Sales Development Representative

Job Description

Job Description

Salary: $70,000 - $78,000 + Commission

About the Company

Sapho Bio is the developer of a rapid microbiology release platform for precision medicine. We are a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers committed to transforming the lot release process through innovation, speed, and accuracy.

We are a team built on ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement, scaling rapidly following product validation and commercial traction.

Our culture emphasizes agency, innovation, and continual learning.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly motivated Sales Development Representative (SDR) to drive top-of-funnel growth by identifying prospective clients, initiating outreach, and booking qualified meetings for our leadership team.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives on activity, enjoys connecting with people, and finds satisfaction in creating opportunities through persistence and organization. The SDR will focus primarily on outbound prospecting through phone calls and email campaigns, maintaining accurate CRM records, coordinating sales meetings, and supporting administrative aspects of the sales process.

Unlike an Account Executive role, this position is not responsible for owning client relationships or closing deals. Success in this role is measured by creating qualified opportunities and enabling the sales team to convert them into customers.

The ideal candidate is energetic, resilient, coachable, and excited by the challenge of opening doors in a rapidly growing biotechnology company.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum 2 years of experience supporting outbound sales, business development, lead generation, or inside sales functions.
• Demonstrated success conducting cold outreach through phone, email, and LinkedIn.
• Exceptional attention to detail with strong organizational and follow-through skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency using CRM systems (HubSpot preferred) and Google Workspace.
• Strong ability to leverage technology and tools to improve efficiency and workflows.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
• Ambitious, proactive, and solutions-oriented with a mindset toward continuous improvement.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment with evolving priorities.
• Must reside in the San Francisco Bay Area and be able to work onsite in San Carlos as required.

Preferred

• Experience selling into life sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceutical manufacturing, or laboratory environments.
• Familiarity with regulated industries and pharmaceutical quality processes.
• Experience supporting quote preparation, proposal development, or sales operations activities.
• Familiarity with sales engagement platforms and prospecting tools.

Responsibilities & Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Outbound Prospecting

• Conduct outbound cold calls to prospective clients within target markets.
• Execute email outreach campaigns to generate interest and secure meetings.
• Research target organizations and identify key decision-makers.
• Qualify leads using established criteria and determine next steps.

Key Metrics:

• Minimum outbound activity expectations (calls/emails) established quarterly.
• Qualified meetings scheduled.
• Meeting attendance rate.
• Pipeline opportunities generated.

Meeting Generation

• Schedule discovery meetings and product demonstrations for sales leadership.
• Coordinate calendars and logistics between prospects and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure all booked meetings are confirmed and adequately prepared.

Key Metrics:

• Number of meetings held.
• Meeting conversion rate.
• Opportunity creation rate.

CRM Management

• Maintain accurate prospect and activity records within the CRM.
• Document all outreach efforts, conversations, and next actions.
• Ensure pipeline data integrity and reporting accuracy.

Key Metrics:

• CRM compliance and documentation accuracy.
• Timeliness of updates.
• Completeness of prospect records.

Sales Support

• Assist with quote sheets and basic proposal preparation.
• Support follow-up communications after meetings.
• Coordinate internal handoffs to leadership once opportunities advance.
• Provide feedback regarding prospect objections and market trends.

Key Metrics:

• Timeliness of quote support.
• Internal stakeholder satisfaction.
• Accuracy of documentation.

Travel & Logistics

• Primarily onsite in San Carlos with occasional flexibility as business needs permit.
• Limited travel may be required for conferences, industry events, customer visits, or team meetings.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation

Base Salary: $70,000 $78,000 annually

Performance Incentives

In addition to base compensation, this position is eligible for performance-based incentives designed to reward successful opportunity generation:

• $175 for each qualified meeting that occurs.
• $350 for each meeting-generated opportunity that converts into a customer.
• Incentive structure may evolve as the commercial organization scales.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: Unlimited PTO, plus company-recognized holidays.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• DoorDash Credit: $25 credit for lunch and dinner while working in the office.
• 401(k) Plan (eligibility and participation subject to plan terms).

Ideal Candidate Profile

You are someone who:

• Takes full ownership of outcomes, not just tasks.
• Is highly proactive and doesn't wait to be told what to do next.
• Maintains optimism and persistence despite rejection.
• Finds motivation in achieving measurable goals.
• Is naturally organized and follows through consistently.
• Learns quickly and adapts easily to changing priorities.
• Communicates professionally and confidently with prospective clients.
• Enjoys building processes and improving the way work gets done.

Application Requirements

Your cover letter (one page) should include clear examples of:

• A time you demonstrated exceptional persistence to achieve a challenging goal.
• A time you identified and solved a problem independently.
• A time you exceeded a performance metric or quota.
• A time you received rejection repeatedly but continued to produce results.

Life at Sapho Bio

• High-Impact Work: Contribute to transforming pharmaceutical testing and patient safety.
• Competitive Compensation: Meaningful performance incentives tied directly to business impact.
• Fast-Paced Environment: Join a team that moves quickly and executes with purpose.
• World-Class Team: Work alongside experienced scientists and operators.
• Prime Location: Sunny, collaborative workspace in San Carlos.

Sapho Bio is an equal employment opportunity employer. Employment is at-will, in accordance with California law.