About the Role
This role involves driving revenue, qualifying opportunities, strategic outbound sales, and market development, all while maintaining sales operations excellence. The Business Development Representative will balance inbound and outbound responsibilities to fuel pipeline growth, qualify enterprise prospects using BANT criteria, and execute targeted outbound campaigns in specific industry verticals. They will represent the Perplexity brand through social selling, research and map accounts, and develop vertical-specific messaging for Perplexity Enterprise. Additionally, the role includes maintaining data hygiene in Salesforce, responding quickly to inbound inquiries, and building outbound sequences for consistent pipeline generation.
Responsibilities
- Balance dual inbound and outbound responsibilities to drive pipeline growth
- Qualify inbound enterprise prospects using BANT criteria to identify high-value opportunities for Account Executive handoff
- Execute targeted outbound campaigns to penetrate specific industry verticals
- Use social selling to represent the Perplexity brand—posting, commenting, and experimenting with new formats to stay top-of-mind with prospects
- Research and map accounts within assigned verticals to build comprehensive prospect lists
- Develop vertical-specific messaging that resonates with industry pain points and use cases for Perplexity Enterprise
- Contribute to top of funnel strategy
- Maintain pristine data hygiene in Salesforce, ensuring all prospect interactions and qualification criteria are documented
- Respond rapidly to inbound inquiries with consultative, value-driven communication
- Build and iterate on outbound sequences that drive consistent pipeline generation
Requirements
- Exceptional communication skills: Ability to articulate complex AI/search solutions clearly via email and phone, adapting tone and technical depth to various stakeholders
- Vertical expertise: Demonstrated understanding of at least one key industry (e.g., Financial Services, Healthcare, Legal, Consulting) with ability to speak to industry-specific challenges
- Sales acumen: Proven ability to qualify prospects using BANT methodology while maintaining velocity in the sales cycle
- Technical aptitude: Comfort discussing enterprise software, APIs, and AI capabilities at a high level
- Self-starter mentality with ability to manage competing priorities (closing deals vs. qualifying for AEs)
- Data-driven approach to tracking conversion rates, response times, and pipeline metrics
- Intellectual curiosity about how AI and advanced search transform enterprise workflows
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment where processes are still being defined
Qualifications
- 9 months to two years in SaaS sales development or business development roles
- Experience selling to technical and non-technical buyers
- Familiarity with enterprise AI/ML solutions or search technologies
- Track record of consistently achieving 100%+ of quota
- Pulling data with Salesforce Reporting, SQL or Business intelligence tools
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience
- Experience at a high-growth technology startup
Benefits
- Full-time U.S. employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits program including equity, health, dental, vision, retirement, fitness, commuter and dependent care accounts, and more.
- International Benefits: Full-time employees outside the U.S. enjoy a comprehensive benefits program tailored to their region of residence.
- USD salary ranges apply only to U.S.-based positions. International salaries are set based on the local market. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including experience and expertise, and may vary from the amounts listed above.
- Offers Equity
- Offers Commission