Sales Development Representative
TITLE: Sales Development Representative
REPORTS TO: Chief Executive Officer
JOB POSITION: Full Time, Exempt LOCATION: Des Plaines, IL 60016 (Chicago Area) – 4 Days in Office, 1 Day Remote We Preserve the Planet to Protect the Future.
Why Sterling Labs? Sterling Labs is committed to providing our clients with high-quality, reliable, and efficient testing services. Our analytical data has a tremendous impact on protecting human health and the environment. From our Chicagoland labs, we offer extensive nationwide support to both federal agencies and local, private businesses across the U.S.
We are seeking highly motivated people who want to invest in their skills and career, be rewarded for initiative, and thrive in a collaborative environment. At Sterling Labs, we value teamwork, continuous improvement and growth, and empowered ethical decision-making. Our Core Values:
- We strive for Integrity in Everything We Do. We're honest and transparent in our actions and decisions.
- We are Customer-Focused. We prioritize our customers' needs and value their feedback.
- We are Never Satisfied and are dedicated to continuous improvement. We always seek ways to improve and adapt to changing needs.
Position Overview:
The Sales Development Representative (SDR) is a key contributor to the success of our growing company. A new position in the organization, the SDR will leverage their outstanding communication skills to identify, contact, and qualify potential customers. By building our sales function and measuring results, the SDR will focus on customer acquisition, retention, and expansion to capitalize upon growth opportunities.
Key Responsibilities:
- Identify Potential Customers: On an ongoing basis, conduct research and identify prospective clients through various channels, including social media, industry events, and online databases, to generate a healthy sales pipeline.
- Nurture Leads: Contact and nurture prospects via a high-volume of cold calls, emails, and other methods to initiate and maintain interest in partnering with Sterling Labs.
- Qualify Leads: Uncover the needs and interests of prospective customers to determine their potential as sales qualified leads (SQLs).
- Set Appointments: Schedule meetings for the CEO and executive team with qualified leads.
- Assist with Closing Deals: Partner directly with the CEO and executive team to escort customers through close, including tracking, communication, contracts, and documentation.
- Collaborate with Customer Success: Work closely with the customer success team to develop strategies for expanding existing client work and ensuring customer retention.
- Structure and Maintain CRM: Research and implement the best Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system for our growing business. Accurately record, manage, and report lead information to optimize the sales funnel.
- Continuous Improvement: Work to continually improve outreach and qualification processes, identifying the most efficient and effective communication approaches for customers most likely to convert to purchase.
- Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with industry trends, market developments, and competitor activities.
Key Qualifications:
- 1-3 years of B2B sales experience or related coursework; BA/BS required.
- A self-starter with a “can do” mentality and realistic time management skills to achieve sales quotas.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, willing to engage in a high volume of daily calls and emails.
- Strong ability to build and maintain relationships with potential clients.
- Has an eye for details and can organize them into patterns and processes.
- Sales CRM experience (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot, Air Table, etc.) and proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word)
Additional Considerations:
- Competitive base salary with clear, attainable commission structure based on results.
- 4 days in office in Des Plaines, IL (Greater Chicago Area) and 1 day remote.
- Occasional travel (<10%) outside of the Chicagoland area may be required to events, conferences, or meetings.
- Expected to provide one’s own transportation for local events and/or client meetings within the Chicagoland area.