Sales Development Specialist

Nexstar • Bloomington, MN

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Nexstar Network is seeking a proactive communicator with a passion for driving business growth to join their Sales Operations Team as a Sales Development Specialist. This role is crucial for fueling Nexstar's success by identifying and qualifying high-potential leads through both outbound outreach and inbound engagement. The Sales Development Specialist will be the engine of the sales pipeline, acting as the first point of contact for prospective members and setting the tone for meaningful conversations and long-term relationships. The ideal candidate will collaborate closely with sales and marketing teams, play a vital role in identifying and qualifying leads, and directly impact the mission to help tradespeople become successful businesspeople.

Requirements

• Minimum 2 years of experience in lead generation, sales development, business development, or sales operations, with a proven track record in outbound prospecting and pipeline building.
• Proven ability to generate qualified leads, build and maintain a healthy sales pipeline, and consistently achieve outreach, meeting-setting, and opportunity creation goals.
• Demonstrated success executing multi-channel outbound campaigns utilizing phone, email, social media, and other prospecting tools to engage decision-makers and drive sales opportunities.
• Strong ability to engage prospects, identify needs, qualify opportunities, and schedule high-quality appointments for sales representatives.
• Skilled at establishing trust and credibility with prospective members through effective communication, active listening, and consistent follow-up.
• Experience supporting pre-event prospecting campaigns and executing timely post-event lead follow-up to maximize engagement and pipeline development.
• Hands-on experience using CRM platforms, preferably HubSpot, to manage prospect activities, track pipeline progression, execute outreach cadences, and maintain accurate sales records.
• Maintains accurate and timely CRM records, ensuring reliable reporting, pipeline visibility, and actionable insights for sales leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and apply new sales methodologies, technologies, and processes to improve outreach effectiveness and results.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain follow-up schedules, and consistently meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to deliver compelling messaging and engage prospects professionally across multiple channels.
• Demonstrates initiative, integrity, accountability, and a results-oriented mindset with a commitment to achieving individual and team goals.
• Comfortable leveraging digital tools, email platforms, social media, and sales enablement technology to support prospect engagement and pipeline growth.
• Bachelor's degree in business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field is preferred but not required. Candidates with an Associate degree or equivalent experience in sales, customer service, or related roles are strongly encouraged to apply.
• 4-5 weeks per year travel required.
• Must be able to attend tradeshow events and stand for prolonged periods of time.
• Must be able to sit at a desk for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to lift up to 15 lbs.

Nice To Haves

• Relevant certifications (e.g., HubSpot Sales Software, and/or other selling systems) are considered a plus.

Responsibilities

• Own and execute the sales development strategy, driving consistent pipeline growth through targeted outreach and engagement.
• Launch and manage multi-channel outbound campaigns using email, phone, LinkedIn, and trade-specific platforms in collaboration with Marketing.
• Design and maintain personalized outreach cadences to convert prospects into qualified sales opportunities.
• Maintain a high daily activity volume with a focus on speed, relevance, and persistence to maximize conversion.
• Set qualified meetings for Sales Representatives and ensure a steady flow of vetted leads into the sales pipeline.
• Serve as a HubSpot CRM power user, managing workflows, lead routing, segmentation, and reporting in partnership with Sales and Marketing leadership.
• Collaborate with the Director of Sales to refine lead tracking processes and optimize performance metrics.
• Analyze outreach and engagement data to continuously improve strategy and conversion rates.
• Leverage social media platforms and trade forums to identify, engage, and nurture decision-makers.
• Build a credible online presence and share relevant content in coordination with the Marketing team.
• Monitor engagement metrics and optimize messaging to improve response rates and lead quality.
• Drive membership growth by selling Buyers Group Memberships to qualified prospects through strategic outreach and relationship-building.
• Support pre-event outreach campaigns and post-event lead follow-up processes.

Benefits

• Base salary with performance bonus potential.
• Competitive benefits package that includes 100% paid health, dental, vision, basic life insurance, and disability coverage.
• 401(k) safe harbor plan with a 3% company contribution.
• Generous PTO plan.
• Home service reimbursement.
• Gym Membership and cell phone reimbursement.
• Paid community service day.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree