| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Sales and Business Development |
| Level | Entry level |
| Reports to | Pre-Sales Manager |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 1 to 4 years in pre-sales, sales support or a technical role |
Pre-Sales Executive job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Pre-Sales Executive
Department: Sales and Business Development
Reports to: Pre-Sales Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Pre-Sales Executive supports the sales team with the technical and solution side of deals, preparing demos, proposals and responses before a deal closes. They understand customer needs, help shape the solution, build presentations and answer product questions. A good pre-sales executive makes the offering clear and convincing and frees sales to focus on the relationship. The role reports to a pre-sales or sales manager and works closely with sales and product teams on opportunities.
Key responsibilities
- Understand customer requirements shared by the sales team for each opportunity.
- Prepare and deliver product demonstrations tailored to the customer.
- Build presentations, solution notes and proposal content for deals.
- Support responses to requests for proposal and technical questionnaires.
- Answer product and solution questions from customers during the sale.
- Set up and maintain demo environments and reusable sales assets.
- Gather customer feedback and share product gaps with the team.
- Coordinate with product and technical teams on solution details.
- Keep solution documents and demo scripts current as products change.
- Report pre-sales support activity and outcomes to the reporting manager.
Requirements
- Graduate in business, engineering or a relevant field
- Good presentation and communication skills
- Interest in products and solutions
- 1 to 4 years in pre-sales, sales support or a technical role
KRAs and KPIs for a Pre-Sales Executive
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Demo quality | Demos rated positively by sales and customers |
| Proposal support | Proposal and RFP inputs delivered within the agreed time |
| Solution fit | Solutions proposed match customer needs with few reworks |
| Win support | Supported deals show win rate at or above the target |
| Asset readiness | Demo environments and assets kept current and working |
| Responsiveness | Sales requests for support answered within the agreed time |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: CRM platform, Demo environments, Presentation tools, Proposal tools, MS Excel.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Pre-Sales Executive, Pre-Sales Manager, Solution Sales Specialist
Interview questions for a Pre-Sales Executive
- How do you prepare a demo for a specific customer?
- How do you explain a product clearly to a non technical buyer?
- How do you support a proposal or RFP response?
- How do you handle a product question you cannot answer on the spot?
- How do you keep demo environments ready and current?
- Tell me about a demo or proposal that helped win a deal.
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What does a pre-sales executive do?
A pre-sales executive supports the sales team with the technical and solution side of deals. They understand customer needs, prepare and deliver demos, build presentations and proposal content, and answer product questions. They maintain demo environments, share product feedback and coordinate with product teams, making the offering clear and convincing so sales can focus on the relationship.
What is the difference between pre-sales and sales?
Sales owns the customer relationship, the commercials and closing the deal. Pre-sales supports with the solution side: understanding requirements, demos, proposals and technical answers. Pre-sales makes the case that the product fits, while sales drives the deal to close. On complex deals the two work as a pair, each playing a distinct part.
Do you need a technical background for pre-sales?
It helps but is not always required. For technical products, an engineering or technical background makes demos and questions easier. For many business products, strong presentation skills, quick learning and the ability to understand customer needs matter more. A pre-sales executive can build technical depth on the job while relying on clear communication and coordination.