, and Arulean Air's affinity partnerships
Nurture long-term client relationships to drive retention, renewals, and referrals
2. Pipeline & Quota Management
Own and deliver individual territory revenue and pipeline targets
Maintain a disciplined sales cadence: prospecting, lead follow-up, proposal development, negotiation, and close
Keep the territory pipeline consistently healthy across volume, quality, and velocity
Log all client touchpoints, deal stages, and forecast data in CRM with accuracy and timeliness
Report pipeline, progress, and challenges to Head of Sales in weekly 1-on-1s
3. Proposal & Negotiation
Prepare and deliver compelling proposals and presentations to prospective clients
Negotiate high-value contracts with sophistication and integrity
Articulate the performance, features, and competitive advantages of both program aircraft, the HondaJet HA-420 (light jet) and the Bombardier Challenger 3500 (super-midsize), clearly and persuasively
Coordinate with CSO on program content, pricing, and competitive positioning as needed
4. Territory & Market Development
Leverage deep knowledge of Bay Area affluent market segments: technology, venture capital, biotech, finance, and startup ecosystems
Tailor messaging and value propositions to tech-savvy prospects who prioritize ROI, data, and efficiency
Identify and pursue new prospect pools through industry-specific networking (tech conferences, VC events, founder communities) and strategic partnerships
Maintain current knowledge of key Bay Area airports (SJC, OAK, SFO, SQL, PAO, CCR, etc.) and regional travel patterns
Monitor competitive activity within the territory and report insights to Head of Sales and CSO
5. Cross-Functional Collaboration
Head of Sales: Weekly 1-on-1s for pipeline review, territory strategy, and key deal consultation
CSO: Coordinate on program content, pricing, and competitive responses
Inside Sales: Receive lead handoffs; record contact results and prospect temperature in CRM for feedback loop
Marketing Manager: Co-plan Bay Area local events and provide prospect insights to inform campaign design
CEO: Request executive-level support for key client meetings through Head of Sales
6. Compliance
Strictly comply with company disclosure restrictions — do not disclose undisclosed program details even to clients
Maintain ethical sales practices and uphold Arulean Air's brand standards in every client interaction
Escalate unclear or sensitive client questions to Head of Sales or CSO immediately
Required Qualifications
Experience
7+ years of progressive sales experience in a high-value, relationship-driven environment
Minimum 3 years of direct client-facing sales in private aviation, fractional ownership, charter brokerage, luxury real estate, financial services, or comparable luxury/HNWI market
Proven track record of consistently meeting or exceeding individual revenue quotas
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with C-suite executives, startup founders, venture capitalists, and high-net-worth individuals
Existing network within the Bay Area technology and finance community strongly preferred
Skills & Competencies
Consultative Selling: Ability to diagnose client needs and propose tailored solutions; comfort positioning private aviation as a business productivity tool
Relationship Building: Exceptional interpersonal skills with the credibility and sophistication to engage HNWI and executive-level clients, particularly within the tech/VC ecosystem
Negotiation: Proven ability to navigate complex, high-value contract negotiations with integrity
Product Knowledge: Ability to articulate the performance, features, and competitive advantages of the HondaJet HA-420 (light jet) and the Bombardier Challenger 3500 (super-midsize), and to match each client mission to the right aircraft; private aviation industry knowledge required
CRM Discipline: Proficiency in Salesforce or comparable CRM platforms with strong data hygiene habits
Communication: Excellent verbal and written skills; polished presentation ability; comfort with data-driven conversations
Self-Direction: Ability to manage a territory independently with minimal supervision while maintaining alignment with organizational goals
Market Knowledge: Deep understanding of the Bay Area tech, VC, and startup landscape; familiarity with the business culture and networking channels of this ecosystem
Education
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field required
MBA or advanced degree preferred