Strategic Sales Development Lead

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Strategic Sales Development Lead based in South Africa.

As a Strategic Sales Development Lead, you will drive outbound growth for a premium modern home décor and lighting brand targeting high-value customers and sophisticated homeowners. This is a strategic sales development role focused on building qualified pipeline rather than simply maximizing activity volume. You will combine targeted prospecting, personalized outreach, rapid inbound qualification, and funnel analysis to generate meaningful sales opportunities. As a Lead, you will also mentor junior SDRs and contribute to improving scripts, sequences, and sales processes. You will work in a fast-paced e-commerce environment where strong communication, commercial judgment, and consistent execution are highly valued. Your performance will have a direct impact on pipeline quality, conversion, and overall revenue growth.

Accountabilities:

You will own a high-quality prospecting and qualification motion, balancing individual sales development performance with strategic leadership and continuous process improvement.

• Prospect, identify, and engage high-potential accounts and decision-makers through phone, email, LinkedIn, and other relevant channels.
• Maintain a strong speed-to-lead standard by contacting new inbound leads within 5-15 minutes.
• Qualify prospects based on decision-making authority, timeline, opportunity size, and overall fit.
• Generate 25-30 qualified meetings per month and create a minimum of 10-15+ sales-qualified opportunities.
• Execute approximately 50-80 targeted outreach touches per day, using detailed research to personalize messaging for the modern home décor market.
• Maintain 100% CRM data integrity, ensuring every lead has detailed notes and a clearly defined next action.
• Review individual and team funnel metrics regularly to identify conversion gaps and improve lead-to-meeting performance.
• Coach and support junior SDRs by sharing effective scripts, prospecting approaches, and best practices.
• Help optimize outbound sequences, sales development processes, and messaging based on performance data.
• Act as a senior resource within the sales development function while continuing to contribute directly to pipeline generation.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate combines strong sales development experience with industry knowledge, commercial judgment, and the ability to operate at both an individual contributor and team-lead level.

• Proven experience specifically within the home goods, furniture, or lighting industries.
• Demonstrated ability to focus on pipeline value and qualified opportunity creation rather than activity volume alone.
• Previous experience in a Senior SDR or Lead SDR position, with responsibility for mentoring colleagues and improving sales processes.
• Ability to work a fixed 9:00 AM-5:00 PM CST schedule from an offshore location.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, particularly when engaging high-end or sophisticated clientele.
• Strong prospecting, lead qualification, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to conduct thoughtful research and personalize outbound messaging effectively.
• Strong understanding of sales funnels, conversion metrics, and pipeline development.
• Experience with CRM systems and maintaining highly accurate sales data.
• Familiarity with HubSpot CRM and Microsoft Office Suite is a plus.
• Experience with e-commerce sales cycles is desirable.
• Advanced skills in lead sourcing, discovery calls, and sales forecasting are a plus.
• Experience closing or managing accounts within the interior design or architecture sector is desirable.

Benefits:

• Fully remote: Work remotely with flexibility around your working environment.
• International exposure: Collaborate with high-growth companies and global teams.
• Career progression: Clear opportunities to progress toward Account Executive and more senior sales roles.
• Performance incentives: Performance-based bonuses and sales incentives.
• Direct client engagement: Work directly with global clients as an integral member of their team rather than through traditional outsourcing.
• Training and mentorship: Ongoing sales development, coaching, and professional growth support.
• Full-time independent contractor engagement.