Sales Development Representative - Industrial Quality Control

Avam; Scottsdale (AZ); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

401(k) with company match

Unlimited PTO

Career development

Job summary

Avam is expanding its Industrial Quality Control sales team and seeking a Sales Development Representative. You will identify target accounts in pharma and manufacturing, initiate conversations, and build qualified opportunities for the Account Executive and technical team.

This science-focused role emphasizes prospecting, outbound outreach, and CRM discipline, with clear pathways to account management and leadership as the business grows.

Qualifications

• Experience in sales development or related customer-facing roles.
• Strong communication and outreach skills across channels.
• Interest in scientific products and laboratory markets.
• Ability to research organizations and identify decision-makers.
• Comfort coordinating with Account Executives and marketing teams.

Responsibilities

• Identify target accounts across pharma, biotech, and QC labs.
• Research decision-makers and tailor outreach to operations.
• Execute outreach via phone, email, LinkedIn, and other channels.
• Qualify prospects based on fit, needs, timing, and supplier alternatives.
• Schedule qualified discovery meetings and handoffs to AE.
• Maintain accurate CRM records and activity notes.
• Collaborate with marketing and product teams to improve messaging.

Skills

Prospecting

Outbound calls

CRM proficiency

Account collaboration

Scientific product knowledge

Tools

CRM systems

Sales engagement tools

Job description

About Avam Avam Sciences develops modern testing technologies across molecular biology, microbiology, and applied life sciences. We help laboratories and manufacturers improve testing reliability, throughput, and operational efficiency, turning complex science into practical solutions that work at scale. We are expanding our Industrial Quality Control team and seeking a Sales Development Representative to identify new customers, initiate meaningful conversations, and build qualified sales opportunities. The Role As the Sales Development Representative for Industrial Quality Control, you will help introduce Avam’s industrial microbiology portfolio to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturers, industrial biotechnology companies, fermentation-based manufacturers, contract manufacturers, and third-party quality-control laboratories.

Your focus will include two primary application areas:

• Sterility and release testing: Products supporting microbiological testing and quality-control workflows used to evaluate materials and finished products before release.
• Industrial fermentation quality control: Products supporting microbial contamination monitoring, culture integrity, and process consistency in fermentation-based manufacturing.

These customers run routine, recurring testing programs tied to manufacturing schedules and batch release. Reliable products, consistent supply, responsive technical support, and efficient laboratory workflows are central to their purchasing decisions.

Your job is to identify the right organizations and decision-makers, understand their needs, and connect qualified prospects with Avam’s Account Executive and technical team.

This is a sales development role focused on scientific and laboratory products. You will own prospecting and early qualification, while partnering with the Account Executive responsible for technical evaluations, proposals, negotiations, and closing.

The Opportunity

You will help build Avam’s Industrial Quality Control vertical while working with the company’s sales technology, marketing resources, and scientific expertise.

Working closely with the vertical’s Account Executive, you will help shape target-account strategy, test outreach messaging, identify promising customer segments, and establish a repeatable approach to generating opportunities.

For someone interested in building a career in scientific sales, this role offers hands-on commercial experience and opportunities to progress into Account Executive, account management, or sales development leadership roles as the business grows and performance supports advancement.

What You’ll Own

• Research and prioritize target accounts across pharmaceutical manufacturing, industrial biotechnology, fermentation-based production, and third-party QC testing.
• Identify relevant decision-makers, including QC microbiology leaders, laboratory managers, quality assurance teams, manufacturing-quality leaders, and procurement stakeholders.
• Execute consistent, personalized outreach through phone calls, email, LinkedIn, and other appropriate channels.
• Start conversations around customers’ testing workflows, current suppliers, purchasing needs, and operational challenges.
• Communicate the value of Avam’s culture media, reagents, and related microbiological testing products in clear, customer-relevant terms.
• Qualify prospects based on application fit, testing needs, purchasing processes, timing, and willingness to evaluate alternative suppliers.
• Schedule qualified discovery meetings and coordinate clear handoffs to the Account Executive, including relevant account research and conversation notes.
• Follow up promptly on inbound inquiries, marketing responses, event contacts, and prospects who are not yet ready to purchase.
• Partner with the Account Executive to refine account priorities, outreach sequences, and messaging based on prospect feedback.
• Maintain accurate contact records, activities, qualification notes, and next steps in the CRM.
• Bring recurring customer questions and objections to the sales, marketing, and product teams.
• Involve scientific specialists when conversations require detailed technical guidance or application-specific evaluation.

Compensation

This role offers a competitive base salary with on-target earnings (OTE) equal to 150% of base salary. Commissions are uncapped, providing significant additional earning potential for exceptional performance.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience in sales development, inside sales, business development, or customer-facing work, preferably involving scientific products, laboratory supplies, pharmaceutical manufacturing, or industrial markets.
• Candidates with laboratory, microbiology, or quality-control experience who demonstrate strong communication skills and a clear interest in commercial work are also encouraged to apply.
• Confidence initiating conversations with new people, including through outbound phone calls.
• The ability to research an organization, identify relevant contacts, and tailor outreach to its operations.
• Curiosity about microbiology, manufacturing quality, and the role laboratory testing plays in production.
• Clear written and verbal communication, strong listening skills, and professional follow-through.
• Organization and discipline in managing multiple accounts, outreach activities, and follow-up commitments.
• Resilience, receptiveness to coaching, and the ability to learn from rejection and improve.
• A collaborative approach to working with Account Executives, marketing, product specialists, and scientific teams.

Nice to Have

Experience with culture media, sterility testing, pharmaceutical QC, industrial microbiology, fermentation, or laboratory consumables is valuable.

Familiarity with CRM systems, sales engagement tools, and structured outbound prospecting is also beneficial. A degree in microbiology, biology, biotechnology, chemistry, business, or a related field is helpful but not required.

How Success Will Be Measured

Success means generating meaningful commercial opportunities, not simply booking meetings. You will be evaluated on:

• Qualified discovery meetings that take place with relevant prospects.
• Opportunities accepted by the Account Executive and their progression into the sales pipeline.
• Consistent, thoughtful prospecting and timely follow-up.
• Accurate CRM records and well-prepared account handoffs.
• Growing knowledge of Avam’s products, customer applications, and purchasing drivers.
• Contributions to improving the vertical’s targeting and outreach approach.

Benefits & Career Growth

At Avam, we invest in your well-being, financial future, and professional growth. Benefits for eligible employees include:

• Health coverage: Medical, dental, and vision plans, targeting 100% company paid employee only premiums and a company contribution toward family premiums.
• Retirement savings: A 401(k) with a dollar-for-dollar company match on employee contributions up to 5% of eligible compensation.
• Time to recharge: Unlimited paid time off, subject to manager approval, plus company holidays and all federal holidays.
• Career development: Training, mentorship, and opportunities to expand your responsibilities and pursue leadership or other career paths as Avam grows.

Benefits are subject to eligibility, applicable plan terms, and company policies.