Sales Development Representative; SDR

Location:

Chicago, IL / Greater Chicago Area (Field and remote flexibility – office is located in Northbrook, IL)

Empowering People and Businesses to Succeed. At Onward Technologies, we’re passionate about helping people and businesses reach their full potential. We believe that a comprehensive IT plan is not a luxury, but a necessity in today’s fast‑paced business environment. Let’s work together to future‑proof the technology of SMBs.

We are a leading provider of managed IT and managed cybersecurity services to small‑ and mid‑size businesses across Chicago and the greater Chicagoland area. We specialize in offering tailored IT solutions that help our clients streamline operations, secure their infrastructure, and focus on what matters most—growing their businesses.

Calling all Pipeline Builders! If you’re an energetic, well‑connected professional who thrives on networking and outbound sales, we want to hear from you.

We are looking for a highly motivated and well‑connected Sales Development Representative (SDR) to help build our sales pipeline through outbound prospecting and strategic networking. In this outbound role, you’ll leverage your established network and actively engage with potential clients in the field to generate new business opportunities for our managed IT and cybersecurity services. You will be a key player in connecting with prospects, qualifying leads, and ensuring a steady flow of new opportunities for our sales team.

You’ll work closely with both our marketing and sales teams to ensure alignment and access to the right tools and resources, helping you build a strong pipeline and achieve your goals.

• Outbound Lead Generation: Proactively identify, research, and qualify new business opportunities by leveraging your existing network and outbound prospecting efforts. You will primarily target industries such as law firms, finance, logistics, manufacturing, and more, with a focus on securing meetings and uncovering needs for managed IT and cybersecurity services.
• Field Networking: Actively participate in industry events, local networking meetups, and conferences to build relationships with key decision‑makers. Utilize your strong network to generate leads, referrals, and business opportunities, ensuring a consistent pipeline of prospects.
• Outreach via Multiple Channels: Use phone calls, emails, Linked In, and face‑to‑face meetings to engage with IT Directors, CFOs, CEOs, and business owners, introducing our services and assessing their needs.
• Lead
  
  Qualification:
  
  Engage with prospects to understand their business challenges, qualify their interest based on our pre‑proposal assessment, and determine whether they are a fit for our managed IT and cybersecurity services.
• Pipeline Development: Focus on building a robust pipeline of qualified leads, ensuring a continuous flow of opportunities for follow‑up and conversion by the sales team.
• Collaboration with Sales Team: Work closely with the sales team to ensure smooth handoffs of qualified leads, providing detailed insights to support the sales process and increase conversion rates.
• CRM Management: Accurately track and document your lead generation and networking efforts in our systems, ensuring the sales pipeline is up‑to‑date and organized.
• Industry Research & Market Insights: Stay informed on the latest industry trends, competitive landscape, and potential market opportunities, and integrate this knowledge into your networking and outreach strategies.

• 4+ years of experience in a sales development or business development role, ideally within the managed IT or cybersecurity industry.
• Strong existing network of business professionals and decision‑makers, with a proven ability to leverage that network for business development.
• Proven track record of success in outbound prospecting, cold outreach, and networking to generate leads and build relationships.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly present complex solutions and engage with C‑level executives.
• Ability to manage a mix of remote and in‑field networking activities to consistently build and nurture relationships.
• Self‑motivated, goal‑oriented, and driven to succeed in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment.
• Experience with sales tools and CRM systems (Apollo, Linked In Sales Navigator, etc.) is a plus.

• Competitive salary and performance‑based incentives.
• Flexible work environment.
• Opportunities for personal and professional growth within the company.
• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance.
• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays.
• Team outings and community wellbeing activities.
• Professional development support.