Full-Time

Director Software Sales

Updated on 9/9/2026

Patterson

Patterson

5,001-10,000 employees

Dental and veterinary supply distributor

Compensation Overview

$139.2k - $185.7k/yr

+ Incentive programs

San Francisco, CA, USA + 1 more

More locations: St Paul, MN, USA

In Person

Travel to customer locations required up to 50%.

Bachelor's

Category
Sales & Account Management (1)
Required Skills
Lead Generation
CRM

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Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent education and experience, is required.
  • At least 10 years of progressive experience in software sales, inside sales, or related commercial roles is required.
  • At least 5 years of leadership or people management experience is required.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including persuasive and executive-level communication, are required.
  • Strong leadership and team development skills, including the ability to coach, mentor, and drive performance through others, are required.
  • The ability to build collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders is required.
  • The ability to influence stakeholders and drive alignment across cross-functional teams is required.
  • Data-driven decision-making skills, including forecasting, pipeline management, and performance analysis, are required.
  • The ability to develop and execute sales strategies aligned with business objectives and market opportunities is required.
  • Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate insights into actionable plans, are required.
  • Creativity and originality in developing sales strategies and solutions are required.
Responsibilities
  • Develop and execute short- and long-term sales strategies to drive revenue growth, market share, and profitability.
  • Establish sales territories, quotas, and incentive plans; monitor performance against targets and implement adjustments to optimize results.
  • Ensure a robust pipeline by overseeing lead generation strategies and sales enablement, and by effectively leveraging customer relationship management and sales tools.
  • Partner cross-functionally with Product, Marketing, and Customer Success teams to align go-to-market strategies, product positioning, pricing, and messaging with customer needs and market trends.
  • Refine sales strategies and identify growth opportunities by assessing the market landscape, customer needs, and competitive dynamics, including new customer acquisition and expansion of existing accounts.
  • Oversee forecasting, reporting, and analysis of sales performance, providing insights to support strategic planning and decision-making.
  • Ensure effective delivery of customer-facing sales activities, including presentations, proposals, negotiations, and contract execution.
  • Ensure compliance with company and department policies and standards and perform other assigned duties.
  • Staff the team and manage direct reports, including development, performance management, goal setting, and other managerial duties.
  • Ensure direct reports are aware of and follow ethical business practices and the company's Code of Conduct.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience leading sales teams selling software as a service or commercial software solutions.
  • Experience with subscription-based or recurring revenue models.
  • Experience working in cross-functional go-to-market environments.

Patterson is a health-care distributor that provides dental and animal health products to professionals in North America and the UK. It sources products from manufacturers, stores them in its network, and ships them to dental and veterinary clinics, hospitals, and distributors with a focus on timely delivery. The company differentiates itself through its long history since 1877, its expansion from dental into animal health, and its large multi-market distribution network. Its goal is to be a dependable partner for dental and animal health professionals by offering a broad selection of high-quality products and efficient distribution.

Company Size

5,001-10,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Founded

1877

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Wasi Ahmed joined August 17, 2026 to modernize SAP, cybersecurity, and AI analytics.
  • Patterson now owns its roadmap, avoiding quarterly market pressure after delisting in 2025.
  • Dental software leadership under Patankar targets ARR growth, retention, and higher-margin recurring revenue.

What critics are saying

  • Patient Square’s buyout loads Patterson with private-equity pressure and debt-service discipline.
  • Software transformation under Anish Patankar and Gregg Kunes risks execution slips through 2027.
  • Patterson’s antitrust history with Benco and Henry Schein still threatens buying-group scrutiny.

What makes Patterson unique

  • Patient Square took Patterson private on April 17, 2025, backing long-horizon reinvention.
  • Patterson spans dental and animal health distribution across North America and the U.K.
  • August 2026 CIO, March 2026 CDO, and April 2026 software hires signal platform ambition.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Parental Leave

Adoption Assistance

Professional Development Budget

Mental Health Support

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

6%

1 year growth

6%

2 year growth

6%
Associated Press
Aug 20th, 2026
Patterson Companies appoints Wasi Ahmed as chief information officer

Patterson Companies has appointed Wasi Ahmed as chief information officer, effective 17 August 2026. Ahmed will report to chief executive officer Robert Rajalingam and join the executive leadership team. Ahmed brings over 30 years of technology leadership experience across distribution, manufacturing, software, and consumer products. Most recently, he served as chief technical and chief information officer at Foundation Building Materials, where he led SAP modernisation, cloud transformation, and cybersecurity initiatives. He also oversaw integration of more than 70 acquisitions for a business generating over $7 billion in revenue. As CIO, Ahmed will lead Patterson's enterprise technology strategy, focusing on SAP modernisation, cybersecurity enhancement, and expanding AI and analytics capabilities.

