# Manager, Sales Development - Chicago, IL

**Company:** [Kong](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-companies/kong)
**Location:** Illinois, United States
**Work mode:** Hybrid
**Seniority:** Mid
**Employment type:** Full Time
**Salary:** USD 105K–151K/yr
**Category:** Sales
**Department:** All Cost Center
**Listed:** 2026-11-10

[View and apply on Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/kong/manager-sales-development-chicago-il-f281e5f0-d3b8-4bfb-a8a7-1d74fcb2dd0a)

## What you'll do

- Lead and develop a high-performing SDR team.
- Hire talent and shape career development programs.
- Drive operational rigor and predictable business results.
- Create reporting and feedback loops on pipeline forecasts.
- Design and execute go-to-market plans with cross-functional leaders.

## What you need

- 5+ yrs of B2B SaaS experience.
- 1+ yrs managing a high-performing sales development team.
- Exceptional communication and feedback skills.
- Experience building pipeline programs and driving revenue.
- Experience in high-growth startup environments.

## Job description

**Are you ready to unlock intelligence?**

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.

  

**About the role:**

As one of the Sales Development leaders , you will oversee a team of inbound and outbound Sales Development Representatives (SDRs). Your mission is to drive the growth of our sales pipeline across the AMER region. This role requires a dynamic leader that is comfortable building and executing. You are passionate about career development and scalable success. Lastly, you are hands-on and excited about fostering an in-office culture and your best work is done cross-functionally.

**What you'll be doing:**

-   Lead and develop a high-performing team of SDRs.
    
-   Hire the best talent in the industry. Shape development programs for career progression to keep talent engagement and doing great work at Kong.
    
-   Maintain operational rigor across all elements of the business. Drive a predictable business.
    
-   Drive a positive and collaborative culture that inspires teamwork and professional growth.
    
-   Find a successful balance in a hybrid in-office environment
    
-   Create a reporting and feedback loop with stakeholders on team performance, KPIs, customer insights, roadblocks, and pipeline forecasts.
    
-   Work within an ecosystem of leaders across Sales, Revenue Operations, Marketing, Customer Success, and Partnership teams to design and execute a go-to-market plan for pipeline generation.
    
-   Excel in change management as the company strives to meet critical and aggressive revenue milestones
    
-   Maintain a strong pulse on the market. Facilitate a feedback loop between Sales and other departments.
    
-   Identify opportunities to innovate. Be a catalyst to positive change.
    

**What you'll bring:**

-   5+ years of experience in B2B SaaS.
    
-   1+ years of experience building and managing a high-performing Sales or Sales Development Org in B2B SaaS.
    
-   Exceptional communication skills with an ability to give and receive feedback thoughtfully.
    
-   Experience in high-growth, fast-paced startup environments, preferably with hybrid remote and in-office teams.
    
-   Experience building and leading high-performance sales teams, selling a complex technical product.
    
-   Subject matter expert in building pipeline programs and efforts to drive revenue.
    
    #LI-JS2
    

  

**About Kong:**

Kong Inc., the AI Connectivity Company, is building the connectivity layer of AI. Trusted by the Fortune 500® and AI-native startups alike, Kong’s unified API and AI platform enables organizations to secure, manage, accelerate, govern, and monetize the flow of intelligence across APIs and AI traffic — on any model, any cloud. For more information, visit [www.konghq.com](http://www.konghq.com).

## Other open roles at Kong

- [Senior Software Engineer, Gateway - Shanghai](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/kong/senior-software-engineer-gateway-shanghai-2783b811-0cf8-4883-a8ea-fdf28b2f6327) — Shanghai, China
- [Senior Software Engineer, Control Planes](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/kong/senior-software-engineer-control-planes-9831523f-c155-495f-a9e3-a22c44381a5e) — Canada
- [Regional Sales Director, Enterprise - UK](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/kong/regional-sales-director-enterprise-uk-f327f568-ba90-47c6-af53-bbadc5cd636b) — England, United Kingdom
- [Enterprise Growth Account Executive - East](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/kong/enterprise-growth-account-executive-east-08f91565-c2a0-46d9-96a9-1f73f1db380a) — Texas, United States
- [Partner Sales Manager](https://zerogtalent.com/ai-jobs/kong/partner-sales-manager-3242b0f1-7963-4821-9db6-fca56eedf613) — Illinois, United States

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*Source: [Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com), the job board for space, defense, AI, robotics and frontier-tech companies.*