Founding Sales Development Representative (SDR)

Company Description Meridian Advisory is a research-led B2B advisory firm supporting enterprise technology companies in conducting market analysis, generating new leads, and ultimately closing more revenue. We run executive research studies with Fortune 2000 decision-makers - CMOs, CISOs, Chief Data Officers, Chief AI Officers, VPs of Technology, and other senior leaders across most industries. The output of every study is two-fold: published intelligence the market reads, and high-value 1:1 conversations between executives and our vendor partners. We are founder-led and hiring our first SDR. You will work directly with the founder, a former VP of Sales, to build the outbound engine that every future hire will run on. This is a ground-floor role for someone who wants real ownership and a clear path to leading the team as we grow.

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Role Description We are looking for an experienced, high-energy SDR to be the first hire on our executive outreach team. You will own the top of the funnel for our research-recruitment engine: cold outbound by phone and LinkedIn to senior executives at Fortune 2000 companies, booking them into research interviews, and then running those interviews yourself on Zoom. Because you are first, you will also help shape how we do this: scripts, sequences, and the playbook the next SDRs will learn from. The fundamentals are already in place but you can have a hand in how the process evolves.

Responsibilities

• Cold call and message senior executives at Fortune 2000 companies to invite them into research interviews and virtual roundtables
• Conduct 1-on-1 Zoom interviews with senior-level executives
• Manage and nurture leads within CRM software to ensure consistent follow-up and engagement
• Collaborate with leadership on script iteration, objection handling, and messaging optimization
• Hit and exceed weekly and monthly interview and roundtable booking targets
• Help build the SDR playbook: document what works so the next hires ramp faster
• Build your LinkedIn presence by sharing industry-relevant content to position yourself as a trusted, credible authority in the industry

What You'll Need to Succeed

• At least 1 year of cold-calling or outbound sales experience. You have already learned the fundamentals and can be productive within weeks, not months.
• Resilience and grit. Cold calling is rejection-heavy work. Top SDRs hear "no" 100+ times a day and stay sharp and positive no matter what!
• Strong verbal communication. You will be speaking with senior executives at Fortune 500 companies. You need to sound credible, sharp, and respectful of their time.
• Coachability. We will invest heavily in your training and development. You need to be open to receiving feedback and actioning it.
• Self-discipline. This is a remote role. Output, not hours, is what gets measured - but high output requires self-discipline to maintain consistent daily activity.
• Reliable home office setup. Quiet workspace, fast internet, dedicated workstation, and headset (one will be provided for you).
• Goal-orientation. A track record of meeting or exceeding goals in any context - sales, athletics, academic, fundraising, or otherwise.
• Curiosity. You will run research interviews with executives about how they're using AI and technology in their business. You don't need to be an expert, but you need to be interested and able to ask good follow-up questions

Nice to Have (Not Required)

• Bachelor's degree in any field
• Experience with LinkedIn Sales Navigator or similar sales-engagement tools
• Prior experience reaching senior executives at Fortune 500 or Fortune 2000 accounts
• Background in events, delegate acquisition, executive recruiting, or market research

Growth Path

A note on what this role is and isn't. You are not selling a product. You are persuading senior executives to take part in research studies & virtual roundtable events, then running those conversations yourself. It is closer to executive outreach than to a typical tech sales job, and the people who do well here are curious, credible on the phone, and good at getting busy people to say yes.

This role is the foundation of our executive outreach team. As Meridian adds SDRs, our first hire is first in line to lead them as Team Lead, with an override on the team's results. For those who want to move into true selling, there is also a path to a full-cycle Account Executive role on the commercial side, where we sell research engagements, virtual roundtable events, & 1-on-1 executive meetings to enterprise clients. xhyhwjd We promote from within, and we are looking for someone to grow with, not fill a seat.

Compensation:

• Base salary: $55,000 to $65,000, depending on experience
• Uncapped commission on top of base, with Year 1 on-target earnings (OTE) of $85,000 to $95,000

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (employer-contributed)
• Paid time off (10 days PTO + federal holidays)
• Ongoing coaching from the founder
• Fully remote work - work from anywhere in the United States
• All required tools and software provided