Patterson Companies
Apr 23rd, 2026
Patterson announces senior vice president of dental software.

Patterson announces senior vice president of dental software. April 23, 2026 (ST. PAUL, Minn.) - Patterson Companies has announced the appointment of Anish Patankar as Patterson's new senior vice president and general manager of dental software. Patankar brings over 20 years of experience building and scaling enterprise healthcare software businesses, with a proven record of driving profitable growth, ARR expansion and customer retention across large installed bases. Patankar will report to Dental President Patrik Eriksson and will lead Patterson's software strategy in all key functions. Patankar was most recently the SVP and GM of Oncology Solutions where he was responsible for a $330M+ global software portfolio supporting oncology care devices and delivery across thousands of hospitals. Prior to that, he served as a software solutions provider, founding and scaling new SaaS and informatics product lines to radiology departments and clinics globally. "As we overhaul and invest more deeply in our software strategy, Anish's skill set is a perfect fit for the direction we are heading," said Patrik Eriksson, dental president. "By unifying all software functions, we are positioning ourselves to operate more cohesively and we are thrilled for Anish to be the leader of this change." Ready to start his new role, Patankar said, "I'm excited to bring my previous experiences and expertise to a forward-thinking company like Patterson. I'm ready to dive in and start the work on Patterson's software strategy." Anish Patankar Biography Anish has an MS degree in computer science and engineering from the State University of New York and an MBA from the University of California. He currently lives in the San Francisco Bay area of California. Outside of work, Anish enjoys reading, playing badminton and hiking with his kids.

CXO Insiders
Mar 27th, 2026
Patterson Companies appoints Gregg Kunes as Chief Digital Officer.

Patterson Companies appoints Gregg Kunes as Chief Digital Officer. * March 27, 2026 Patterson Chief Digital Officer Gregg Kunes has officially joined Patterson Companies to lead its digital transformation strategy. The company confirmed these leadership moves to strengthen innovation and accelerate growth. The Patterson Companies have announced the appointment of a new Chief Digital Officer, namely Gregg Kunes. The company seeks to improve its digital skills as well as increase its technology-based activities. Furthermore, the appointment shows the company's continued commitment to digital transformation and modernization. The new Chief Digital Officer will directly report to the company's Chief Executive Officer, namely Robert Rajalingam. He will also oversee the company's overall digital strategy as well as its execution. The new Chief Digital Officer has more than 20 years of experience in digital transformation as well as global operations. He was previously the head of global digital commerce at Thermo Fisher Scientific. There, he led digital channel development across 12 business units. Furthermore, he executed one of the industry's largest global software transformations. Before that, Kunes worked at Amazon as a division leader. He successfully built and managed a digital games and software portfolio from the ground up. Therefore, his experience spans both e-commerce and enterprise digital ecosystems. "We are thrilled to have Gregg join the team at Patterson. Gregg's previous success in delivering innovative and scalable solutions made him the right fit for the role," said Robert Rajalingam, chief executive officer."Patterson is investing in our ongoing digital transformation, and with Gregg now leading that effort, we feel optimistic and excited for this next chapter in the company." Looking forward to his new role, Kunes said, "I'm immensely grateful to join a company like Patterson that is rooted in strong values and committed to the success of their customers. My focus will be on finding ways we can move faster and work smarter to deliver world-class customer experiences in our markets. Digital transformation will be at the core of how we approach making our customers successful." Gregg Kunes background and leadership experience. Gregg Kunes originally comes from Ohio. He earned a master's degree in business from The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business. In addition, he holds a BSE double major in business and chemical engineering from the University of Cincinnati. Currently, Kunes lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Outside work, he actively spends time with his family and coaches youth sports. He also enjoys playing golf and fishing. Moreover, Kunes contributes to social causes through his board role at Autism Speaks in Pittsburgh. He has also developed AI-based solution tools to support children and families dealing with autism. For more stories on technology leaders shaping the future of enterprise solutions, visit its CXO Insiders.

