Manager, Sales Development

at Decagon · Vertical AI · New York, NY · Sales

Manager, Sales Development at Decagon, a conversational AI platform company. Responsible for hiring, training, and scaling a team of SDRs to drive pipeline and fuel sales growth. Collaborates with GTM leadership to refine outreach strategies and optimize processes.

What you'd actually do

  1. Lead and scale a team of 6-10 BDRs focused on Enterprise and Strategic segments
  2. Hire and train new SDRs on Decagon’s product, buyer personas, competition, and tools
  3. Set and maintain a high-performing culture by overseeing daily activities and managing quota performance of individual SDRs
  4. Develop and execute career development plans for direct reports; inclusive of but not limited to daily 1:1 mentoring, coaching on time management, objection handling, prospecting tactics, and active listening skills
  5. Strategize with cross-functional leaders and partners including Sales, RevOps, and Marketing on pipeline and prospecting initiatives to exceed company goals

Skills

Required

  • 2+ years of experience leading a sales development team at a SaaS company
  • 1-3+ years of quota-carrying sales experience as an individual contributor, with a proven, consistent track record exceeding goals
  • Prior demonstrated success in fast-paced, results-oriented GTM environments
  • Ability to motivate and coach SDRs to exceed performance metrics and develop into future sellers
  • Experience collaborating cross-functionally with Marketing, Sales, and RevOps to optimize lead flow and conversion rates
  • Proficiency in Salesforce and familiarity with email and call automation platforms
  • Ability to leverage data to drive decisions, create systems, and identify process improvements to improve efficiency
  • Strong collaboration and influencing skills, demonstrated through excellent communication and presentation skills

Nice to have

  • 1-3+ years of personal closing experience in a full cycle sales role in SaaS
  • Experience managing teams prospecting to Fortune 500 or Global 2000 accounts
  • History of building at a high-growth startup
  • Passionate about fostering a positive, high-energy team culture while driving consistent results

What the JD emphasized

  • scaling a high-performing team of SDRs
  • drive top-of-funnel pipeline
  • fuel our sales growth
  • build and manage a team of 6-10 SDRs
  • account-based prospecting
  • multi-threaded outreach
  • sophisticated qualification of enterprise opportunities
  • refine outreach strategies
  • optimize processes
  • develop the next generation of sales talent
  • building and defining the sales development motion
  • high-growth startup
  • Enterprise and Strategic segments
  • quota performance
  • career development plans
  • daily 1:1 mentoring
  • coaching on time management
  • objection handling
  • prospecting tactics
  • active listening skills
  • pipeline and prospecting initiatives
  • exceed company goals
  • team performance
  • forecast to senior leadership
  • improving team output and efficiency
  • optimizing systems and processes
  • comprehensive enablement programs
  • continuously improve SDRs’ prospecting skills
  • accelerate development into world class sellers
  • leading a sales development team
  • SaaS company
  • quota-carrying sales experience
  • individual contributor
  • proven, consistent track record exceeding goals
  • fast-paced, results-oriented GTM environments
  • motivate and coach SDRs to exceed performance metrics
  • develop into future sellers
  • collaborating cross-functionally
  • optimize lead flow and conversion rates
  • hiring
  • thoughtful approach to team planning and development
  • proficient in Salesforce
  • familiar with email and call automation platforms
  • leverage data to drive decisions
  • create systems
  • identify process improvements
  • improve efficiency
  • collaboration and influencing skills
  • excellent communication and presentation skills
  • personal closing experience
  • full cycle sales role
  • SaaS
  • managing teams prospecting to Fortune 500 or Global 2000 accounts
  • history of building at a high-growth startup
  • fostering a positive, high-energy team culture
  • driving consistent results
Read full job description

About Decagon

Decagon is the leading conversational AI platform empowering every brand to deliver concierge customer experiences.

Our technology enables industry-defining enterprises like Avis Budget Group, Block’s Cash App and Square, Chime, Oura Health, and Hunter Douglas to deploy AI agents that power personalized, deeply satisfying interactions across voice, chat, email, SMS, and every other channel.

We’re building a future where customer experiences are being redefined from support tickets and hold music to faster resolutions, richer conversations, and deeper relationships. We’re proud to be backed by world-class investors who share that vision, including a16z, Accel, Bain Capital Ventures, Coatue, and Index Ventures, along with many others.

We’re an in-office company, driven by a shared commitment to excellence and velocity. Our values — Just Get It Done, Invent What Customers Want, Winner’s Mindset, and The Polymath Principle — shape how we work and grow as a team.

About the Role:

As a Manager, Sales Development at Decagon, you’ll be responsible for hiring, training, and scaling a high-performing team of SDRs to drive top-of-funnel pipeline and fuel our sales growth. You will build and manage a team of 6-10 SDRs who specialize in account-based prospecting, multi-threaded outreach, and sophisticated qualification of enterprise opportunities. You’ll collaborate closely with GTM leadership to refine outreach strategies, optimize processes, and develop the next generation of sales talent.

This role is perfect for someone passionate about building and defining the sales development motion at a high-growth startup.

In this role, you will

  • Lead and scale a team of 6-10 BDRs focused on Enterprise and Strategic segments
  • Hire and train new SDRs on Decagon’s product, buyer personas, competition, and tools
  • Set and maintain a high-performing culture by overseeing daily activities and managing quota performance of individual SDRs
  • Develop and execute career development plans for direct reports; inclusive of but not limited to daily 1:1 mentoring, coaching on time management, objection handling, prospecting tactics, and active listening skills
  • Strategize with cross-functional leaders and partners including Sales, RevOps, and Marketing on pipeline and prospecting initiatives to exceed company goals
  • Report on team performance and forecast to senior leadership
  • Think creatively about improving team output and efficiency over time by optimizing systems and processes
  • Create comprehensive enablement programs to continuously improve SDRs’ prospecting skills and accelerate development into world class sellers

Your background looks something like this

  • Have 2+ years of experience leading a sales development team at a SaaS company
  • Have 1-3+ years of quota-carrying sales experience as an individual contributor, with a proven, consistent track record exceeding goals
  • Have prior demonstrated success in fast-paced, results-oriented GTM environments
  • Know how to motivate and coach SDRs to exceed performance metrics and develop into future sellers
  • Have experience collaborating cross-functionally with Marketing, Sales, and RevOps to optimize lead flow and conversion rates
  • Are passionate and excited about hiring, with a thoughtful approach to team planning and development
  • Are proficient in Salesforce and familiar with email and call automation platforms
  • Are able to leverage data to drive decisions, create systems, and identify process improvements to improve efficiency
  • Have strong collaboration and influencing skills, demonstrated through excellent communication and presentation skills

Even better if you

  • Have 1-3+ years of personal closing experience in a full cycle sales role in SaaS
  • Have experience managing teams prospecting to Fortune 500 or Global 2000 accounts
  • Have a history of building at a high-growth startup
  • Are passionate about fostering a positive, high-energy team culture while driving consistent results

Benefits

We proudly offer the following benefits for our full-time employees:

  • Take what you need vacation policy (subject to local requirements; UK employees receive 25 days of statutory leave)
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits for you and your family
  • Life Insurance and Disability Benefits
  • Retirement Plan (e.g., 401K, pension)
  • Parental Leave
  • Fertility and family building benefits through Carrot
  • Daily lunches and snacks in the office to keep you at your best

These benefits are described in more detail in Decagon’s policies, may vary by location, and can change at any time according to applicable compensation and benefits plans.