Sales Development Representative; SDR; AI SaaS

Location: Leeds – Hybrid, typically 3–4 days per week

We are an early-stage research and technology company, developing proprietary AI technology and turning that research into commercial products that solve real-world business problems.

Our enterprise AI platform brings together capabilities that would otherwise require multiple AI, automation and productivity tools, enabling organisations to access knowledge, automate workflows and deploy AI from one environment.

We’re looking for an ambitious SDR to help create the pipeline that will fuel Verkko’s next stage of growth.

You’ll work closely with the Account Executive and founders to identify target organisations, reach the right decision-makers and generate high-quality sales opportunities.

Verkko already has marketing activity, inbound interest and experience from outsourced outbound campaigns, so you won’t be starting completely cold. However, this is an early commercial team, and you’ll be expected to bring energy, ideas and initiative.

The intention is for this person to develop within the business, with the opportunity to progress towards a closing Account Executive role as you demonstrate your capability.

• Research and identify high-potential target companies and decision-makers.
• Build prospect lists aligned with Verkko’s evolving ICP and target markets.
• Generate new opportunities through cold calling, email, Linked In and other outbound channels.
• Respond quickly and effectively to inbound enquiries.
• Create personalised messaging that clearly communicates Verkko’s value proposition.
• Engage senior business stakeholders and secure qualified meetings for the Account Executive.
• Work closely with the AE to develop account strategies and build pipeline.
• Learn how to communicate sophisticated AI technology in straightforward commercial language.
• Qualify opportunities and understand the business problems prospects are looking to solve.
• Maintain accurate activity and opportunity information within the CRM.
• Test different messaging, channels and approaches and use the results to improve outbound performance.
• Contribute ideas as Verkko develops its wider sales playbook.

You’re likely to have at least one year of B2B SDR/BDR experience, ideally within SaaS or another technology environment.

We’re particularly interested in people who can demonstrate:

• Experience generating B2B sales opportunities through outbound prospecting.
• Confidence cold calling and speaking with senior business stakeholders.
• Strong written communication and the ability to create compelling outreach.
• Curiosity and the ability to learn a technically sophisticated proposition.
• A proactive mentality- you’re prepared to test ideas, learn and find ways to get results.
• Resilience and persistence when prospecting into new organisations.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to understand why a prospect might buy.
• Strong organisation and follow-through.
• Ambition to develop into a full-cycle sales/Account Executive position.

You don’t need an AI background or a particular educational pedigree. What’s more important is that you’re bright, curious, coachable, commercially minded and hungry to develop.

This isn’t an SDR role where you’ll simply be one person within a large outbound team making calls from a prescribed script.

You’ll join Verkko while its commercial function is being created, work directly alongside the Account Executive and founders and gain exposure to how an early-stage SaaS business builds its entire go-to-market motion.

You’ll be selling a genuinely innovative AI proposition into organisations ranging from growing businesses to global enterprises, while developing the skills required to progress into a closing sales role.

For an ambitious SDR who wants considerably more exposure, responsibility and progression than they would typically receive in a large sales organisation, it’s an opportunity to build a career alongside the company.