Sales Development Representative (12-month FTC)

About Us

The Financial Times, one of the world’s leading business news organisations, is recognised internationally for its authority, integrity, and accuracy. With over 2 million readers daily, the FT reaches a global audience of senior decision-makers who rely on our coverage to inform their views on the political, economic and social forces shaping the business world.

The Financial Times is part of Nikkei Inc., which provides a broad range of information, news, and services for the global business community. We have offices in more than 35 cities, including London, New York, Hong Kong, Beijing, Manila, Sofia, San Francisco, and Tokyo. Join us and find an inclusive and fast-paced environment with unique opportunities to support every step of your career. The London B2B team is diverse, multicultural and sociable which we believe makes for a great environment to work in.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

We believe in the power of unique perspectives and want all voices in our organisation to be heard, respected and valued. A supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves and operate to their full potential. We are committed to removing barriers for everyone, with a focus on addressing those faced by underrepresented groups.

The Role

The FT Professional division of the Financial Times licences FT content to organisations around the world, with clients across corporate, finance, government, professional services, education, and media sectors.

As a Sales Development Representative, you will be responsible for generating qualified leads and supporting the regional sales team across the DACH, Nordics, NL and CEE regions. This is a hands-on role focused on outbound calling, email prospecting, and lead qualification. Reporting into the CEMEA Sales team and aligned with the Marketing team, your work will be pivotal in generating new business and improving lead quality.

Please note this role is a 12-month fixed term contract opportunity, anticipated to end January 2027.

Key Responsibilities

• Prospect and build a sales pipeline for the field sales team via outbound calling and email communication

• Source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up

• Research and contact potential budget holders/decision-makers

• Pre-qualify leads and book appointments/call backs for the field sales team

• Assign qualified leads/opportunities to the field sales team for development and closure

• Follow up with each sales manager to collate feedback and agree next steps

• Contact readers for testimonials and sales proposal support

• Liaise with marketing on campaign activity to improve lead generation

• Record prospect conversations in CRM for tracking and reporting

• Deliver weekly reports on outreach performance and key insights

Required Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated experience in lead generation and/or nurturing

• Clear, articulate and conscientious communication skills

• High levels of self-motivation and resilience

• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise in a fast-paced environment

• Proactive, curious and eager to learn FT Professional’s value proposition

• Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently

• Collaborative teammate with initiative

• Proficient in MS Office tools

Desirable

• Prior experience using CRM systems, particularly Salesforce.com

• Fluency in one or more languages from the DACH, Nordics, NL or CEE regions

What’s in it for You?

Our benefits vary by location but we are committed to providing best-in-class perks across all our offices. These include generous annual leave, medical cover, inclusive parental leave packages, subsidised gym memberships and opportunities to give back to the community. Full details of our benefits are available here.

We’ve embraced a 50% hybrid working model (averaging two to three days onsite) that fosters trust and remote adaptability while encouraging in-person camaraderie and peer learning. Additionally, we are open to accommodating specific flexible working pattern requests for all roles where feasible.

Accessibility

We are a disability confident employer and Valuable 500 signatory.

Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments/personalisation as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements or have any questions, email talent@ft.com and a member of our team will be happy to help.

Further Information

At the FT, we embrace innovation and the use of technology and appreciate that individuals may leverage AI tools as part of their job application process. Whilst we are happy for you to use AI to assist with your application, it is essential that all information provided is authentic and accurately represents your skills, experience, and qualifications.
Candidates should be aware that the use of AI throughout the application process may be monitored to ensure a fair and transparent hiring process for all.
Please beware of fraudulent job postings and offers claiming to be from the Financial Times. All legitimate opportunities will direct you to apply through the official Financial Times careers site, and the FT will never ask for financial information, payments, or referrals to third parties during the hiring process. If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of a job posting or suspect any scam activity, please contact talent@ft.com.

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