Business Wire
Mar 26th, 2026
Patterson Companies appoints Gregg Kunes as chief digital officer

Patterson Companies has appointed Gregg Kunes as chief digital officer to lead the company's digital strategy. Kunes brings over 20 years of experience, most recently serving as head of global digital commerce at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he led digital channel optimisation across 12 business units and executed the industry's largest global software transformation. Kunes previously worked at Amazon, where he built and led a digital games and software portfolio. He holds a master's degree in business from The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business and a BSE in business and chemical engineering from the University of Cincinnati. The appointment reflects Patterson's commitment to digital transformation as the company seeks to enhance customer experiences across its dental and animal health distribution business in North America and the UK.

Patterson Companies
Nov 21st, 2025
Introducing Patterson's New Chief Compliance Officer: Sarah Foley

Introducing Patterson's New Chief Compliance Officer: Sarah Foley. Sarah Foley was recently promoted to her role as Patterson Companies' Chief Compliance Officer. To help everyone understand her vision for this role and learn more about Sarah (the person), Patterson Companies, Inc. asked her some questions about the broad topic of "compliance." In this Q&A, she shares her perspective on building a strong ethical culture and how compliance serves as a foundation for trust and excellence across its organization. Can you walk Patterson Companies, Inc. through your work experience up until this point? My career has spanned global law firms and multinational corporations, blending deep legal and regulatory expertise with hands-on compliance leadership. I began my journey in the white-collar defense practice groups of top law firms in Washington, D.C. and New York City, where I advised clients across diverse industries facing government investigations. My work centered on helping these companies design and implement strong compliance and regulatory programs that not only resolved investigations but also built lasting cultures of integrity. From there, I transitioned in-house to lead compliance initiatives at Weatherford, a global oil and gas company, and later at The Hershey Company. In both roles, I was tasked with strengthening and expanding existing compliance frameworks across complex international operations. This work took me to more than 35 countries, where I developed and implemented programs and teams that supported ethical business practices around the world. What are you most excited about in this role? I'm thrilled to be leading its compliance and regulatory team as Patterson Companies, Inc. partner with the business to navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. Its mission is to offer clear, practical guidance that helps the business move forward confidently while anticipating and preventing risks before they arise. Patterson Companies, Inc. is focused on showing that compliance isn't just about rules - it's a real driver of smart, sustainable growth. And with the recent integration of compliance, regulatory, and legal into one unified department, Patterson is better positioned than ever to deliver seamless, strategic support for its commercial goals. What does "ethical culture" mean to you, and why is it essential to the long-term success of a company like ours? Ethical culture to me means a set of shared values and behaviors that guide employees and leaders to make decisions that are compliant, fair, and aligned with the Company's principles. It's not only about following laws or compliance rules - it also includes creating an environment where people want to do the right thing. * Bolstering its corporate brand and reputation to retain and attract customers and business partners that want to work with a trustworthy organization. * Driving employee engagement, especially when they feel respected and aligned with the Company's values. * Discouraging misconduct, which helps Patterson Companies, Inc. avoid fines, legal matters, reputational damage, and regulatory scrutiny. * Encouraging better decision-making and empowering employees to make decisions that lead to consistent, sustainable outcomes. * Supporting collaboration and innovation through open dialogue among its employees, which is critical for long-term adaptability and success. How can leadership team's model ethical decision-making in day-to-day business operations? Modeling ethical decision-making strengthens the organization from the inside out. If a potential business decision conflicts with Patterson's compliance, legal, or regulatory standards, it's a sign to pause and reassess. It's important for all of Patterson Companies, Inc. to be open about challenges and mistakes - raising questions and concerns builds credibility and continues to foster a corporate culture where honesty and integrity is the norm. Good ethics equals good business, and that enables long-term success for Patterson. How do you balance the need for compliance with the realities of business performance and growth? I strongly believe that Patterson Companies, Inc. don't need to choose compliance over business performance and growth. Rather, it's about integrating compliance into the business so that it enables performance instead of restricting it. When its team understands business objectives, it can develop solution-forward guidance that helps the Company achieve goals safely and efficiently. In my view, compliance can help shape growth instead of stifling it - and there are ways that its team can support the Company in a manner that manages risk without overregulating the business.