Senior Sales Development Representative (Player-Coach)

Senior Sales Development Representative (Player-Coach)

Location: London, UK (Oval)

Hours: 7am - 4pm

Type: Full Time (5 days in office during term time - remote working options during school holidays)

Salary: up to £50,000 OTE

Hi, I’m Nick, the Head of Sales Development at Zen Educate.

I’m looking for a Senior Sales Development Representative who’s ready to step into a player-coach role within our high-performing SDR team.

You’ll not only drive your own outbound performance, you’ll take ownership for raising the bar across the team. That means leading by example, mentoring junior SDRs, shaping best practice, and supporting performance development day-to-day.

If you’ve proven yourself in outbound sales or EdTech/Education Recruitment and are ready to take on leadership responsibility while continuing to smash target, this could be the role for you.

Why this matters

Zen is a Social Enterprise that is transforming the Education staffing space. UK schools spend over £2bn a year on supply staff, £600m of that goes straight to recruiters. We built a better way: a tech-driven platform that connects schools with teachers directly, saving time, money, and stress.

Since launching in 2017, we’ve saved schools over £30 million, and we’re just getting started. In 2024, we closed the largest EdTech funding round in Europe and are expanding fast across the UK and US.

As a Senior SDR, you’ll play a vital role in growing our impact, while helping shape and support the team around you.

What you’ll actually do

Let’s get specific. Here’s what you’ll be doing day-to-day:

• Be the first point of contact for new schools - calling, emailing, and messaging to introduce them to Zen.
• Use your sales experience to coach and support junior SDRs and help build team best practices.
• Support onboarding and ramp-up of new team members.
• Provide live call feedback and run call shadowing sessions.
• Contribute to team training sessions and skills workshops.
• Book qualified meetings for Account Managers and AEs so we can showcase our offering.
• Track all outreach and manage your pipeline using our Zen Platform.
• Work closely with educators to help match them to great schools, creating profiles and opportunities.
• Support the Head of Sales Development in driving accountability and performance standards.
• Help refine messaging, objection handling, and outreach strategy.

Why this role is unique ⭐

• You’ll take on a leadership position within the SDR team, helping others grow while continuing to develop your own skills.
• You’ll be the face of Zen for new schools, setting the tone for lasting partnerships.
• You’ll work directly with top performers in a collaborative, ambitious team.
• You’ll be helping build a product that supports teachers, improves outcomes, and saves schools money.
• You’ll be in a fast-growing team with clear progression paths into AE or leadership roles.

What makes you a great fit

You’ll thrive here if:

• You’ve got 2+ years’ outbound sales experience (B2B SaaS or EdTech preferred).
• You’re a confident communicator and love speaking with new people.
• You have a track record of hitting or exceeding targets.
• You’re naturally collaborative and want to help others succeed.
• You’re motivated by results and always looking to improve.
• You’re excited by our mission and want your work to matter.
• You prefer and enjoy working in a fast-paced, office-based, team environment.
• You’re organised, coachable, and know how to manage your time effectively.

What won’t work here

Let’s be honest - this isn’t for everyone:

• You avoid the phone or dislike talking to new people.
• You’re not open to feedback or learning from others.
• You expect results without putting in consistent effort.
• You prefer a slow-moving or rigid work environment.

Our hiring process

We move fast and respect your time:

• Intro call with a member of our people team: a quick chat to get to know each other and cover the basics.
• Online first stage interview: to talk in more detail around your experience and career aspirations.
• Technical task & final interview at our office: a sales cold call role play and a culture interview with two team members.
• A final call with a member of the senior leadership team.

Perks & benefits

Competitive base salary + uncapped commission

Equity in the company

25+ days holiday (and we actually encourage you to take them!)

Central London office with gym, showers, café, and bike parking

5 days in the office during term time (with reduced hours & WFH in holidays)

Electric car and cycle-to-work schemes

Life coaching, private health insurance, and life insurance

A team that celebrates wins, lifts each other up, and cares about making a difference

If this sounds like your kind of role, don’t overthink it - apply now.

We’re excited to meet you.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Zen, we strive to build a culture of equity and inclusion where everyone is respected, valued and appreciated. We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives - just like the staff who teach through Zen and the children at the schools we work with.

We’re committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of our community and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive.