Chief Sales Officer

Company Overview

OpenClassrooms is a mission‑driven online education platform founded in 2013 that offers open‑access courses and accredited diploma programs across tech, data, education, marketing, HR, energy renovation, healthcare, and social services delivered 100% online. The company emphasizes practical learning through professional projects and mentorship.

Role

Chief Sales Officer – responsible for French‑speaking markets (and future US scope), driving growth of approximately €30 million in annual bookings, reporting to the CEO.

Key Responsibilities

• Sales strategy and execution – develop and implement a commercial strategy and AI‑powered sales engine for employers, students, and social programs, targeting companies from small to enterprise and scaling globally.
• Enrollment strategy and delivery – streamline student onboarding, orientation, admission, contractualization, and apprenticeship matching to maximize quality enrollee numbers and reduce conversion cycles.
• Team leadership – build and inspire a high‑performing sales and student‑enrollment team (≈30 people), fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Operational excellence – design and deploy best‑in‑class sales operations, training, and technology (including AI and automation) to optimise efficiency, data‑driven decisions, and productivity.
• Cross‑functional leadership – collaborate with C‑level executives and the board on commercial initiatives, strategy alignment, and stakeholder communication.
• Customer outcomes – set ambitious sales targets, track pipeline, forecast accurately, and drive renewal, upselling, and customer‑success initiatives.

Key Objectives

• Achieve and exceed orders and bookings targets across employers, students, and social programs.
• Improve sales pipeline velocity and conversion rates, and enhance forecast accuracy.
• Optimise contribution margins, reduce cost per enrollee, and increase average contract size.

Key Metrics

• Orders
• Bookings
• # of enrollees
• Avg booking per enrollee
• Cost of sales per enrollee
• Avg contract size
• Cost of sales per contract
• # renewal rate
• € renewal rate

Competencies Required

• Leadership & Team Management
  • Proven success in leading diverse, high‑performing teams while fostering collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
  • Ability to inspire trust, influence stakeholders, and drive organisational change aligned with company goals.
• Sales Expertise & Operations
  • Strong business acumen and a proven track record of developing strategies that drive B2B and B2C growth.
  • Demonstrated ability to optimise commercial operations, increase client engagement, and enhance brand visibility.
• Customer Services Excellence
  • Design and manage scalable customer‑service processes to enhance satisfaction, retention, and loyalty.
  • Proficient in pre‑sales and post‑sales support to ensure high service levels.
• Operational Excellence
  • Expertise in designing scalable processes and implementing technology, automation, and AI for workflow efficiency.
• Strategic Vision & Innovation
  • Navigate complex challenges and craft creative solutions, including the use of generative AI.
  • Align short‑term execution with long‑term goals to deliver measurable outcomes.
  • Influence regulatory environments to position the company as a key industry leader.
  • Data‑driven decision‑making.
• Adaptability & Change Leadership
  • Thrive in dynamic, fast‑paced settings, demonstrating resilience and adaptability.
  • Entrepreneurial mindset focused on impactful change in a scale‑up environment.

Languages

• C2 level in French.
• At least C1 level in English (C2 highly recommended).

Location

OpenClassrooms is a remote‑first organisation with offices across the EU and the US. The role may be based anywhere in the EU or the US, with a preference for France (Paris). Regular travel to Paris is required, with online meetings aligned to European time zones.

Reporting Line, Direct Reports & Key Stakeholders

The role reports to CEO Pierre Dubuc and manages approximately 30 staff, including a Apprenticeship Sales Director, Sales Operations Director, Student Sales Manager, and Enrollment Manager. The position partners with other C‑level executives and participates in the executive team.

Our Perks

• Hybrid setup: minimum two days per week in the Paris office.
• Work environment based on company values: we care, we dare, we persist, we tell it as it is.
• Comprehensive health insurance fully covered by OpenClassrooms.
• Sport and wellness allowance and access to Moka Care mental‑health solution.
• Swile Restaurant Vouchers.
• Transportation reimbursement in Île‑de‑France (Navigo pass fully paid).
• 30 paid vacation days per year.
• 5 caretaker days per year.
• Company MacBook for work purposes.
• Access to OpenClassrooms’ training catalog.

OpenClassrooms values diversity and inclusive hiring. All candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of gender, age, orientation, origin, or disability.