Sales Development Representative

Sales Development Representative Location: Waukegan, IL Salary Range: $77,000.00 to $ 87,000.00 About SKF:  SKF, reducing friction since 1907, re-imagining rotation for a better tomorrow! SKF is an industry-leading manufacturer that has been a cornerstone in industrial life. Wherever there are machines or products in motion, SKF bearings are there to reduce friction. SKF drives the industries that support our way of life, powers the machines that put food on the table, and even helps explore the cosmos. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. SKF is on pace to decarbonize all its production facilities by 2030. We’re guided by our SKF values. Collaboration is critical to the success of our colleagues, partners, and customers. Curiosity and Courage provide a foundation for innovation and advancement. And we do this work out of Care for our people, customers, communities, and the planet. We’re a company committed to a culture of belonging, where all our people are encouraged to be themselves and grow their careers in an equitable environment. Learn about SKF at Position Summary The Sales Development Representative (SDR) plays a key role in driving pipeline growth and new customer acquisition by identifying, engaging, and qualifying current and potential customers. This role is designed to build a strong internal talent pipeline and develop future sales and business leaders. Key Responsibilities Identify and prospect target customers aligned with SKF’s strategic segments Execute outbound outreach campaigns (phone, email, LinkedIn, events) Qualify inbound and outbound leads to generate sales-ready opportunities Conduct discovery conversations to understand customer needs and applications Schedule qualified meetings and hand off opportunities to Account Managers or Sales Engineers Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Application Engineering to support growth initiatives Maintain accurate activity, pipeline, and customer data in CRM systems Build knowledge of SKF products, applications, and industry markets SDRs are responsible for generating and qualifying leads and creating new opportunities that support the sales pipeline. Customer Engagement Engage current and potential customers through phone, email, LinkedIn, events, and coordinated field activity to identify needs, qualify opportunities, and create a positive first impression of SKF. Conduct structured discovery conversations to understand customer applications, business drivers, reliability challenges, and timing for potential opportunities. Support account development by scheduling qualified meetings, preparing clear handoff notes, and ensuring the appropriate Account Manager, or Application Engineering resource is engaged at the right time. Maintain disciplined follow-up with customers, including timely responses, meeting recaps, action items, and next steps documented in CRM. Escalate customer needs, technical questions, pricing requests, service issues, or high-potential opportunities to the appropriate internal owner while maintaining visibility until resolution. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner closely with OEM Sales, Sales Operations and Enablement, Marketing, Application Engineering, Customer Service, Product Line, and Distribution/Aftermarket teams to support pipeline growth and customer development. Coordinate with Account Managers and Application Engineers to align outreach activity, account context, customer messaging, and opportunity handoff expectations. Work with Marketing and Sales Enablement to execute targeted campaigns, support trade show follow-up, and convert market intelligence into actionable prospecting activity. Collaborate with Application Engineering and Product Line teams to build technical understanding and connect customers with the right SKF expertise when application-specific support is needed. Contribute to a consistent internal operating rhythm by sharing customer insights, lead status, activity updates, and CRM data that help improve forecasting, prioritization, and sales execution. Operational Excellence Qualified opportunities generated (SQLs) Pipeline value created Lead-to-opportunity conversion rates Activity levels (calls, emails, meetings) CRM accuracy and data quality SDRs are typically measured on pipeline creation, conversion rates, and activity performance. Strategic Communication Communicate clearly and professionally with customers, prospects, and internal stakeholders, tailoring messages to the audience and business context. Prepare concise customer outreach, meeting agendas, follow-up notes, and opportunity summaries that support effective handoffs and next-step alignment. Provide regular updates on prospecting activity, lead status, customer feedback, and pipeline progress through CRM, weekly updates, and manager check-ins. Translate customer insights, objections, and market signals into actionable feedback for Sales, Marketing, Sales Enablement, and Product Line teams. Support leadership visibility by maintaining accurate reporting on activity levels, qualified opportunities, conversion progress, and emerging customer or market trends. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or related field (preferred) 0–3 years of experience in sales, customer-facing, or technical roles Strong communication and interpersonal skills Ability to learn technical products and industrial applications Self-motivated, goal-oriented, and highly coachable Experience with CRM tools (Salesforce or similar) is a plus We’re looking for curiosity and willingness to learn, resilience and persistence in a high-activity role, strong organizational and time management skills, and team-oriented mindset with ability to collaborate cross-functionally. Travel Requirements Up to 50% of domestic travel What You’ll Love About SKF: Rest and Relaxation. Enjoy a generous PTO policy and 13 paid holidays. Work/Life Integration. SKF supports work/life integration, home, family, community, personal well-being and health. Diversity in the Workplace.  At SKF, we strive to embed Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in everything we do. By developing a culture of belonging, our people can flourish; leading to an inclusive, equitable environment that promotes leadership, engagement and innovation. Best in Class Benefits. SKF cares about the wellbeing of our employees. Comprehensive healthcare options to fit your needs and opt out payment. Added benefits include company paid life insurance, STD, LTD. Supplemental benefits include critical illness coverage, tuition reimbursement, employee discount programs, and much more! Bonus. SKF offers STVS (Short Term Variable Salary) or Sales Incentive based on company performance and at the discretion of management. Invest in your Future. Participate in our 401K program that boasts a 10% employer contribution: 100% match up to 5% of your elected contribution (100% Vested) plus an additional 5% company contribution.