Manager, Sales Development - Chicago, IL

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If you don’t think you meet all of the criteria below but are still interested in the job, please apply. Nobody checks every box - we’re looking for candidates that are particularly strong in a few areas, and have some interest and capabilities in others.

About the role:

As one of the Sales Development leaders , you will oversee a team of inbound and outbound Sales Development Representatives (SDRs). Your mission is to drive the growth of our sales pipeline across the AMER region. This role requires a dynamic leader that is comfortable building and executing. You are passionate about career development and scalable success. Lastly, you are hands-on and excited about fostering an in-office culture and your best work is done cross-functionally.

What you'll be doing:

• Lead and develop a high-performing team of SDRs.

• Hire the best talent in the industry. Shape development programs for career progression to keep talent engagement and doing great work at Kong.

• Maintain operational rigor across all elements of the business. Drive a predictable business.

• Drive a positive and collaborative culture that inspires teamwork and professional growth.

• Find a successful balance in a hybrid in-office environment

• Create a reporting and feedback loop with stakeholders on team performance, KPIs, customer insights, roadblocks, and pipeline forecasts.

• Work within an ecosystem of leaders across Sales, Revenue Operations, Marketing, Customer Success, and Partnership teams to design and execute a go-to-market plan for pipeline generation.

• Excel in change management as the company strives to meet critical and aggressive revenue milestones

• Maintain a strong pulse on the market. Facilitate a feedback loop between Sales and other departments.

• Identify opportunities to innovate. Be a catalyst to positive change.

What you'll bring:

• 5+ years of experience in B2B SaaS.

• 1+ years of experience building and managing a high-performing Sales or Sales Development Org in B2B SaaS.

• Exceptional communication skills with an ability to give and receive feedback thoughtfully.

• Experience in high-growth, fast-paced startup environments, preferably with hybrid remote and in-office teams.

• Experience building and leading high-performance sales teams, selling a complex technical product.

• Subject matter expert in building pipeline programs and efforts to drive revenue.

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About Kong:

Kong Inc., the AI Connectivity Company, is building the connectivity layer of AI. Trusted by the Fortune 500® and AI-native startups alike, Kong’s unified API and AI platform enables organizations to secure, manage, accelerate, govern, and monetize the flow of intelligence across APIs and AI traffic — on any model, any cloud. For more information, visit www.konghq.com.