Sales Development Representative

Are you ready to power the World's connections?

If you don't think you meet all of the criteria below but are still interested in the job, please apply. Nobody checks every box - we're looking for candidates that are particularly strong in a few areas, and have some interest and capabilities in others.

At Kong, our Sales Development Representatives are the engine of new business—engaging top global brands and high-growth enterprises to spark interest, inspire adoption, and lay the foundation for lasting technological partnerships.

This role goes beyond prospecting—you'll combine research with cutting-edge tools to craft smart territory/account plans; confidently engage senior technology leaders (CIOs, CTOs, key decision makers, etc.); and sharpen your ability to uncover business / technical pain points that drive impactful positive outcomes.

You'll be challenged to grow—but never alone. You'll join a global team of seasoned outbound experts, each with a proven track record of success and a hand in securing some of Kong's most iconic customer logos.

Interview Expectations

All Kong SDR aspirants will be put through a series of interviews - primarily with our recruiter, hiring manager and other key business stakeholders. A core component of this process is our mandatory 'Assignment Round' where candidates will put their knowledge, skills and instincts to the test.

Role Requirements
Our ideal candidate should be based in Sydney, Australia, where they will be expected to work from the office at least twice a week, as per our global standards.

About the Role - Your First 90 Days

End of Month 1 (30 Days)

• Onboarding with our Enablement Manager & Hiring Manager.

• Kong product enablement - How we fit in both the API & AI space.

• Sales tooling enablement - Our tools of the trade.

• Get introduced to our ecosystem (Sales, Marketing, Partnerships, etc.)

• Integrating with our SDR Team (APJ)

• 1-1 support with Hiring Manager and assigned Mentor.

• No Quota assigned.

End of Month 2 (60 Days)

• Get aligned with your assigned Account Executive(s)

• Built your first territory/account plan(s)

• Call-shadowing with mentor / other team members.

• Role-plays with the Enablement Manager / Hiring Manager.

• Get familiar with Kong's pitch deck.

• Craft your own elevator pitch.

• Start prospecting and generating opportunities.

• Delivered on 1st Ramping Quota.

End of Month 3 (90 Days)

• Good understanding of Kong's sales processes and methodologies.

• Developed a repeatable, effective cadence of activities.

• Get comfortable engaging even senior stakeholders/technology leaders.

• Leverage AI to scale your efforts.

• Delivered on 2nd Ramping Quota.

• Ready for full Quota.

Role Overview & Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Account Executives to build and execute effective outbound campaigns - from ideation to delivering qualified meetings.

• Collaborate with Marketing to drive campaigns, events, roadshows, etc.

• Build deep knowledge of Kong products and the respective sales process.

• Engage Senior IT / Key decision-makers through phone, video, LinkedIn, and email outreach etc.

• Accurately track lead/prospect activity, personal prospecting activities, new and existing opportunities and personal attainment in Salesforce.

• Qualify prospects/leads before scheduling introductory meetings for the sales team.

• Aid in the progression of early-stage opportunities to drive future pipeline growth.

• Consistently achieve and exceed monthly and quarterly opportunity targets.

• Take ownership of your professional development, building skills and attributes that support both current performance and long-term growth.

• Perform other tasks and responsibilities as assigned by your manager.

• As this is a Sydney-based role, we are looking for candidates who are currently located and able to work in Sydney.

• Hybrid-working arrangements are expected, with at least two days in the Sydney office per week.

What you'll bring

• 1 year of proven sales or customer-facing experience (open to fresh graduates with the right mindset and skills).

• A winner's mindset—self-starter, driven, and motivated to succeed.

• Passion for excellence—personally, as a team, and in exceeding sales goals.

• A true team player with leadership potential—committed to winning together.

• Strong work ethic and integrity in everything you do.

• Resourcefulness and the ability to self-learn in a complex product space.

• Adaptable and innovative—willing to experiment, iterate, and embrace new approaches.

• Perseverance and resilience—comfortable with prospecting, cold calling, handling objections, and learning from rejection.

• Coachable, eager to grow, and generous in sharing insights with teammates.

• Open to giving and receiving feedback—focused on solving problems, not pointing fingers.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (tailored to your market) with active listening strength.

• Proven time management—able to operate independently while thriving under coaching.

• Energy for fast-paced, high-performance environments.

• Passion for cutting-edge technology and the ability to quickly grasp critical IT solutions.
  
  #LI-VO1

About Kong:

Kong Inc., a leading developer of cloud API technologies, is on a mission to enable companies around the world to become "API-first" and securely accelerate AI adoption. Kong helps organizations globally — from startups to Fortune 500 enterprises — unleash developer productivity, build securely, and accelerate time to market. For more information about Kong, please visit or follow us on X @thekonginc.