Role guide
Net revenue retention is the cheapest growth you have. We hire customer success managers, renewals specialists and CS leaders who own a number, not just a relationship.
Key facts
£60k–£80k base
$110k–$135k base
Typical enterprise CSM ARR under management
From kick-off, every engagement
The market has split. Some CS teams are adoption and support functions; others own renewal, expansion and a quota. Hiring for the wrong one is the most common mistake we see, and it shows up nine months later as flat NRR.
We define which model you are running first, then map candidates who have carried that exact accountability at your ACV and segment.
Customer success manager, enterprise CSM and strategic account director. Renewals manager and renewals lead. Technical account manager and implementation consultant. Director and VP of customer success.
For technical products we usually run CS and pre-sales searches in parallel, because the strongest candidates for each often surface in the other pool.
We ask for gross retention, net retention, book size and expansion attainment, and we check them. A CSM who inherited a healthy book and held it is a different hire from one who turned around a churning portfolio, and both are valid, but you should know which one you are getting.
2026 pay benchmarks
| Role | UK | US | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-market AE | £70k–£85k base · £140k–£170k OTE | $120k–$140k base · $240k–$280k OTE | 50/50 split standard, quota 4–5x OTE |
| Customer Success Manager | £60k–£80k base · £70k–£95k OTE | $110k–$135k base · $130k–$165k OTE | Renewal-owning CSMs carry a larger variable |
Full dataset: 2026 GTM salary and hiring benchmarks. Model the cost of a vacant seat with the quota loss calculator.
FAQ
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