Who are we?At Leadership Connect, we believe that relationships are everything in business and in life. Founded by two former CEOs of S&P 500 companies and a former presidential press secretary, our premier information service is built for developing relationships that impact decisions in government, business, and media. Utilizing deep research expertise and cutting‑edge technology, we help our clients win business and influence policy across various specialties and verticals. We are a close-knit team dedicated to helping each of our users make a difference.About the RoleThe Market Development Representative (MDR) sits at the front of Leadership Connect's sales process, responsible for identifying and engaging prospects, conducting meaningful discovery conversations, and moving qualified leads to our Sales Director team. MDRs here are curious, well‑prepared, and skilled at listening — not order‑takers. A significant portion of our prospect base works in or around government and public policy — including government contractors, lobbyists, and public affairs professionals — so an interest in how policy gets made and how organizations navigate those environments is central to success in this role. We provide tools to support research and outreach efficiency so you can spend more time in conversations and less time on administrative work.What to expect in this role:Prospecting & ResearchResearch target accounts and key contacts before outreach, developing a working understanding of their organizational priorities, recent activity, and likely needsIdentify and prioritize prospects from assigned lists, inbound leads, and self‑sourced accountsRespond promptly to inbound inquiries and marketing‑generated leads, assessing fit and advancing qualified contacts into the pipelineOutreach & EngagementConduct high‑volume, multi‑channel outreach (phone, email, LinkedIn) to introduce Leadership Connect to prospective clientsCraft timely, personalized messaging that connects Leadership Connect's value to each prospect's context — staying current on policy developments, regulatory activity, and government contracting trends to keep outreach relevantFollow up persistently and professionally across outreach sequences to build familiarity and trustDiscoveryLead early‑stage discovery conversations to understand a prospect's current workflows, data needs, and relationship‑building challengesAsk targeted questions that reflect an understanding of how government contractors, lobbyists, and policy professionals operate and what drives their decisionsListen actively and adapt your approach based on what you learn, rather than delivering a scripted pitchPipeline Progression & HandoffClearly communicate the value of Leadership Connect, tailored to what matters most to each prospectQualify prospects using defined criteria and deliver handoffs with documented context on needs, priorities, and objections so AEs can continue the conversation without starting overLog all prospect activity, notes, and outcomes in CRM (Salesforce or equivalent) with accuracy and consistencySales Team CollaborationWork closely with Sales Leadership to align on prospect profiles, qualification criteria, and meeting standardsParticipate in team meetings to share market feedback and contribute to refining outreach messaging and the broader sales processAbout You:What You Bring1–3 years of experience in sales development, lead generation, business development, or a related outreach‑focused roleExperience leading early‑stage discovery and qualification calls, with the ability to research prospects quickly and translate findings into personalized outreachComfortable with multi‑channel outreach and familiar with CRM platforms (Salesforce preferred)Active listener who asks the right questions, follows the conversation, and adapts rather than pitching from a scriptResilience and curiosity — handles rejection without losing momentum and takes a genuine interest in how prospects work and where they face challengesSound judgment on when to advance a conversation and when to step backGenuine interest in public sector dynamics — including government contracting, lobbying, and policy — and the ability to engage these audiences with relevant, informed messagingPreferred QualificationsExperience selling data, research, or SaaS platformsFamiliarity with government contracting, lobbying, or public affairs — through work experience or genuine personal interestPrevious exposure to or interest in a policy office, government affairs function, or public sector advisory roleWhat is it like to work here?We foster an environment that encourages all our team members to excel by offering competitive compensation for top talent. We believe in creating a friendly and enjoyable workplace, with regular team‑building events, happy hours, and more. Transparency is key within our company, and we hold weekly town halls led by our CEO to address questions regarding business plans, product direction, and company goals. In addition, we provide flexible PTO policies to ensure you can enjoy your time outside the office and focus on your personal life.Everyone from full‑stack developers to data scientists, former Hill staffers, and sales professionals help shape our in‑depth people intelligence.There is never a dull moment in our Washington, D.C. headquarters. People come from all over the world to join forces at Leadership Connect. We currently have teams working remotely and in‑office and often get together for rooftop happy hours, exploring a brand new office, and meeting all the new hires on our growing team.Benefits/Rewards:Awesome medical insurance planDental InsuranceLife & Disability insuranceFlexible spending accountsUnlimited PTO!Eleven Paid Holidays$3,000 Employee Referral ProgramEmployer contribution to 401(k) planRewards and recognition programsIf you're excited about this role but don't meet 100% of the requirements, we still want to hear from you! Leadership Connect is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where unique experiences are valued and everyone has the opportunity to contribute. Research has continuously shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all of the listed qualifications. We want to help overcome this trend and seek to make space for unique and relevant skills and attributes. So, when applying to Leadership Connect we focus on evaluation based on key competencies needed for success in the position. We look forward to receiving your application!Leadership Connect is committed to creating a diverse environment and is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.#J-18808-Ljbffr